A significant time for Henkels & McCoy, with a contract negotiated between
Aeronutronics Overseas Inc. (AOSI) and Henkels & McCoy, Inc. to upgrade the
telephone system for Telecommunications Iran (TCI) in that country's provinces. There
are four phases to this contract, requiring H&M to supply telecommunications
engineers from our Engineering division and construction employees from
various divisions. H&M employees in the US are sent to Iran for six-month
tours of duty. The project consists of H&M telecom engineers hand drawing
existing telephone lines, in manholes and on poles. The information is sent
to the Engineering division in the US for upgrades and re-draw of
construction plans. H&M sends the revised plans to H&M crews in Iran for
construction... James A. Hall, Midwest Division Manager is selected to head
the H&M operations team in Teheran. George Davis is selected as
Administrator, and Herman Hutt is tapped as Engineering Manager... Other
overseas work this year includes the upgrade of communications systems in
Liberia in western Africa as well as installing modern communications
systems in Lagos, Nigeria... January sees emergency power restoration work
in Portland, Oregon following a series of weather and other events causing
$3 million in damages. Additionally, a DC-8 aircraft making an emergency
crash landing in the Portland area killing 10 persons and knocking out power
lines. During the worst part of the ice storms, 60,000 Portland General
Electric and Pacific Power and Light customers are without power for up to
four days.
February 15
Aging Boxer Muhammad Ali is defeated by Leon Spinks, in a decision after 15
rounds.
March 17
Amoco’s Cadiz runs aground near Brest, France in the worst oil spill
on record.
April 6
The age for retirement is raised to 70.
June 6
New residents in California will pay more than their fair share of property
taxes as Proposition 13 passes.
July 13
In a career ending race, star jockey Ron Turcotte is seriously injured at
Belmont Park, New York.
June 16
President Carter and Panamanian President Torrijos formally sign an
agreement stating that control of the Panama Canal will pass to Panama.
July 25
First Test-tube baby is born.
September 15
Muhammad Ali recovers his heavyweight title from Leon Spinks after a
successful rematch.
September 6
President Carter meets with Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli prime
minister Menachem Begin at Camp David.
September 17
Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin
sign Camp David Accord in the White House Rose Garden, ending 30-year
conflict between Egypt and Israel.
November 18
Shock to the world as 912 followers of religious leader Jim Jones in Guyana
commit mass suicide.
A
LSO
IN 1978:
Pope Paul VI dies in Vatican City, and Pope John Paul I succeeds him,
and himself dies after just 34 days in office. Cardinal Karol Joseph Wojtyla
of Poland (right) is elected by the College of Cardinals and takes the name
John Paul II.
Sony Corporation introduces the Walkman.
Double Eagle II is the first successful balloon flight across the
Atlantic Ocean.
Ultrasound is first used as a medical diagnostic tool.
Atlantic City gets the green light for casino gambling.
The United States declares The Love Canal, a neighborhood of the City of
Niagara Falls, New York a federal disaster area following complaints of
residents living near that former chemical dumping ground.
The first video game to reach the mainstream public is Space Invaders.
Counter Culture Notes:
Live Fast - Die Young V and VI
Punk rocker, junkie and ex Sex Pistol bass player Sid Vicious (far left) apparently stabs and kills
his
girlfriend, the rock groupie Nancy Spungen, (left) in a squalid NYC hotel room. Within a
few months, Vicious, free on bail, will die from a heroin overdose. Sid &
Nancy RIP.
At the Movies
Grease and Close Encounters of the Third Kind fill the
multiplexes.
What's on TV
Top three are Laverne & Shirley, Three’s Company and the
all new Mork & Mindy with comedy newcomer, the effervescent Robin
Williams as a hyperactive, enthusiastic visitor from outer space hiding out in mellow
Boulder, Colorado. Na nu na nu. Also "nu" this year, is sitcom WKRP in
Cincinnati centered on the doings at a struggling mid-western AM radio
rock station, featuring characters such as deejays Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus
Flytrap.
In Sports
Jimmy Conners wins the US Open while Chris Everet takes the
women’s title... The first-ever Ironman Triathlon is held in Hawaii.
1978 CHART ACTION
1 NIGHT FEVER - The Bee Gees (RSO)
2 SHADOW DANCING - Andy Gibb (RSO)
3 STAYIN' ALIVE - The Bee Gees (RSO)
4 KISS YOU ALL OVER - Exile (Warner/Curb)
5 HOT CHILD IN THE CITY - Nick Gilder (Chrysalis)
6 BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE - A Taste Of Honey (Capitol)
7 THREE TIMES A LADY - The Commodores (Motown)
8 BABY COME BACK - Player (RSO)
9 (Love Is) THICKER THAN WATER - Andy Gibb (RSO)
10 EMOTION - Samantha Sang (Private Stock)
11 YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (RSO)
12 MacARTHUR PARK - Donna Summer (Casablanca)
13 BAKER STREET - Gerry Rafferty (United Artists)
14 I GO CRAZY - Paul Davis (Bang)
15 MISS YOU - The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)
16 GREASE - Frankie Valli (RSO)
17 LAY DOWN SALLY - Eric Clapton (RSO)
18 YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS - Barbra & Neil (Columbia)
19 YOU NEEDED ME - Anne Murray (Capitol)
20 CAN'T SMILE WITHOUT YOU - Barry Manilow (Arista)
