Get out your party hats! Baby Boomer Recognition Day is August 17th. This event is an opportunity to celebrate a generation of people worthy of being honored.
Baby Boomers, or colloquially ‘boomers,’ have witnessed massive events globally and have had a tremendous influence on the world. In the spirit of recognizing these folks, let’s peruse some of those events and acknowledge some of the key players who hail from this generation.
The Timeline: 1946-1964
Boomers were born during a post-World War II spike in births and a time of economic prosperity in the United States. In 1946, President Truman proclaimed the end of the war. That same year, nearly three million babies were born, breaking birth records for the country. This ‘boom’ gives us the origins of the generation’s name.
Noteworthy Events
The world shifted in fundamental ways during this time. This era has so many notable events, so we won’t highlight them all. Here are ten that shaped the world:
- 1947 – Edwin Land makes the first “instant camera,” the Polaroid Land Camera
- 1950 – President Truman orders the development of a hydrogen bomb in response to the Soviet Union’s detonation of the world’s first atomic bomb the previous year
- 1952 – The first mechanical heart is placed in a human patient
- 1955 – The first atomically generated electrical power is sold commercially
- 1957 – President Eisenhower desegregates schools in Little Rock, Arkansas
- 1960 – The Senate passes the Civil Rights Bill
- 1962 – The Beach Boys introduce a new musical style
- 1964 – The Beatles debut, launching pop music’s “British Invasion”
Influential People
The Baby Boomer generation boasts many renowned people from every walk of life. While this list is in no way exhaustive, it helps demonstrate the diversity and success of this generation.
Athletes
Michael Jordan, Terry Bradshaw, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Andre The Giant, Arnold Palmer, Rocky Marciano, Julie Krone, Joan Benoit, Nancy Lopez, Cheryl Miller, Florence Griffith Joyner
Musicians
Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, David Bowie, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer
Authors
James Patterson, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Diana Gabaldon, Michael Pollan, Barbara Kingsolver, Tony Robbins, Donna Tartt, Tom Clancy, Louise Erdrich
Scientists
Tim Berners-Lee, Margaret Geller, Alain Aspect, Jennifer Doudna, Robert Sapolsky, Cynthia Kenyon, Simon Conway Morris, Sunetra Gupta, David Graeber, Mae C. Jemison
Actors
Bill Murray, Oprah Winfrey, Samuel L. Jackson, Meryl Streep, Robin Williams, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise, Jamie Lee Curtis, Eddie Murphy, Susan Sarandon, Jodie Foster, Brad Pitt, Angela Bassett, Jeff Bridges, Diane Keaton
Entrepreneurs/Business Owners
Jeff Bezos, Alice Walton, Bill Gates, Larry Page
Ready To Celebrate?
By now, you might be itching to pull out your dancing shoes and celebrate. Watch your favorite films from the era. Dress in duds that reflect the moment. Who knows, since the holiday falls on the anniversary of Woodstock, you might want to relive memories from the summer of love! Whatever you choose to do, don’t forget to give love to a boomer, especially if that person is you!
