Today in Chicago History: John Wayne Gacy convicted

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Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 12, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 81 degrees (1990)
  • Low temperature: 1 degree (1948)
  • Precipitation: 1.72 inches (1902)
  • Snowfall: 4.4 inches (1991)
This woodcut depicting one of Chicago’s earliest calamities, the disastrous flood in the Chicago River on March 12, 1849 — which carried away every bridge and half the shipping in the river — was discovered in an old vault in 1897. It was based on a daguerreotype taken on the day of the disaster by P. von Schneidau, early photographer. (Chicago Tribune)

1849: An ice flood in the Chicago River tore ships from moorings and hurled them, along with blocks of ice, against bridges. The bridges at Madison, Randolph and Wells streets were swept away.

Singer Harry Belafonte, left, greets Coretta Scott King, center, and the Rev. Martin Luther King before King addressed the Chicago Freedom Festival audience on March 12, 1966, at the International Amphitheatre. Editors note: This historic print shows some hand painting in the background. (William Bender/Chicago Tribune)
Singer Harry Belafonte, left, greets Coretta Scott King and the Rev. Martin Luther King before King addressed the Chicago Freedom Festival audience on March 12, 1966, at the International Amphitheatre. Editors note: This historic print shows some hand painting in the background. (William Bender/Chicago Tribune)

1966: At the star-studded Chicago Freedom Festival fundraiser — featuring Harry Belafonte, Dick Gregory, Mahalia Jackson and Sidney Poitier — the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. told the more than 12,000 people in attendance that a Black person in Chicago is an alien in an affluent society. He also said he came to Chicago to give the Black community dignity, self-respect and power.

Bobby Hull proudly displays a puck in March 1966, symbolic of his highest scoring effort in a single season. (Chicago Tribune archive)
Bobby Hull displays a puck in March 1966, symbolic of his highest scoring effort in a single season. (Chicago Tribune archive)

Also in 1966: Bobby Hull became the first NHL player to exceed 50 goals in a regular season. Hull scored No. 51 — a 50-feet slap shot from center ice — in the third period against New York Rangers goaltender Cesare Maniago. The game was delayed for seven minutes and 33 seconds for “one of the most hysterical demonstrations in (Chicago) Stadium history,” the Tribune reported.

Hull went into the game tied with Maurice “Rocket” Richard of the Montreal Canadiens as the only players who had scored 50 goals in a season.

John Wayne Gacy was found guilty on March 12, 1980, of killing 33 young men. (Chicago Tribune)
John Wayne Gacy was found guilty March 12, 1980, of killing 33 young men. (Chicago Tribune)

1980: After five weeks of testimony from psychiatrists, police, neighbors, acquaintances and family members of the victims, the jury of seven men and five women took less than two hours to convict serial killer John Wayne Gacy of killing 33 young men.

John Wayne Gacy: Timeline of the suburban Chicago serial killer’s case and the efforts to recover, name his 33 victims

Gacy was sentenced to death the next day. He was executed May 10, 1994, at Stateville Penitentiary near Joliet.

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