"Old times there are not forgotten"
The Central Intelligence Agency admitted there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction at the time of the invasion of Iraq. NASA's rover Opportunity confirmed that water once drenched its landing area on Mars. The Republic of Ireland banned smoking of tobacco products in all enclosed workspaces, including bars and restaurants. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Combat with insurgents and bombing incidents increased within Iraq. The last Oldsmobile came off GM's assembly line. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus joined the European Union. Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in that state. The National World War II Monument was dedicated in Washington, D.C. The United States transferred sovereignty to an interim government in Iraq. Preliminary hearings were conducted in the trial of Sadddam Hussein. Ground breaking for the Freedom Tower took place at Ground Zero in New York City. American Lance Armstrong won a 6th straight Tour de France cycling title - first person to do so. The Statue of Liberty reopened to visitors, but with new security restrictions. Summer Olympics were held in Athens Greece. The Assault Weapons ban in the United States was allowed to expire. Brazil launched its first rocket into space. Osama Bin Laden appeared on Arabic TV to taunt President George Bush about Bush's victory in Iraq speech. Scott Peterson was found guilty of the murder of Laci Peterson, his wife and received a death sentence in California. Secretary of State Colin Powell resigned his position. NASA's hypersonic Scramjet reached a speed of approximately 7,000 miles per hour during an unmanned experimental flight. Computer software (programming) giants Oracle and PeopleSoft merged, creating the second largest maker of business applications software. Information technology security company Symantech merged with Veritas Software to create a $13.5 billion (all-stock) transaction. One of the worst natural disasters in recorded history occurred when a massive underwater earthquake created an enormous tsunami in the Indian Ocean region, resulting in more than 200,000 fatalities.
New book titles: The Last Juror, 3rd Degree, Glorious Appearing, Song of Susannah, Ten Big Ones, Sam's Letters to Jennifer, "R" Is For Ricochet, Trace, The Dark Tower, Northern Lights, Hour Game, Metro Girl, London Bridges and Night Fall.
At the movies: Shrek 2, Spiderman 2, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, The Incredibles, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Day After Tomorrow, The Polar Express, The Bourne Supremacy and National Treasure..
On stage: The Assassins, Barbara Cook's Broadway, Bombay Dreams, Caroline Or Change, Drowning Crow, Fiddler on the Roof (2004), Frozen, Jumpers, Match, Prymate, A Raisin in the Sun (2004), Sight Unseen, Sixteen Wounded, Sly Fox, Twentieth Century, Brooklyn, The Musical, The Good Body, La Cage Aux Folles, Reckless, Whoopi, The Rivals, Little Women (2004), Good Vibrations and Brooklyn Boy.
Emmy Awards: James Spader for The Practice, Allsion Janney for The West Wing, Michael Imperioli for The Sopranos, Drea De Matteo for The Sopranos and The Sopranos for best drama series.
January 1
West Virginia University lost to the University of Maryland by the score of 41-7 in the Gator Bowl, played in Jacksonville, Florida.
March 12
Classmate Jerry Gordon Beavers died at his home in Kincaid, West Virginia. During high school, Jerry held a part-time job at Cole's Esso service station located at North Kanawha and Prince Streets in uptown Beckley. Following high school Jerry served in the United States Air Force then graduated from Beckley College. Jerry worked in various capacities at Earehart Motors, retiring as an automobile salesman. He was survived by his wife, one son and three daughters.
March 20
Woodrow Wilson High School won the Class AAA state basketball championship by defeating Hedgesville High School by the score of 49-41 in Charleston. It was the 15th state basketball championship for Woodrow Wilson.
March 30
Mountain State University (once known as Beckley College) won the Men's NAIA Division I Basketball National Championship by defeating Concordia College of California by the score of 74-70. The game was played in Kansas City, Missouri.
June 15
Classmate Jesse T. Adkins died at Ormand Beach Memorial Hospital in Florida. Jesse grew up in Prosperity. He served in the United States Navy for 20 years, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. A Vietnam veteran and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, J.T. worked as a carpenter after his retirement from the Navy. He was survived by four daughters.
October 8
Domestic diva Martha Stewart reported to Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia where she served a five-month federal sentence for insider trading of publicly traded common stocks.