"Old times there are not forgotten"
Public demonstrations against United States involvement in the conflict in Vietnam were held across the nation. American troop strength in Vietnam was increased from 75,000 to 125,000 and conscription of troops for the military rose from 17,000 draftees per month to 35,000 per month. Defense appropriations approached 40 percent of all government expenditures. The Medicare program was approved in the Congress as were programs to address antipoverty (including the development of Appalachia), voting rights and aid to education. Pope Paul VI visited New York City to address the United Nations General Assembly about world peace. A power blackout lasting up to 13 hours in some areas affected New York, most of New England and parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania along with Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri was topped out. The first American space walk and the rendezvous of two Gemini capsules 185 miles above the Earth were representative of progress in outer space exploration.New book titles: Kennedy, A Thousand Days, Going to Meet the Man and Never Call Retreat.At the movies: A Paatch of Blue, A Thousand Clowns, Cat Ballou, Darling, Ship of Fools and The Sound of Music.On stage: Marat/Sade, Man of La Mancha and The Lion in Winter.Television premiers: Green Acres and the day time soap opera Days of Our Lives.Popular music: A Taste of Honey, It Was a Very Good Year, My Name Is Barbara and We Dig Mancini.March 8
The first United States combat forces into Vietnam, 3,500 Marines joined 23,500 Americans already on the ground as advisors.March 20
Woodrow Wilson High School won the school's eighth state basketball championship by defeating Williamson High School by the score of 69-67 in Morgantown.June 6
Classmate Ida Mae Canterbury married classmate Richard William Highlander. The ceremony was performed at The Methodist Temple in Beckley.August 14
Classmate Robert Douglas Wickline married Ruth Ann Lee Bryant, WWHS 1962. The wedding ceremony was performed in Radford, Virgina. Bob was working at Harvey's in Beckley and Ruth Ann was working at Appalachian Regional Hospital at the time of the marriage.August 17
Classmate George Thelbert Arnold, Jr. received a Master of Arts degree in American and European History from Marshall University.