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Georgia History Timeline / Chronology 1961
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| January 6, 1961 |
Macon judge William Bootle instructs the University of Georgia to admit Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes to the University, finding that they had been excluded from admission simply because they were black
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Donald L. Hollowell |
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University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) |
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The Road to Integration
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| January 7, 1961 |
After meeting with attorney Griffin Bell and others, segregationist governor Earnest Vandiver moves to stay Bootle's order to desegregate the University of Georgia
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University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) |
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Ernest Vandiver, Jr. |
| January 9, 1961 |
Bootle stays his ruling forcing the University of Georgia to desegregate. Bootle's stay is ruled "improvidently granted" by an Atlanta judge. Vernon Jordan is told to escort Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes to UGA to register for class. Georgia Governor Earnest Vandiver, who is required by law to close integrated schools does so in a way that UGA can keep operating at least for a few days: He cuts off state funding.
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Donald L. Hollowell |
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University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) |
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Ernest Vandiver, Jr. |
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The Road to Integration
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| January 10, 1961 |
Judge W. A. Bootle issues a temporary injunction preventing Georgia governor Earnest Vandiver from cutting off funds to the University of Georgia to prevent black Americans from attending class.
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Donald L. Hollowell |
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University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) |
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Ernest Vandiver, Jr. |
| January 10, 1961 |
University of Georgia quarterback Fran Tarkenton, picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the draft, announces he has signed a contract with the expansion team
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| January 11, 1961 |
Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes attend their first classes at UGA. Following a nighttime basketball game, a rowdy group surrounds Hunter's dorm and is broken up by Athens police. Hunter and Holmes are suspended "for their own protection."
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University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) |
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Donald L. Hollowell |
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The Road to Integration
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| January 11, 1961 |
Racists riot in front of Myers Hall, where Charlayne Hunter had been living, prompting University of Georgia officials to suspend Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, another black student, for their "own safety."
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University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) |
| January 12, 1961 |
Judge Bootle orders UGA to readmit Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes and charges Governor Ernest Vandiver with the responsibility of protecting them
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Donald L. Hollowell |
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The Road to Integration
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Ernest Vandiver, Jr. |
| January 12, 1961 |
Judge W. A. Bootle strikes down a state law designed to cut off funding if the University of Georgia becomes integrated.
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Donald L. Hollowell |
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University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) |
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Ernest Vandiver, Jr. |
| January 16, 1961 |
Emotions by Brenda Lee peaks at #7
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Brenda Lee
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| January 19, 1961 |
In an attempt to deal with federal pressure to integrate schools, Gov. Earnest Vandiver proposes an amendment to the Georgia constitution that ends all laws designed to maintain segregated schools. In order to have it pass the overwhelmingly pro-segregation legislature, he includes a local option to close schools or integrate. This date is often noted as January 18.
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The Road to Integration
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Ernest Vandiver, Jr. |
| January 21, 1961 |
Dean Rusk becomes Secretary of State under John F. Kennedy
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Dean Rusk
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| February 1, 1961 |
Sprite, a lemon-lime competitor of 7-Up, is introduced by Coca-Cola
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Coca-Cola |
| March 29, 1961 |
The 23th Amendment to the Constitution, Presidential vote for Washington D. C., becomes law. Georgia does not ratify.
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Georgia, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution
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| March 31, 1961 |
F3 tornado strikes Dooly County, killing 1 and injuring 14. More than 2.5 million dollars in damage. Tornadoes also strike Schley, Houstoun, Pulaski, Bleckley, Laurens, Worth and Tattnall counties.
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Tattnall County, Georgia |
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Laurens County, Georgia |
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Houston County, Georgia |
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Schley County, Georgia |
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Dooly County, Georgia |
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Bleckly County, Georgia |
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Worth County, Georgia |
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Pulaski County, Georgia |
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Georgia Tornadoes |
| April 2, 1961 |
Powder Springs added to the Metro Atlanta telephone calling area
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| April 2, 1961 |
Alpharetta added to the Metro Atlanta telephone calling area
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| April 3, 1961 |
You Can Depend on Me by Brenda Lee peaks at #6
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Brenda Lee
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| April 10, 1961 |
South Africa's Gary Player wins at Augusta National. He becomes the first foreign golfer to wear the green jacket.
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| April 12, 1961 |
Textile magnate Cason J. Callaway, who founded Callaway Gardens, dies |
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Cason J. Callaway |
| April 13, 1961 |
Judy Garland, appearing at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, sings Over the Rainbow as her first encore
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| May 6, 1961 |
Attorney General Robert Kennedy speaks at Law Day, University of Georgia Law School, Athens
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University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) |
| June 3, 1961 |
Secretary of State Dean Rusk accompanies President John F. Kennedy for talks with Soviet Premiere Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna. At this meeting Khrushchev demands the Berlin crisis be resolved by December. Kennedy responds "It will be a cold winter." This is regarded as one of the earliest tests of Kennedy's resolve.
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Dean Rusk
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| June 6, 1961 |
Art Gillham dies of a heart attack, Atlanta, Georgia |
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Art Gillham |
| June 26, 1961 |
Dum Dum peaks at #4
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Brenda Lee
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| July 17, 1961 |
Ty Cobb dies from complications of diabetes and cancer.
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Ty Cobb |
| July 30, 1961 |
Actor Laurence Fishburne born, Augusta, Georgia
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Laurence Fishborne |
| September 15, 1961 |
W. W. Law is fired from his job as a Savannah postal worker after the election of G. Elliot Hagan of Sylvania, (Screven County) GA. who made it a campaign promise to have the NAACP leader fired from his job as a postal worker.
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City of Savannah, Georgia |
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The Road to Integration
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| October 9, 1961 |
Fool #1 peaks at #3
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Brenda Lee
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| October 14, 1961 |
Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles reaches Number 1
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Ray Charles |
| November 2, 1961 |
Temperature in Atlanta reaches 84 degrees, the warmest ever in November
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| December 16, 1961 |
Martin Luther King is arrested in Albany, Georgia while attempting to desegregate public facilities in the city.
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Martin Luther King
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Albany, Georgia |
| December 28, 1961 |
Edith Bolling Wilson dies, Washington, D. C.
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Woodrow Wilson |
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