The Birthday Times - Mentor Celebrates 50th Birthday on December 18

The city of Mentor was officially born on December 18, 1963.  As its 50th Anniversary Year comes to and end, let's look back at the year 1963 and some historic facts from Mentor's beginnings.  

News from 1963

• The nation mourns the loss of President Kennedy.  Lyndon B. Johnson assumes the presidency - no vice president
• LBJ spoke at the Lincoln Memorial ending a month of mourning for JFK.
• The Beverly Hillbillies and Hazel were the top rated TV shows.
• The L.A. Dodgers led by Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale defeat the NY Yankees in the World Series.
• Cape Canaveral changed its name to Cape Kennedy.
• The Beatles score a #1 hit with I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND.
• Bobby Fischer became a 5x chess champion.
• USC defeats Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl
• Jean Nidetch founded Weight Watchers
• Cassettes for tape recorders and Kodak Instamatic Cameras were introduced
• Polaroid introduced color film.  Color TV relayed by satellite for the first time
• Jackie Meyer from Sandusky, Ohio is Miss America
• MLK speech I HAVE A DREAM is shared for the first time.
• Bell Telephone introduced touch tone phones.
• Zip Codes become the norm.
• Gasoline cost a quarter per gallon.

People sharing Mentor's Birthday or age

• Betty Grable, 1916
• Ty Cobb, 1886
• Steven Spielberg, 1947 
• Robert Moses, 1888
• Fischer Quintuplets
• Tatum O'Neal
• Spudd Webb

Ohio in 1963

• James Rhodes is Governor
• Pro Football HOF becomes a reality and destined for Canton, Ohio
• Cleveland Public Schools desegregation crisis draws national attention.

Mentor in 1963

• Robert Brewer becomes the first mayor
• Robert Moon serves as first city manager
• Mentor Council members were Alfred G. Howells, Joseph A. Atzberger, Robert P. Brewer, Ken B. Freeman, Edwin Harriger, Richard Kostic, Leonard Shrewsbury, Francis M. Osborne, Donald E. Krueger.

Happy Birthday Mentor and many more!