This Weekend In History…..

Jim Croce Dies in Plane Crash…..

September 20, 1973……

Singer Jim Croce and all five others aboard their aircraft died when they crashed into a tree during takeoff from the airport in Natchitoches, Louisiana. It was the only tree in the area and the crash was blamed on pilot error. They had just completed a concert at Northwestern State University. He was known for the songs, You Don’t Mess Around With Jim (1972), Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (1973, #1), and Time In A Bottle (1973, #1).

First Game of N.F.L. Monday Night Football…..

September 21, 1970……

The Cleveland Browns beat the New York Jets (31-21).

Presidential Assassination Attempt……

September 22, 1975…….

Sara Jane Moore fires a gun at U.S. President Gerald Ford. An ex-marine bystander deflected her gun and apprehended her as she fired. Moore later said she was “blinded by her radical political views” and “I am very glad I did not succeed. I know now that I was wrong to try.” She was given a life sentence, but was released from prison in 2007, after serving 32 years. Two weeks earlier, Charles Manson cult member “Squeaky” Fromme had attempted to assassinate Ford.