MAY 25

1935: Jesse Owens, a sophomore at Ohio State University, breaks world records in the 220-yard low hurdles, the 220-yard dash and the long jump. Owens also ties the 100-yard dash world record — all within a 45-minute span.

1935: Babe Ruth hits the final home run of his Major League Baseball career, hitting number 714 for the Boston Braves in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He would announce his retirement later that season. Ruth's career home run record would stand for nearly 40 years — until it is broken by Hank Aaron, playing for the Atlanta Braves.

1961: President John F. Kennedy goes before Congress to request multibillion-dollar funding for NASA's Apollo program, in hopes of landing a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Although at the time only one American had gone into space and none had yet orbited the Earth, Kennedy's ambitious dream would become a reality on July 20, 1969, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin touch down on the lunar surface.

1977: "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ..." The blockbuster film Star Wars, directed by George Lucas, is released in theaters, inspiring legions of dedicated fans and becoming an immeasurable influence on pop culture, filmmaking, special effects and the science-fiction genre.

1992: With Billy Crystal as his first guest, Jay Leno debuts as the permanent host of The Tonight Show, succeeding longtime host Johnny Carson.