"Old times there are not forgotten"
America Online agreed to purchase Time Warner for $162 billion, largest corporate merger of the time. The Dow-Jones Industrial Average of common stocks closed at $11,722.98, a record for the time. An explosive device was detonated in front of Barclays Bank, across the street from the New York Stock Exchange resulting in dozens of injuries, but no fatalities. The last original Peanuts comic strip was published just after the death of its creator, Charles Shultz. The comic strip turned 50 years older later in the year. Pope John Paul II made an official visit to Israel, first by a Roman Catholic pontiff. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that government lacks authority to regulate tobacco as an addictive drug. Vladimir Putin was elected president of Russia. Vermont legalized Civil unions for same-sex couples. A preliminary draft of genomes, as a part of the Human Genome Project was completed. Elian Gonzalez was returned to his father in Cuba ending an international custody dispute over a minor child. The Confederate submarine H.L. Hundley was raised to the surface after being sunk for 136 years. The Russian submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea taking with it a crew of 118 sailors. Microsoft released its Windows Me operating system. The Summer Olympics were held in Sidney, Australia. The USS Cole was badly damaged by an explosion detonated by Muslims in Yemen - 39 wounded and 17 fatalities among the crew. The New York Yankees won their 26th World Series when they defeated their cross town rival New York Jets four games to one. Hillary Clinton was elected to the United States Senate from New York, the first First Lady of the United States to win public office. President Bill Clinton made a state visit to Vietnam, the first by an American president. Vicente Fox took office as president of Mexico. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that George W. Bush would become the 43rd President of the United States, even though he lacked a majority of the popular vote. Retail giant Montgomery Ward went out of business following 118 years of operations.
New book titles: The Brethern, The Wedding, Before I say Goodbye, Easy Prey, Indwelling, Hot Six, The House on Hope Street, Winter Soltice, The Bear and the Dragon, The Rescue, Drowning Ruth, The Last Precinct, Winter's Heart and The Mark.
At the movies: Gladiator, Chocolat, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Erin Brocovich, Traffic, The Perfect Storm, What Women Want, What Lies Beneath and Scary Movie.
On stage: Aida, Contact, Copenhagen, Dirty Blonde, Proof, The Green Bird, The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, The Best Man, Betrayal, Riverdance and The Wild Party.
Emmy Awards: James Gandolfini for The Sopranos, Sela Ward for Once and Again, Richard Schiff for The West Wing, Allison Janney for The West Wing and The West Wing for best drama series.
January 1
Y2K fears proved unfounded when all major computer generated functions performed normally. There were no repercussions from beginning the new year with a number 2.
June 7
Classmate Paul Edward Martin, died in Cedar Creek, Texas. Paul was retired from the United States Air Force. He was survived by his wife and four children.
July 2
Classmate James Griffin Booth, age 60, died in a Huntington, West Virginia hospital. James had last worked as a radio equipment installer having been disabled since 1976. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Beckley and the Beckley Masonic Lodge #95 A.F & A.M. James had been a resident of Huntington since 1996. He was survived by his wife, one son and two daughters.
July 15
Classmate Larry Franklin Stover, a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina died following a brief cancer illness. Larry worked for the City of Beckley for a number of years in various administrative capacities and board positions. Following his employment with the city, Larry accumulated a rather extensive resume in business and finance management. A Prosperity boy, he grew up around horses and served 25 years as announcer at both the North Carolina and West Virginia state fairs. Larry was a member of the First Baptist Church in Beckley and the Raleigh County Historical Society. He was also a United States Army Reserve veteran. Larry was survived by his former wife and two sons.
December 20
Marshall University defeated Cincinnati University by the score of 25-14 in the Motor City Bowl played in the Pontiac Silver Dome (Michigan).
December 28
West Virginia University defeated the University of Mississippi by a score of 49-38 at the Music City Bowl played in Nashville, Tennessee.