January 16th
1547
Ivan the Terrible was crowned the first czar of Russia.
1883
The U.S. Civil Service Commission established.
1920
A year after it was ratified, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, went into effect.
1942
Actress Carole Lombard, the wife of actor Clark Gable, died in a plane crash.
1976
The TV show "Donny & Marie" premiered on ABC-TV.
1981
Leon Spinks was mugged. Even his gold teeth were taken by the assailants.
1991
Operation Desert Storm was announced by the White House.
1992
The El Salvador government signed a peace treaty with guerrilla forces, formally ending 12 years of civil war.
2001
Laurent Kabila, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was assassinated.
2003
Space shuttle Columbia blasted off on what would be its final mission. The craft broke up on its descent on Feb. 1, killing all on board.
Birthdays
74 A.J. Foyt Auto racer
61 John Carpenter Movie director
40 Roy Jones, Jr. Boxer
35 Kate Moss Model
29 Albert Pujols Baseball player
76 Ethel Merman 1/16/1908 - 2/15/1984 American entertainer
64 Dizzy Dean 1/16/1910 - 7/17/1974 American baseball great