Today in History: January 17, Murderer Gary Gilmore executed by firing squad

"On Jan. 17, 1977, convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, 36, was shot by a firing squad at Utah State Prison in the first U.S. execution in a decade. He was put to death after the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty the previous year. Also on this date: In 1920, prohibition of alcohol began in the United States as the Volstead Act went into effect in support of the 18th Amendment."

"In 1950, the Great Brink's Robbery took place as seven masked men held up the Brink's Building in Boston, stealing $1.2 million in cash and $1.5 million in checks and money orders. In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his farewell address in which he warned against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex."

"In 1990, The Four Seasons, The Four Tops, The Kinks, The Platters, Simon and Garfunkel and The Who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1994, the Northridge earthquake rattled the Los Angeles area; the magnitude 6.7 quake was responsible for 57 deaths, 9,000 injuries and an estimated $25 billion in damages. In 1995, more than 6,000 people were killed when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the city of Kobe (koh-bay), Japan."

Jan. 17 has seen varied historical events across decades. In 1920 the Volstead Act began alcohol prohibition under the 18th Amendment. In 1950 seven masked men carried out the Great Brink's Robbery in Boston, stealing cash and checks. In 1961 President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against influence of the military-industrial complex. In 1977 convicted murderer Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad after the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty. In the 1990s the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted several major acts, and earthquakes struck Northridge (1994) and Kobe (1995), causing thousands of deaths. In 2017 Chelsea Manning received clemency. In 2022 Russian officials denied preparations to invade Ukraine ahead of the February assault. Rock musician Mick Taylor turned 77.

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