Peoria High School - Panther Yearbook (Peoria, AZ)

Page 30 text:

75-76. . ,A Headline Year There were many events that influenced major decisions in almost everyone's life. The following are some highlights, good and bad, of 75-76. THE NATION AND THE WORLD: Louis Bombacino, former underworld member who testified for the FBI, was killed when a bomb that wa.s planted in his car went off. Bambacino had been living under an assumed identity in Tempe since testifying against the Chicago Mob. In November, Judge Robert Muir ruled that Karen Anne Quinlan, 21, must be kept alive by her doctors, if possible. As a result of combining tranquilizers and alcohol, Karen had been in a coma for seven months. Her parents had requested legal permission to turn off the respirator and allow Karen to die naturally. In numerous cities doctors went out on strike in protest of malpractice insurance rates. The Los Angeles area was hit the hardest in early January. Phoenix voters elected their first woman mayor, Mrs. Margaret Hance, Americans and foreign investors began pulling out of Beirut as government troops and guerrillas stepped up their war. In Africa, The Angloan war continued and foreign mercenaries were being recruited around the world. The big craze of 1976 was having a pet rock . Even a Pet Rock Show was held where rocks were judged on their ability to do tricks, their personality and general appearance. Patty Hearst, granddaughter of the famous William Randolph Hearst, was captured by FBI agents in San Francisco. Simbionese Liberation Army members ha.d kidnapped Ms. Hearst 19 months earlier. She testified that they had brainwashed her into participating in their activities. Ms. Hearst was sought as a fugitive after she was photographed holding up a bank and identified as a member in a shootout. A forest service employee claimed to have been picked up by a flying saucer in the Heber area in October '75 and to have been held captive for several days. Several other employees claimed to have seen him disappear near a saucer-shaped object with a blur glow. Their stories were confirmed with lie-detector tests. School bussing created bloody conflicts in Boston and Louisville. Japanese Emperor Hirohito visited the United States. Supersonic jet Concorda created a controversy when it was given clearance to land in the United States. The supersonic jet is banned from production in the U.S. FDA ruled that companies can no longer use Red Dye No. 2 in their products. After running tests on rats, they feel that Red Dye No. 2 may induce cancer afte long usage. IN ECONOMICS AND POLITICS: Two assassination attempts were made on the life of President Gerald Ford in the fall of '75, The first attempt was made by Lynette Squeaky Fromme, an associate of Charles Manson. The second attempt was made by FBI informer Sarah Moore. Both attemp were made in California. Economic conditions were still bad as inflation climbed, unemployment lingered around 92, and prices soared on many items. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, former Governor of New York, dropped out of the 1976 political race. Although he gave no specific reason, politicians speculated that it was to prevent dissention in the GOP party and to free President Ford to pick a more

Page 29 text:

Left: FHA members prepare the heart for the Sweetheart Dance. Bottom Left: Teresa Johnson, President of FHA, congratulates Sam after announcing that he won Bachelor. Below: The Sweetheart Dance was a great success as shown by the enthusiastic crowd.

Page 31 text:

acceptable running mate. In November President Ford fired CIA Director William Colby and Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger. George Bush succeeded Colby and Donald Rumsfeld replaced Schlesinger. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger also stepped down as head of the National Security Council and was replace by Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft. Postal rates were increased on Dec. 31 to 13C for first-class mail. It was previously 100. New York City went Bankrupt during fall of 1975, while W. T. Grant announced bankruptcy and closed its doors. PEOPLE: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were remarried and established their new home in South Africa. Rex Stout, famous mystery author, died. He was the director ofNero Wofe and had written 52 books which had sold over 45 million copies. in 22 languages. Euell Gibbons died of natural causes at the age of 64. He was a famous naturalist who had made numerous TV commercials. Generalissimo Francisco Franco, 82, dictator of Spain, died after a lingering illness. He had been dictator for 36 years. Dame Agatha Christie died at the age of 85. She was the famed creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, fictional detectives. Dame Christie sold more than 85 novels in her lifetime. Percy Faith, famous musician and conductor, died at the age of 67. On January 9, Chinese Primier Chou En-Iai died of cancer at the age of 78. Chou had been premier of Communist China since 1949. Eldridge Cleaver, in exile for 7 years, returned to the U.S. to face charges of attempted murder. Cleaver, a radical during the 60's, said he would rather return to the U,S, and face these charges than to continue to live abroad where even less freedom was available to him and his family. Cleaver has spent his 7 years of exile living in Cuba, Russia, and France. Sal Mineo, 37, was stabbed to death outside his Hollywood apartment. Mineo was an actor and at the time of his death he was rehearsing for a play. Lily Pons, an opera singer, died of cancer at the age of around 70. LGE J. Cobb, another actor, died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 64. SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT: Pittsburg Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in the Super Bowl. ASU was ranked 42 in the Collegiate Football Ranks in the nation after it defeated 5th ranked Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl, 17-14. Oklahoma, who defeated Michigan, was rated ffl. The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series by defeating the Boston Red Socks, 4 games to 3. Muhammad Ali held on to his heavyweight title by defeating Joe Frazier in Manila during the fall. The short-lived World Football League came to an end as the organization crumbled from lack of funds. The most popular movie of the year was JAWS, The Bermuda Triangle created a new controversy in literature and on film.