Aeromexico Flight Crash

On July 31, 2018, an Aeromexico Embraer 190 crashed shortly after taking off from Durango, Mexico. All 97 passengers and 4 crew members survived. Among those onboard were individuals from Chicago, including Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, who visited Mexico for his birthday celebration.

Olympic Gold for Betty Robinson

The 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam marked a milestone with the inclusion of women’s track events. Betty Robinson from Riverdale, Illinois, won the gold in the 100-meter dash, clocking 12.2 seconds. Her success continued despite injuries from a plane crash, later contributing to a gold medal in the 1936 Olympics as part of the 4-x-100 relay team.

Arlington Park Fire

A five-alarm blaze at Arlington Park’s Post and Paddock Club in 1985 led to the destruction of the main grandstand. Remarkably, within a month, the racecourse resumed events, with 35,000 fans attending the “Miracle Million,” where Teleprompter defeated Greinton, earning Arlington an Eclipse Award.

Walter Payton’s Hall of Fame Induction

Walter Payton, beloved Chicago Bears running back, entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 31, 1993. Renowned as ‘Sweetness,’ Payton held the NFL’s all-time rushing record at 16,726 yards until surpassed by Emmitt Smith in 2002. His contributions live on in the renamed NFL Man of the Year Award, a tribute to his impact on and off the field.

Weather Highlights

Historical weather data for Chicago shows extremes: a high of 99 degrees in 2006, a low of 51 degrees in 1984, and significant precipitation of 1.29 inches way back in 1888.