March 9, 1981 (Monday)
- The first successful human heart-lung transplant was performed. A team at the Stanford University Medical Center, led by Dr. Bruce Reitz, used a new technique that retained a portion of the recipient's right atrium. The recipient was Mary Gohlke, a 45 year old woman from Mesa, Arizona, with end-stage primary pulmonary hypertension. The donor was a 15 year old boy who had died from severe head trauma two days earlier
- Dan Rather began a nearly 24 year tenure as lead anchorman for the CBS Evening News, lasting until he was pressured to retire on March 9, 2005.
- Born: Antonio Bryant, NFL wide receiver, in Miami
- Died: Max Delbrück, 74, German biophysicist, 1969 Nobel Laureate; and Steven Judy, 24, Indiana murderer, fourth person to be executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1977.
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Famous quotes containing the word march:
“Averageness is a quality we must put up with. Men march toward civilization in column formation, and by the time the van has learned to admire the masters the rear is drawing reluctantly away from the totem pole.”
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925)