"Old times there are not forgotten"
The chess computer Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov for the first time. The Republic of China on Taiwan held its first direct presidential election. United States Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown was killed in an airplane crash near Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled against a law that would have prevented cities, towns or counties in the state of Colorado from taking legislative, executive or judicial action to protect the rights of homosexuals. Russia and Chechnya negotiated a cease fire to a war involving the two parties. Iraq refused United Nations inspectors access to a number of sites. The Taliban captured Kabul, the capitol city of Afghanistan driving out the sitting government and killing other political leaders. NASA disclosed evidence of primitive life forms on the ALH 84001 meteorite, thought to originate from Mars. Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell was born at the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland. The Prince and Princess of Wales were formally divorced at the High Court of Justice in London, England. Fox News, a conservative news source debuted on cable television. The Dow-Jones Industrial Average of common stocks closed at $6,010.00 - first close above $6,000.00. UNSCOM inspectors discovered prohibited missile parts buried in Iraq. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad, becoming the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.New book titles: The Runaway Jury, Executive orders, Desperation, Airframe, The Regulators, Malice, Silent Honor, Primary Colors, Cause of Death, The Tenth Insight, The Dilbert Principle and Simple Abundance.At the movies: Independence Day, Twister, Mission Impossible, Jerry Maguire, Ransom, 101 Dalmations, The Rock, The Nutty Professor The Birdcage and A Time to Kill.On stage: Master Class, Rent, A Delicate Balance, Seven Guitars, Bring in 'de Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, and The King and I.Emmy Awards: Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue, Kathy Baker for Picket Fences, Ray Walston for Picket Fences, Tyne Daly for Christy and ER for best drama series.April 3
"Unibomber" Theodore Kaczynski was arrested at his cabin in Montana.July 27
A bomb was detonated at the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1996 Summer Olympics killing one person and injuring 111.August 12
Classmate Elbert Clark Martin died in Daytona Beach, Florida. We are left without details of Clark's adult life or his death.September 18
Classmate William Roderick Wood, age 56, died at his home in Beckley. Roddy grew up in Crab Orchard, served in the United States Air Force and was employed by Maben Energy at the time of his death. Roddy was survived by his mother, his wife, a son and three daughters.December
Marshall University defeated the University of Montana by the score of 49-29 in the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship football game, played in Huntington, West Virginia.