Henkels & McCoy, in conjunction with General Telephone & Electronics
Corporation, installs major segments of a highly sophisticated
telecommunications system for the new $20 million, 530-room Jian Guo Hotel
near the Forbidden City in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Despite
formidable obstacles, such as the language barrier, training of local
workers, and infrequent flights for delivering materials, the work is
completed as scheduled. The hotel will open, months ahead of schedule, in
April 1982… Henkels & McCoy purchases four and one-half acres of land
outside Kansas City, Kansas to serve as headquarters for a new Central
Division headquarters… An office is opened in Gibbstown, N.J., and a second
property, close by Philadelphia International Airport, is acquired for use
by H&M’s Industrial Division… The Industrial Division nears completion of
work in a power plant in Weirton, West Virginia. H&M is responsible for
all of the piping and setting of equipment in the building. The job is
scheduled to conclude in October this year…H&M’s Engineering and Industrial
Divisions collaborate in the construction and design of a $5 million
addition to a polymerization and powder grinding facilities at Rilsan
Industrial, Inc. in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania…Henkels & McCoy’s Training
Services celebrates its First Anniversary. The programs offer training in
the burgeoning Cable TV industry. Training facilities are located in Blue
Bell, Pa., Davisville, Rhode Island and Norristown, Pennsylvania… The
Mechanical Department of H&M’s Industrial Division puts finishing touches on
a multi-million dollar, multi-trade effort for the ARCO Petroleum Products
Company in their Philadelphia, Pa. Refinery.
MILESTONE PROJECT
On September 28, 1981 Henkels & McCoy becomes the first company to erect
a major vessel in an oil refinery using a floating barge derrick.
January 20
Ronald Reagan takes oath as 40th US president. Iran agreement frees 52
hostages held in Teheran since 1979.
January 25
Tehran hostages welcomed back to the US.
 ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS
March 30
President Reagan is shot in the chest by John Hinckley, Jr. in assassination
attempt in Washington, DC. Press Secretary James Brady sustains a serious
head wound. Reagan makes a full recovery. Sarah Brady, wife of the
permanently impaired press secretary, begins a campaign for national
registration of handguns, which will be known, when eventually passed, as
the Brady Bill. This photo was taken just moments before Hinckley burst past
Secret Service agents and into the President's immediate area. Reagan, known
for his wit, quips to surgeons in the emergency room where he is to undergo
an operation to remove the bullet, "I hope you are all Republicans."
May 14
Pope John Paul II, while walking through a crowd, is wounded by a gunman.
His Holiness later visits his would-be killer in prison and forgives him.
 June 22
The US Supreme Court rules, 4–4, that former president Nixon and three top
aides may be required to pay monetary damages for unconstitutional wiretap
of home telephone of former national security aide).
July 7
President Reagan nominates Judge Sandra Day O'Connor, (left) 51, of Arizona, as the
first female Justice to serve on the US Supreme Court.
July 18
More than 110 die and 188 are injured in collapse of an aerial walkway in
the lobby of a Kansas City hotel.
 July 29
Britain's Prince of Wales and heir apparent, the thirty-three year old
Charles, weds the beautiful and much younger commoner, the Lady Diana Spencer, in
Westminster Abbey, London (right). Tragically, despite their storybook romance and lavish
wedding, they will not live happily ever after.
August 3
US air traffic controllers go on an unprecedented strike, disrupting flights
nationwide
August 11
US government fires striking air traffic controllers.
September 25
Sandra Day O'Connor is sworn in as the first woman Supreme Court
Justice.
 ALSO IN 1981:
The Supreme Court rules to allow television cameras in some US courtrooms...
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is first identified... IBM
introduces its first personal computer, running the Microsoft Disk Operating
System (MS-DOS)... Europe's first high-speed passenger train, the TGV,
begins operating out of Lyons, France. Top speed: 0ver 235 miles per hour...
MTV goes on the air running around the clock music videos, debuting with
"Video Killed the Radio Star."...
 The Pacman video game, from Japan, gobbles
up millions of dollars in the world’s video arcades... Susan Powell
(Oklahoma) is crowned Miss America in Atlantic City... Christopher Cross
comes from out of nowhere to win Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and
Song of the Year for his "Sailing." He returns to obscurity almost
immediately.
In Sports
The Oakland Raiders defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in the Super
Bowl... In the 1981 World Series, the LA Dodgers beat the Yankees in four
games to two... NBA Championship Boston Celtics defeat the Houston Rockets
four games to two... Stanley Cup defending Champs NY Islanders defeat
Minnesota (4-1)
That's Show Biz
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Chariots of Fire, On Golden Pond, Reds, Atlantic
City appear in American movie theatres... Ordinary People wins the Best
Picture Oscar.
 What's on TV
Offerings with the top 20 shows include the Happy Days
spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi, Three's Company, the All in the
Family spin-off Archie Bunker's Place, One Day at a Time, Falcon
Crest, Hart to Hart, Magnum, P.I., Trapper John, MD, and Dynasty.
Deaths
Former Boxing Heavyweight Champ Joe Louis.
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, assassinated by rogue soldiers,
while reviewing a military parade.
Bobby Sands, dies in a hunger strike in a Northern Ireland prison. He
becomes a martyr for the IRA cause (left).
Rock & Roll Pioneer Bill Haley passes away.
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