Highlights of 1980 from Pocantico Hills School

By Anthony G. and Taylor

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

The year 1988 has many interesting events. George W. Bush wins the Presidential election in 1988 and Dustin Hoffman wins the best actor award starring in Rain Man. The first McDonalds in Moscow opens in 1988.The Soviet Union finally pulls their troops out of Afghanistan. Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders wins the Heisman Trophy. 60 Minutes and the Cosby Show are two really popular television shows during 1988. The Challenger shuttle takes flight only to crash and burn to pieces. Use of crack cocaine is rising. In 1988 one in sixty babies born in New York in the course of the year is HIV-positive. During this year Britain surgeons perform the first brain cell transplants. Japanese Americans interned during World War II were awarded $20,000 compensation each in 1988. In 1988 The U.S. debt reaches 1.2 trillion

Jimmy "the Greek" Synder is fired for prejudicial remark made on air on January 16.
The Washington Redskins defeat the Denver Broncos on January 31, 42–10 in Super Bowl XXII.
On February 13 the XV Winter Olympic Games open in Calgary, Canada. U.S. figure skater Brian Boitano and speed skater Bonnie Blair win gold medals. The U.S. wins six medals in all.
Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart confesses to sinning on February 21.
On March 16 Iraqi forces use poison gas against Kurdish civilians in the town of Halabja. At least 4,000 men, women, and children are killed.
From April 2-April 28 the Baltimore Orioles set a major league record by losing their first 21 games of the season.
Sugar Ray Robinson, professional boxer, a six time world champion, died on April 12, in California.
On April 14, Moscow agrees to withdraw its troops (115,000 in all) from Afghanistan by mid-February of 1989 and to restore a neutral Afghan state.
Andy Hampsten becomes the first U.S. rider to win the Giro d'Italia cycle race in May 6.
Sandy Lyle was the first British Golfer to win the U.S. Masters in Augusta, Georgia on April 10.
The Canadian ice hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers, beat the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup, their fourth in five years on May 20.
Nearly 90,000 acres of Yellowstone National Park burn from a massive forest fire during the summer.
The XXIV Summer Olympics are held in Seoul, Korea from September 17 to October 2. U.S. swimmer Matt Biondi wins 5 gold medals and U.S. swimmer Janet Evans wins 3 gold medals. The biggest story of the games is the disqualification of sprinter Ben Johnson due to drugs.
The launch of the Discovery September 29 is the first successful launch of a manned space shuttle since the Challenger tragedy more than two years before.
Ted Turner, who purchased the M-G-M library of old films, founds Turner Network Television (TNT), which begins on October 3.
On October 20 the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Oakland Athletics 4 games to 1 in the 1988 World Series.
Vice President George Herbert Walker Bush wins the presidential election on November 6 against Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis with 53% of the popular vote to 46% for Michael Dukakis. George Bush, a republican, becomes the first sitting vice president to win a presidential election since 1836.
Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise is released on December 16.
On December 21, 270 people are killed over Scotland by a terrorist bomb on Pan Am Flight 103.
In November Runner Grete Waitz wins her ninth New York marathon in 11 years.
U.S. golfer Curtis Strange is the first golfer to earn a million dollars in prize money in 1988.

60th Annual Academy Award
Best Actor: Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man
Best Actress: Jodie Foster in the Accused
Best Picture: Rain Man

Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy: Cheers
Outstanding Drama: LA Law

Annual Grammy Awards
Record of the Year: Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
Song of the Year: Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
Best New Artist: Tracey Chapman

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

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last updated 03/15/06