12 July 1979 42 years after becoming the 41st member of the commonwealth, the Nation of Kiribati celebrates its independence. "Mr. President, ladies, and gentlemen, I am privileged that her majesty the Queen has commanded me to represent her at these independence celebrations. By the general wish of its people, Kiribati has today become a sovereign democratic republic. The responsibility of the Queen and her majesty's government in the United Kingdom for the Gilbert Islands has ended. A new, mor

On July 27, 1979 in one of the first ladder matches in professional wrestling history, Big Daddy Ritter (later known as the The Junkyard Dog) defeated Jake Roberts to win the Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship and $1,000 at a Stampede Wrestling Show in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The match is called by Ed Whalen. The ladder is being held by Wayne Hart, the older brother of Bret and Owen Hart. Ritter had previously lost the belt to Roberts on April 6th. | Davenport Sports Ne