Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n 1927:<\/strong> \u201cLucky Lindy\u201d Charles Lindbergh<\/a> touched down in Chicago in his Spirit of St. Louis aircraft to promote commercial air travel several months after his historic solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: The city\u2019s aviation obsession as the Chicago Air and Water Show takes flight<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cWe have entered the era of commercial aviation,\u201d Lindbergh told a crowd<\/a> of 35,000 at Soldier Field. \u201cIt is necessary to have the cooperation of you and other citizens in aviation to accomplish what must be done. You have a good airport in Chicago. I understand that you intend to construct a landing field on the lake front. If so it will probably be one of the best if not the best in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n 1937:<\/strong>\u00a0Carrying banners stating,\u00a0\u201cChicago Will Stamp Out Syphilis,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0about 1,500 young volunteers from the National Youth Administration paraded through the Loop. They then dispersed throughout the city to ask residents if they would be willing to submit to free, voluntary blood tests to detect the venereal disease.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Friday the 13th<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cA year ago, syphilis for you young folks and your parents, too, was mysterious, a secret shame. Its name could hardly be whispered among respectable people,\u201d said Paul de Kruif, an author and microbiologist who addressed the marching boys and girls. \u201cToday you have dared to march under syphilis-defying banners. It is you young fighters who have smoked one of mankind\u2019s most secret enemies out into the open.\u201d<\/p>\n 1978:<\/strong> Aurora-raised meteorologist Tom Skilling returned to Chicago from Milwaukee to begin broadcasting the weather at WGN-TV. He took the place of another beloved forecaster \u2014 Harry Volkman \u2014 who left WGN to join WBBM-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n Skilling \u2014 known for his informative segments filled with maps and graphics \u2014 gave his final forecast<\/a> as WGN\u2019s chief meteorologist on Feb. 29, 2024.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: 10 facts about Tom Skilling\u2019s long and storied career<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s especially amazing about WGN is the bond between this television station and you, our viewers,\u201d Skilling said in his sign-off address. \u201cThank you from the bottom of my heart, because in this line of work, if no one watches us, we don\u2019t have a job. So thank you for 45 extraordinary and loyal years of viewership.\u201d<\/p>\n 1987:<\/strong> Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame<\/a> left fielder and coach Billy Williams<\/a> became the second Cubs player \u2014 after fellow Hall of Famer \u201cMr. Cub\u201d Ernie Banks \u2014 to have his jersey retired<\/a>\u00a0by the team.<\/p>\n 1993:<\/strong> Officials identified a body found in Gum Swamp<\/a>, about 60 miles southwest of Fayetteville, N.C., as Michael Jordan\u2019s father, James Jordan<\/a>.<\/p>\n Michael Jordan: Top moments and stats in the life and career of the Chicago Bulls and NBA legend<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Daniel Green and Larry Demery<\/a> are each serving life sentences for shooting James Jordan during what prosecutors said was a botched robbery, then dumping his body off of a bridge near the North Carolina state line and riding around in his stolen red Lexus for several days.<\/p>\n Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\n
![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-CTHIST-CTHIST-AKI-298-CT_F_226343909.jpg\")
Police on motorcycles escort Col. Charles Lindbergh as his plane taxied up to a hangar on Aug. 13, 1927, at Municipal Airport (now called Chicago’s Midway International Airport), after flying over Chicago’s downtown area, including Soldier Field. Lindbergh left his plane at the hangar and returned to Soldier Field to deliver a speech on the importance of commercial aviation. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)<\/p>\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-CTHIST-CHILDREN_PARADE_LOOP_IN_CRUSAD-2_229046315.jpg\")
The Chicago Tribune published a photo on Aug. 14, 1937, showing a parade in support of the city’s war on syphilis. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ctc-l-tomskill-11jpg-CT0133966385.jpg\")
Tom Skilling at WGN-Ch. 9 in the late 1970s. (WGN-TV)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Flags](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-29MORRISSEYJMP-B_SPT-082905-P6-KWS-CT-00242870C_Cub828016_189743097.jpg\")
Flags representing retired jerseys for Hall of Fame Chicago Cubs players Billy Williams (No. 26) and Ryne Sandberg (No. 23) wave atop a foul pole at Wrigley Field on Aug. 28, 2005. (Jos\u00e9 M. Osorio\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-CT-james-jordan02_182052031.jpg\")
James Jordan’s ashes were interred at a small cemetery beside Rockfish AME Church in Teachey, North Carolina in August 1993. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n