War Eagle '70s Mr. Herb's Birthday/Dedication Special

Part 1 (set to Wagner's "Bonfire of the Valkyries", used as theme of WSFA-TV's newscasts of the 1960s through the early 1970s)

1970-The AU Children’s Theatre won a $3,720 grant from the AL Council of Arts.  The grant enabled the theatre to perform shows all over the W.E.G.L. 91 listening area, as well as Columbus, Fort Rucker and other places.  .  . AL State Sen. W.G. McCarley announced that he would run for the AL Public Service Commission.  His Senate colleagues had expelled him on corruption charges and then reinstated him.  .  . A bomb around a Swiss Air flight bound for Israel killed 47 passengers.  .  . 1970 also marked the debut of National Public Radio.  N.P.R. is on the air on WBHM 90.3 at Troy University, W.J.S.P. 88.1 in Columbus and on the soon-to-merge X.M. and Sirius Satellite Radio.

1971-AL Medical Administrator Dr. Thomas Alphin told the AL Legislature that state Medicaid costs would go up by $23 million by 1977 unless Congress changed Medicaid regulations.  Of course, a lot of people depend on Medicaid.  .  . A series of tornadoes in the MS Delta killed 115.  .  . Researchers at the University of TN developed diagnostic tests for persistence of malignant cancers tumors.  They did this to determine the success of cancer surgery.  The American Heart Association put in new guidelines this week on how women can prevent heart attacks and strokes.  .  . The All India Forward Bloc held an emergency center committee meeting after its Chair Hementha Kumar Bose was killed three days earlier.  It appointed P.K. Hookiah Thevar as new chair.

1972 marked the appearance of the late journalist/writer/editor/actor George Plimpton on the AU campus.  He spoke at the Student Activities Building.  Before he died in 2003 at 76, he guest starred on "The Simpsons" and "E.R."  .  . Longtime AU athletic director Jeff Beard announced his retirement on July 1 after 22 years in the A.D.’s chair and 40 years in the athletic department.  You heard and read that Frank Broyles is stepping down as Arkansas’ A.D. at the end of the year.  .  . President Nixon began an historic eight-day visit to the People’s Republic of China and meetings with Communist Party Chair Mao Zedong.  Mr. Nixon brought back to the U.S. new diplomatic relations and two pandas Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling.  Meanwhile, North Vietnamese negotiators walked out of the Paris Peace Talks to protest U.S. raids during the Vietnam War.  .  . In entertainment, Elvis and Priscilla Presley separated and later divorced.  And Sammy Davis Jr. guest starred on “All in the Family”, and famously kissed bigot Archie Bunker to raucous laughter from audiences.  

1973- Opelika First Baptist Church welcomed 25 Southern Baptist missionaries.  It served as part of their Special Missions Day.  You heard and read about the Anglican Church meeting in Tanzania to address their divisions over homosexuality and celibacy for unmarried pastors and the call for the Southern Baptists to investigate domestic abuse by some of their leaders.  .  . The AU wrestlers won their 2^nd straight S.E.C. title.  The Enemy from Tuscaloosa finished in 2^nd.  We ended up unbeaten at 19-0!  The swimmers and divers just won their 11^th straight S.E.C. men’s title and the 4^th S.E.C. ladies’ title in the last five years.  War Eagle.  .  . Israeli fighters shot down a Libyan Arab Airlines 727 in the Egyptian Sinai Desert.  106 people died.  .  . 1973 also marked an important event in Denmark Family history:  We were hit with the chicken pox while we were stationed at Fort Rucker.  The host got it from his sister Debbie, and spent his 12^th birthday homebound from school.  But the host had his name mentioned by Ms. Margie Payne on WSFA-TV’s popular late-afternoon children’s show of the ‘70s and early ‘80s “Young World,” which featured Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies and M.G.M. cartoons and other surprises.  When the host returned to school over a week later, he spread the chicken pox to a fellow 6^th grader that he had a crush on, Brenda Corliss.  She was cute.  She was an Auburn fan.  This host wonders what happened to her.

1974-Gov. Wallace announced that he would run for an unprecedented third term as Governor.  He would be reelected.  .  . AL U.S. Sen. James Allen told the Veterans of Foreign Wars at the All-American Inn that there would be an increase in the G.I. Bill.  Sen. Allen announced his support for such an increase.  .  . The Symbionese Liberation Army demanded $4 million more to release Patty Hearst three weeks after kidnapping, brainwashing and recruiting her.  .  . Atlanta Constitution editor Reg Murphy returned to the editors’ desk after being kidnapped for $700 thousand.  .  . Pakistan officially recognized Bangladesh, the former East Pakistan.  Bangladesh had been independent for three years.  .  . In people news, Sonny and Cher ended their decade of marriage and their TV variety show.  Cher had filed for the divorce.  And 1974 marked the debut of the popular CBS tell-it-all game show "Tattletales", hosted by the late Bert Convy.  The host wonders what would have happened if Anne Nicole Smith and her 80 some odd old husband showed up.  Oooooooh, what secrets they would have revealed.  .  .And her body may go to the Bahamas.  .  .

That brings us to the halfway point of This Week in the 1970s.  You’re listening to the show that makes the ‘70s sexy two times a week this semester- War Eagle ‘70s Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. and Friday night at 7 p.m. on W.E.G.L. 91.

Part 2 (set to Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Op. 125 "Choral" An die Freude (Ode to Joy)-NBC News Huntley-Brinkley Report theme)

1975-AU graduate student Jack Fuqua and undergraduate Daniel Laird managed to get out of a canoe that overturned downstream in Chewacla Creek two miles north of U.S. 80 in Macon County.  The Lee County Rescue Squad rescued them.  .  . GA Gov. George Busbee urged the GA General Assembly to pass legislation increasing state employment for African Americans and women.  Busbee told Senate and House leaders that the legislation would prevent implementation of federal mandated hiring quotas.  The E.E.O.C. had accused 11 GA departments and agencies of discrimination.  The feds had already imposed quotas on AL State Government.  .  . Black Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad died in Chicago at age 77.  His son Wallace D. succeeded him.  Minister Louis Farrakhan is supposed to make a major speech this Sunday.  .  . Led Zeppelin released its classic double album Physical Graffiti.  It was their first release on its own Swan Song label.  .  . Daylight Savings Time began earlier to save energy.  This year, Daylight Savings Time will begin on Selection Sunday in just over two weeks. 

1976-A jury found AU student Charles Smith guilty of second-degree manslaughter in the traffic death of fellow student William Bush in November 1975.  Mr. Smith was sentenced to 60 days of hard labor.  .  . Racial violence continued in Pensacola in relation to changing the name of Escambia HS athletic teams from Rebels to either Raiders or Gators.  The homes of Human Relations Commissioner and county school board Citizens Advisory Committee member Teresa Hunt and FL State Rep. R.W. Peaden were set afire.  The S.C.L.C. urged Black parents to keep their children away from school for safety reasons and asked Gov. Reuben Askew to give all the protection he can for Black students.  You heard that Chief Illini did his last dance Wednesday night.  The U. of IL may change its mascot.  .  . Jimmy Carter and Pres. Ford won the NH primaries.  Carter got 29% of the vote.  Ford beat out later President the late Ronald Reagan 51% to 49%.  .  . Cuba began enacting its new constitution that voters approved nine days earlier.  .  . The Eagles’ Greatest Hits 1971-1975 album became the first in recording history to be certified platinum; it sold at least a million copies one week after release.  We will play a cut from that album in a few moments.  .  . 1976 marked an important event in Denmark Family history:  The host was named Most Improved Player on the undefeated A.D.Y.A. champion basketball team the Royals at Fort Huachuca AZ.  He turned 15 and played with a bunch of 11 and 12-year-olds. Little guy guard Kenny Williams deservedly got the M.V.P. award.

1977- Former AL Gov. Albert Brewer told a ladies’ night banquet at the Kiwanis Club of Greater Auburn that he would not seek the retiring John Sparkman’s U.S. Senate seat.  Brewer fell to Gov. Wallace in 1970 in what political experts termed the nastiest campaign in U.S. history.  You heard and read about Sen. Clinton’s call for SC to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds; Sen. McCain’s calling former Defense Secretary Rumsfeld one of the worst ever and former MA Gov. Romney, Mayor Giuliani and McCain talking about abortion.  Then the Democrats got together in NV and went off on Sen. Barack Obama because he didn’t show up.  The presidential race is getting hot, and the election is not until next year.  Lord, have mercy.  .  . The act “Up with People” performed at Auburn HS.  It performed during a couple of early Super Bowls.  .  . Ugandan President Idi Amin Dada ordered detention of all prisoners in Uganda.  He then told President Carter that the U.S. should mind its own business and take care of its own problems before worrying about Uganda’s. Pres. and Mrs. Carter just came back from Africa on a health tour.  As you know, Forest Whitaker is up for Best Actor Oscar Sunday night for portraying the dictator in "The Last King of Scotland".  I would like to see Martin Scorsese, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson and former V.P. Gore win this Sunday.

1978-Tuskegee graduate and famed Tuskegee Airman Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James died in Colorado Springs at age 58.  Gen. James became the first African American four-star U.S. Armed Forces General.  He died a month after retirement.  Tuskegee is celebrating Founders Day this weekend.  .  .  The City of Opelika began reconnecting city lights to conserve energy.  .  . At the Grammys, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours won Album of the Year; the title cut from the Eagles’ Hotel CA won Record of the Year.  The biggest hit of the 1970s, Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life,” beat out Barbra Streisand’s love theme from A Star is Born “Evergreen” for Song of the Year.  .  . And The Police, who reunited at this year’s Grammys two weeks ago, appeared in a TV commercial for Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum.  There was no better way for Sting and company to say hello.  That was Wrigley’s slogan then.  .  .

1979-The AU Board of Trustees approved a $9.2 million bond issue to expand Jordan-Hare Stadium by 11 thousand seats, and put in new lights and a new press box. The S.G.A. President objected, calling for more money to help students.  As you know, we’re trying to get a new basketball arena and a new student union.  I wonder which would go first.  .  . The AU men’s track team won its 3^rd straight S.E.C. indoor title by 32 points over the powerhouse TN Vols at Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum.  Olympian Harvey Glance won the long jump and the 60-yard dash, and was the meet’s Outstanding Performer.  Glance is now Head Track Coach of the Enemy from Tuscaloosa.  .  . Dire Straits began its first U.S. tour in Boston for their debut album and single, which we will play later tonight.  .  . And 1979 marked an important event in Denmark Family history:  The host of this show turned 18 years old.  Guess what he did for his 18^th birthday?  He studied.  You see, Morrow Senior HS was ending winter quarter the following week, which meant final exams.  Oh yes, he did take a break by playing his copy of the Bee Gees #1 album Spirits Having Flown.  He extended the birthday celebration with worship on Sunday, Casey Kasem’s "American Top 40" (when he began reviewing the previous week’s top 3 before doing the countdown), climaxed by the ABC-TV's airing of the final episode of "Roots:  The Next Generations".  It was perhaps the most boring 18^th birthday one has ever heard of.  But tomorrow, child, I’m going to the N.A.A.C.P. Unity Ball, in hopes of celebrating the continued dominance of T-Town.  It would be nice if my undergraduate alma mater beat MS State.  .  .

And that’s what happened This Week in the 1970s.  This is the show that takes the ‘70s to the limit twice a week this semester-War Eagle ‘70s Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. and Friday night at 7 p.m. on W.E.G.L. 91.