One Man. One City. One Nation. by Kyle Brenton January 27, 1901 - Arthur J. Rooney is born to Daniel and Margaret Rooney in Coultersville, PA. January 1901 - The country's first billion-dollar corporation, U.S. Steel, is founded. October 13, 1903 - Baseball's first modern World Series ends at Exposition Park when the Pittsburgh Pirates lose 4-3 to the Boston Pilgrims, who became known the next year as the Red Sox. March 1910 - The Pittsburgh Courier, which would become one of the nation's leading black newspapers, publishes for the first time. January 7, 1914 - The first ship passes through the newly built Panama Canal. November 11, 1918 - After decisive American intervention throughout the summer, World War I comes to an end at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. 1920-1925 - Art Rooney plays baseball with brother Dan for the Wheeling Stogies. This prevents him from competing in the 1920 Olympics as a boxer. May 11, 1922 - The first Liberty Tube opens. April 24, 1927 - The executive board of the Pittsburgh Symphony is arrested after a Sunday concert, on charges of violating the "blue laws" of 1794. They are found guilty and fined $25 each. October 29, 1929 - The "Black Monday" stock market crash signals the beginning of the Great Depression. June 11, 1931 - Art Rooney marries Kathleen McNulty. November 1932 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt defeats Herbert Hoover in a landslide in the Presidential election. Roosevelt quickly enacts legislation designed to pull America out of the Depression called the New Deal. July 8, 1933 - After Pennsylvania repeals its blue laws prohibiting charging admission for sporting events on Sundays, Art Rooney spends $2500 to purchase a franchise in the National Football League, which he names the Pittsburgh Pirates. March 17, 1936 - The Saint Patrick's Day Flood, in which flood waters crest at 46.4 feet. The flood kills 74, injures more than 300 and leaves 50,000 homeless. June 7, 1937 - The University of Pittsburgh opens the 42-story Cathedral of Learning. 1940 - Rooney's Pirates change their name to the Pittsburgh Steelers. December 7, 1941 - The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor draws America into World War II. 1942 - The Steelers post their first winning season at 7 and 4. 1943 - Due to a shortage of players during the war, the Steelers are temporarily merged with the Eagles and play as the Phil-Pitt "Steagles." The following season they do so again, this time with the Chicago Cardinals. June 6, 1944 - The D-Day invasion of Europe begins. August, 1945 - The United States drops two atomic bombs on Japan, decisively ending World War II. January 7, 1946 - David L. Lawrence, friend of Art Rooney, is sworn in as mayor of Pittsburgh. He serves 12 years as mayor. January 11, 1949 - Pittsburgh's first television station - DuMont's WDTV Channel 2 - goes on the air. June 1950 - North Korea invades South Korea, and America intervenes on behalf of the United Nations. April 1, 1954 - WQED, the world's first community-sponsored educational noncommercial television station, goes on the air. It introduces young Pittsburghers to a puppeteer named Fred Rogers, who becomes the host of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," taped here for more than 30 years. February 24, 1954 - Dr. Jonas Salk begins the first large-scale study of his polio vaccine at Arsenal Elementary School in Lawrenceville. December, 1955 - America's two largest labor unions merge to become the AFL-CIO, which boasts a membership of over 15 million. September, 1961 - Pittsburgh's Civic Arena, with its retractable dome, opens. November 22, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. 1964 - Art Rooney is inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Summer, 1964 - The Beatles "invade" the United States and are greeted by 10,000 screaming fans in New York. They perform in Pittsburgh at the Civic Arena on September 14. March 8, 1965 - Congress authorizes the use of ground troops in Vietnam. Not long afterward, antiwar protests begin. November 21, 1966 - David L. Lawrence dies after suffering a heart attack. July 21, 1969 - Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin become the first men to walk on the moon. July 1970 - Three Rivers Stadium opens, housing both the Steelers and the Pirates. December 23, 1972 - "The Immaculate Reception" Steeler Franco Harris catches a controversial pass to take the team to their first ever playoff victory over the Oakland Raiders. December 31, 1972 - Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente is killed in a plane crash while trying to fly emergency supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua. August 9, 1974 - Amid controversy over the Watergate scandal, President Richard M. Nixon resigns. January 12, 1975 - The Steelers win Super Bowl IX in New Orleans, beating the Minnesota September 1975 - Pittsburgh Public Theater opens its doors on the North Side with a production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. January 18, 1976 - The Steelers win Super Bowl X in Miami, beating the Dallas Cowboys. January 21, 1979 - The Steelers win Super Bowl XIII over the Dallas Cowboys. November 1979 - U.S. Steel announces cuts in production and the elimination of 13,000 jobs. January 20, 1980 - The Steelers win Super Bowl XIV in Pasadena over the Los Angeles Rams. November 28, 1982 - Kathleen Rooney dies at Allegheny General Hospital. July 1986 - U.S. Steel changes its name to USX as part of a major restructuring. August 25, 1988 - Following a stroke, Arthur J. Rooney dies at the age of 87.