Ronald H. Brown, the first Black U.S. Secretary of Commerce, died on this date. He was killed in a plane crash in Croatia. He was on a mission to restore the war-ravaged economy of the Balkans. He was headed to Croatia to meet with Croatian officials and to deliver a speech outlining U.S. policies on reconstruction in former Yugoslavia. Sec. Brown was 54 years old.

Astrophysicist Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson was appointed director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City.

Painter Ernie E. Barnes, Jr. was awarded with the "Treasure of Los Angeles" Award on this date.

North Carolina Central University track coach Dr. Leroy Walker left the U.S. Olympic Committee on this date in Atlanta, Georgia. Walker served as head of this committee for four years.

The first African American Civil War Memorial is dedicated on this day in Washington, D.C.