July 9th, 1868: The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, insuring ex-slaves born in the United States full citizenship and all persons in the United States due process of law.
July 9th, 1877: The inaugural Wimbledon Tennis Championships began at the All England Club.
July 9th, 1922: Future film star Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan) swam the 100 meters freestyle in 58.6 seconds, breaking the world swimming record and the ‘minute barrier’.
July 9th, 1937: The silent film archives of Fox Film Corporation were destroyed by the 1937 Fox vault fire.
July 9th, 1962: Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans exhibition opened at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles.
July 9th, 1981: Donkey Kong was released, featuring the debut of Mario.
Actor Richard Roundtree turns 78 years old.
Author Dean Koontz turns 75 years old.
Actor Chris Cooper turns 69 years old.
Musician/host John Tesh turns 68 years old.
Actor Jimmy Smits turns 65 years old.
Actor Tom Hanks turns 64 years old.
Actress Kelly McGillis turns 63 years old.
Pro wrestler Kevin Nash turns 61 years old.
Singer Courtney Love turns 56 years old.
Musician Jack White turns 45 years old.
Actor Fred Savage turns 44 years old.
July 9th is National Sugar Cookie Day.
