1966

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1966

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1966

John B. (Jack) Henkels publishes his memoir, An American Journey, detailing the company's origins and growth. Henkels & McCoy also realizes its plan to move corporate operations from the Germantown section of Philadelphia to nearby suburban Blue Bell, in Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. A groundbreaking ceremony takes place at the new 26-acre site, (shown right). Jack Henkels (center left) and Andy Lewis use pick and spade to officially begin construction.

Henkels & McCoy donates time and labor to rebuild the telephone and public address system aboard the S.S. Hope. In 1958 William B. Walsh, M. D. obtained President Dwight Eisenhower's support to refit a Navy hospital vessel to become the world's first peacetime hospital ship, the S.S. HOPE. With funding from the American people and corporations, the S.S. HOPE became a teaching hospital for medical professionals from disadvantaged countries.

For fourteen years, the S.S. HOPE will make humanitarian voyages to these ports of call: Indonesia (1960), South Vietnam (1961), Peru (1962), Ecuador (1963), Guinea (1964), Nicaragua (1966), Columbia (1967), Sri Lanka (1968), Tunisia (1969), Jamaica (1971), and Brazil (1972 and 1973). The S.S. HOPE retires after 14 years of active duty and Project HOPE becomes a land-based organization, able to tackle multiple missions simultaneously in several countries.

June 20
France withdraws its forces from NATO. President De Gaulle visits the USSR.

June 22
After more than seven years of negotiations, the World Trade Center receives final approval. The proposal was first advanced in January of 1960. The sixteen-acre site, originally envisioned to be located on the East Side will be constructed on Manhattan’s Lower West Side. As a bonus, twenty-four acres of prime New York City real estate will be created from the project’s excavation fill in the nearby Hudson River.

August 5
WTC Groundbreaking ceremonies at the seven building site. Architect Minoru Yamasaki was selected to design the project.

December 1
US troop strength in South Vietnam is estimated at 400,000. More than 6,000 Americans have been killed in this year, and 30,000 have been wounded. In comparison, an estimated 61,000 Vietcong have been killed. However, their troops now numbered over 280,000.

ALSO IN 1966:

India suffers its worst famine in 20 years; Lyndon Johnson asks Congress for $1 billion to aid that country... Indira Gandhi elected first female prime minister of India. Mrs. Gandhi is the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India’s first prime minister.

MIT biochemist Har Khorana finishes deciphering the DNA code.

The Boeing 747 revolutionizes mass air transport. The 231-feet long "Jumbo Jet" can carry over 400 passengers with a range of over 5,500 miles, making it ideal for transatlantic and transpacific flights.

Feminist Betty Friedan forms the Nation Organization for Women (NOW).

Art treasures damaged during severe floods in Florence.

The Cultural Revolution begins in China under Chairman Mao.

Endangered species list published by the Department of the Interior.

Temples of Abu Simble moved to make way for Aswan Dam, in Egypt.

US B-52 with 4 H-bombs crashes near coast of Spain.

First solo voyage around the world by Englishman Francis Chichester.

First family hatchback car, the Renault 18, produced.

"Twister" game introduced.

The Atlanta Hyatt Regency opens with the largest lobby in the world and a rotating, glass-covered restaurant on the roof of the hotel.

Proctor & Gamble markets Pampers.

The Supreme Court issues its "Miranda" ruling, which dictates that suspects must be told that they have a right to legal counsel and that they do not have to answer police questions.

The Vatican rescinds the rule forbidding US Catholics to eat meat on Friday.

The Baltimore Orioles win the World Series.

The Academy award for Best Picture goes to A Man for All Seasons.

What's On TV
Star Trek begins on TV, starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy and boldly goes where no man has gone before -- almost straight into syndication... and away we go! The Jackie Gleason Show stands at number 5... other new shows this year include a different type of western The Virginian, and sitcom Family Affair... the hip and irreverent Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour debuts on CBS... The Andy Griffith Show, at number three, stalks both Red Skelton (2), and at number one, Bonanza, for top place...

Meanwhile, at the Emmys:
The Dick Van Dyke Show takes top honors... Outstanding Comedy Series...Outstanding Continued Performance By an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series (Dick Van Dyke)... Outstanding Continued Performance By an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series (Mary Tyler Moore).

Sports
In the '66 World Series, Baltimore sweeps the Dodgers in four straight games... in the NBA it's the Celtics over the Lakers again, 4 games to 3... Montreal defeats Detroit, 4 games to 2 in the Stanley Cup... Texas Western defeats Kentucky 72- 65 for the NCAA Basketball title... Notre Dame and Michigan State tie at 9-0-1 to share the championship in NCAA Football... Internationally, England beats West Germany 4 goals to 2 in the World Cup Final, in London

At the Movies
A Man for All Seasons, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Alfie, A Man and a Woman

New Books
John Barth, Giles Goat-Boy
Paul Bowles, Up Above the World
Truman Capote, In Cold Blood

Grammys awarded in 1966
Record of the Year: A Taste of Honey, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Album of the Year: September of My Years, Frank Sinatra
Song of the Year: The Shadow of Your Smile

Deaths
Montgomery Clift
Walt Disney

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