Events in Gainesville History
- 1958-11-10 WUFT TV channel 5 in Gainesville, FL (PBS) begins broadcasting
- 1971-04-07 WCJB TV channel 20 in Gainesville, FL (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting 3-judge US Circuit Court of Appeals
- 1990-08-26 2 murdered college students found in Gainesville, Florida
Famous People from Gainesville
- 1888-03-17 Frank Buck, American actor (Africa Screams, Tiger Queen, Tiger Fangs), born in Gainesville, Texas (d. 1950)
- 1945-05-30 Gladys Horton, American pop singer (The Marvelettes - "Please Mr. Postman"; "Too Many Fish In The Sea"), born in Gainesville, Florida (d. 2011) [some sources have birth year as1944]
- 1945-08-22 James G Richardson, actor (Tim Cassidy-Sierra), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1947-09-21 Don Felder, American rock guitarist and songwriter (The Eagles, 1974-2001 - "Hotel California"), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1948-11-05 Charles Bradley, American R&B and funk singer, known as 'The Screaming Eagle of Soul', born in Gainesville, Florida (d. 2017)
Tom Petty (1950-2017)
1950-10-20 American classic rock singer and songwriter (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - "American Girl"; Traveling Wilburys - "Last Night"; solo -"I Won't Back Down"), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1953-10-28 Desmond Child [John Barrett], American-Hungarian songwriter (Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer"; Aerosmith - "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)"; Ricky Martin - "Livin' la Vida Loca"), and producer, born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1954-09-07 Benmont Tench, American rock keyboardist (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1955-05-21 Stan Lynch, American rock drummer (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1976-94), producer, and songwriter, born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1955-05-30 Jake "The Snake" Roberts, American pro wrestler (WWE Hall of Fame), born in Gainesville, Texas
- 1955-05-31 Laura Baugh, American golfer, writer, broadcaster (LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year 1973), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1959-09-03 Merritt Butrick, American actor (Square Pegs), born in Gainesville, Florida (d. 1989)
- 1961-07-15 Scott Ritter, American UN weapons inspector in Iraq and convicted sex offender, born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1964-01-05 Tracy Ham, American College/Canadian Football HOF quarterback (Georgia Southern Uni; Grey Cup 1987, 1995 [MVP]; CFL All-Star 1989; Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1966-08-17 Rodney Mullen, American skateboarder ("Godfather of modern freestyle skating"; 35 x world titles), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1966-09-04 Jearl Miles Clark, American athlete (Olympic gold 4x400m relay 1996, 2000; World C'ship gold 400m 1993; 4x400m relay 1993, 95, 2003), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1967-05-22 John Vanderslice, American rock musician and producer, born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1969-01-18 Marvin Pope, American CFL defensive end (Calgary Stampeders), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1972-07-27 Maya Rudolph, American actress and comedian (Bridemaids), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1972-08-15 Freddie Solomon, American football wide receiver (NFL Philadelphia Eagles, 1993-98: Arena League, 2003-07), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1973-02-02 Sergio Gonzalez, American pop singer (Menudo, 1986-90 - "Cannonball"), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1973-12-12 Reinard Wilson, American football linebacker (Cincinnati Bengals), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 1979-01-18 Kenyatta Jones, American NFL and arena football player (New England Patriots and 3 other teams, born in Gainesville, Florida (d. 2018)
- 1985-05-21 Andrew Miller, American MLB baseball pitcher (Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, and 5 other teams), born in Gainesville, Florida
- 2002-10-09 Ben Shelton, American tennis player, born in Gainesville, Florida
Famous Americans
'Philadelphia' Jack O'Brien
50 Cent
A Boogie wit da Hoodie
A. E. Douglass
A. J. Foyt
Aaron Burr