What Happened on January 1, 1981

Historical Events

  • 47th Orange Bowl: #4 Oklahoma beats #2 Florida State, 18-17
  • 47th Sugar Bowl: #1 Georgia beats #7 Notre Dame, 17-10
  • 67th Rose Bowl: #5 Michigan beats #16 Washington, 23-6
  • Greece is 10th country to join European Economic Community
  • International Year for the Disabled begins
  • Palau (Trust Territory of Pacific Is) becomes self-governing

"The War of the End of the World"

Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa publishes his historical novel "The War of the End of the World"

  • Roger Smith becomes CEO of General Motors
1981 History

Famous Birthdays

  • Eden Riegel, American actress (All My Children), born in Washington, D.C.
  • Jonas Armstrong, Irish-born British actor (Robin Hood), born in Dublin, Ireland
  • Naughty Boy [Shahid Khan], British DJ, record producer, songwriter and musician ("La La La"), born in Watford, England
  • Zsolt Baumgartner, Hungarian auto racer (German Formula Renault C'ship 1999), born in Debrecen, Hungary
Born in 1981

Famous Deaths

  • Ceferino Garcia, Filipino boxer (World Middleweight champion 1939-40), dies at 74
  • Hephzibah Menuhin, American-Australian concert pianist, dies at 60

Mauri Rose (1906-1981)

American auto racer and three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 (1941, 1947-48), dies at 74


1981 Highlights

About January 1, 1981

Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 43 years, 2 months and 28 days
Leap Year: No

Generation: Millennial
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Capricorn

Holidays: New Year's Day (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States)

Music Charts

  • US #1 Song: (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
  • UK #1 Song: There's No One Quite Like Grandma - St Winifred's School Choir