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Fresno History Timeline

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Today in American History

Events in Fresno History

  • 1922-03-23 KMJ-AM in Fresno CA begins radio transmissions
  • 1953-06-01 KMJ (now KSEE) TV channel 24 in Fresno, CA (NBC) begins broadcasting
  • 1953-10-01 KJEO TV channel 47 in Fresno, CA (CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting
  • 1956-05-10 KFSN TV channel 30 in Fresno, CA (ABC/CBS) begins broadcasting
  • 1958-09-18 The Fresno Drop: Bank of America mails out 60,000 BankAmericards in Fresco, California, the first credit card (later renamed VISA)
  • 1961-12-18 KAIL TV channel 53 in Fresno, CA (IND) begins broadcasting
  • 1961-12-23 KICU TV channel 43 in Visalia-Fresno, CA (IND) begins broadcasting
  • 1971-10-04 KMPH TV channel 26 in Visalia-Fresno, CA (IND) begins broadcasting
  • 1991-10-05 Fresno State ties NCAA football record with 49 points in a quarter (2nd), as they route New Mexico, 94-17 at Bulldog Stadium, Fresno
  • 1996-04-29 Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Fresno, California on KFRR 104.1 FM
  • 2012-11-06 5 people are shot at a poultry processing plant in Fresno, California

Famous People from Fresno

  • 1902-02-14 Fred Scott, American actor and singing cowboy, known as "The Silvery-Voiced Buckaroo" (Melody of the Plains), born in Fresno, California (d. 1991)
  • 1905-06-30 Nestor Paiva, American-Portuguese actor (Zorro, The Creature from the Black Lagoon), born in Fresno, California (d. 1966)
  • 1908-08-31 William Saroyan, American novelist and playwright (Time of Your Life), born in Fresno, California (d. 1981)
  • 1910-09-27 Eve March, American actress (Curse of the Cat People), born in Fresno, California (d. 1974)
  • 1912-09-05 Frank Thomas, American animator, born in Fresno, California (d. 2004)
  • 1914-04-12 Armen Alchian, American economist and professor (University of California), born in Fresno, California (d. 2013)
  • 1915-02-23 Jon Hall, American actor (Ramar of the Jungle), born in Fresno, California (d. 1979)
  • 1917-06-06 Kirk Kerkorian, American CEO and "father of the mega-resort" (MGM, UA), born in Fresno, California (d. 2015)
  • 1918-12-13 Bill Vukovich, American auto racer (Indianapolis 500, 1953-4), born in Fresno, California (d. 1955)
  • 1919-01-27 David Seville [Ross Bagdasarian], American songwriter ("Come On A-My House"), singer (Alvin & The Chipmunks - "Witch Doctor"), and actor (Rear Window), born in Fresno, California (d. 1972)
  • 1920-08-01 Sammy Lee, American diver (Olympic Gold 10m platform 1948, 52), born in Fresno, California (d. 2016)
  • 1925-02-21 Sam Peckinpah, American film director (The Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs), born in Fresno, California (d. 1984)
  • 1925-08-15 Mike Connors [Krekor Ohanian], American actor (Mannix), born in Fresno, California (d. 2017)
  • 1930-08-08 Jerry Tarkanian, American collegiate basketball coach (California State, UNLV, Fresno State; career record: 784–202), born in Euclid, Ohio (d. 2015)
  • 1933-06-22 Bob Bennett, American College Baseball Hall of Fame coach (Fresno State 1970-2002; record 1,302-759-4), born in Atwood, Oklahoma (d. 2020)
  • 1934-03-09 Jim Landis, American MLB outfielder, 1957-67, 5X Gold Glove, 2X All-Star (Chicago White Sox, and 5 other teams), born in Fresno, California (d. 2017)
  • 1937-03-21 Tom Flores, NFL quarterback and coach (Raiders), born in Fresno, California
  • 1938-12-25 Duane Armstrong, American painter (Fields of Grass), born in Fresno, California
  • 1939-07-14 Sid Haig [Sidney Mosesian], American actor (House of 1000 Corpses, Jason of Star Command), born in Fresno, California
  • 1940-03-26 Rod Lauren, American rocker (If I Had a Girl), born in Fresno, California (d. 2007)
  • 1940-06-02 Jim Maloney, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1965; pitched 2 x no-hitters 1965, 1 in 1969; Cincinnati Reds), born in Fresno, California
  • 1940-10-10 Mouse [Stanley Miller] American artist, notable for psychedelic rock concert poster designs and album art (Grateful Dead; Journey), born in Fresno, California
  • 1941-03-27 Charles Pashayan Jr., U.S. House of Representatives from California, born in Fresno, California
  • 1941-07-17 Daryle Lamonica, American football quarterback (Pro Bowl 1970, 72; AFL MVP 1967, 69; Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills), born in Fresno, California (d. 2022)
  • 1943-05-30 Leon Burtnett, American college football coach (Purdue University 1982-86; Big Ten Coach of the Year 1984), born in Fresno, California (d. 2021)
  • 1944-06-11 James "Ox" van Hoften, American astronaut (STS 11, STS 20), born in Fresno, California

Tom Seaver (1944-2020)

1944-11-17 American Baseball HOF pitcher (NL Cy Young Award 1969, 73, 75; 12 x MLB All Star; NY Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago WS), born in Fresno, California [1]

  • 1945-01-19 Charles Amirkhanian, American composer, born in Fresno, California
  • 1946-08-18 Derryl Cousins, American baseball umpire (World Series 1988, 99, 2005; MLB All-Star Game 1987, 98, 2008), born in Fresno, California (d. 2020)
  • 1948-07-20 Richard H. Lehman, American politician (Rep-D-CA, 1983-95), born in Fresno, California
  • 1952-07-31 Alan Autry, American football quarterback (Green Bay Packers), actor (In the Heat of the Night) and politician (23rd Mayor of Fresno), born in Shreveport, Louisiana
  • 1953-10-16 Tony Carey, American rock keyboardist, and singer-songwriter (Rainbow; Planet P Project), born in Watsonville, California
  • 1956-07-08 Millard Hampton, American athlete (Olympic gold 4x100m relay 1976), born in Fresno, California
  • 1957-05-27 Bruce Furniss, American swimmer (Olympic gold men's 200m freestyle WR, 4x200m freestyle relay WR 1976; WR men's 200m IM 2:06.08 1975), born in Fresno, California
  • 1961-07-21 Henry Ellard, American NFL wide receiver (Washington Redskins), born in Fresno, California
  • 1961-11-02 Jim Tedford, American football coach (Fresno State; BC Lions [CFL]), born in Lynwood, California
  • 1965-01-06 Tim McDonald, American football safety (Super Bowl 1995; First-team All-Pro 1989; 6 × Pro Bowl; St. L/Phoenix Cardinals, SF 49ers), born in Fresno, California
  • 1966-06-21 Rudi Bakhtiar, American journalist (CNN), born in Fresno, California
  • 1968-07-27 Tom Goodwin [Thomas Jones], American MLB player (1994-1997 KC Royals), born in Fresno, California
  • 1969-03-19 Gary Jules, American singer and songwriter, born in Fresno, California
  • 1969-06-08 J.P. Manoux, American actor, born in Fresno, California
  • 1970-02-10 Bobby Jones, American pitcher (NY Mets), born in Fresno, California
  • 1970-11-05 Ryan Wetnight, American NFL tight end (Chicago Bears), born in Fresno, California
  • 1974-08-14 Christopher Gorham, American actor, born in Fresno, California
  • 1975-08-19 Chynna Clugston Flores, American comic book creator (Blue Monday), born in Fresno, California
  • 1979-12-27 Carson Palmer, American NFL quarterback (Heisman Trophy 2002, USC; Pro Bowl 2005, 06, 15; Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals), born in Fresno, California
  • 1981-04-03 DeShawn Stevenson, American basketball player, born in Fresno, California
  • 1986-07-08 Kevin Chappell, American golfer (US Open 2011 3rd; Haskins Award 2008), born in Fresno, California
  • 1988-11-02 Lindze Letherman, American actress (General Hospital), born in Fresno, California