What Happened on February 17, 1972

Britain Joins the European Community

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti receives record 17 curtain calls after his performance in "La fille du régiment" at New York's Metropolitan Opera

Sales of the Volkswagen Beetle model exceed those of Ford Model T

US President Richard Nixon leaves Washington, D.C. for a groundbreaking trip to China

American singer and musician (Green Day - "Basket Case"; "American Idiot"), born in Oakland, California

Lloy Ball, American volleyball setter (Olympics 1996), born in Ft Wayne, Indiana
Richard MacQuire, Australian canoeist (Olympics 1996), born in Melbourne, Victoria
Stephen Robinson, American rower (Olympics 1996), born in Arlington, Virginia
Taylor Hawkins, American drummer (Foo Fighters - "Everlong"; "My Hero"), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2022)
Tony Lawson, Australian diver (Olympics 1996), born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Valeria Mazza, Argentinian model and businesswoman, born in Rosario, Argentina
Vladimir Vujtek, Czech NHL forward (Team Czech Olympic gold 1998, Tampa Bay), born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia)
William Floyd, American NFL full back, 1994-2000, Super Bowl champ (San Francisco 49ers; Carolina Panthers), and broadcaster, born in Jacksonville, Florida
Yuki Isoya, Japanese pop-rock singer and lyricist (Judy and Mary -"Sobakasu"; NiNa), born in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan

Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 51 years, 7 months and 7 days
Leap Year: Yes

Generation: Generation X
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Aquarius