Today in history: April 1
North Carolina said Hall of Fame basketball coach Roy Williams was retiring; the decision came two weeks after Williams closed his 18th season with the Tar Heels.
1865: Civil War
In 1865, during the Civil War, Union forces routed Confederate soldiers in the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia.
1924: Adolf Hitler
In 1924, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich.
1970: Richard M. Nixon
In 1970, President Richard M. Nixon signed a measure banning cigarette advertising on radio and television, to take effect after Jan. 1, 1971.
1972: Major League Baseball
On April 1, 1972, the first Major League Baseball players’ strike began; it lasted 12 days. Twenty years later, on April 1, 1992, the National Hockey League Players’ Association went on its first-ever strike, which lasted 10 days.
1975: Lon Nol
In 1975, with Khmer Rouge guerrillas closing in, Cambodian President Lon Nol resigned and fled into exile, spending the rest of his life in the United States.
1976: Steve Jobs
In 1976, Apple Computer was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
2012: Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift was named entertainer of the year for the second year in a row at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
2017: Tracy McGrady
Two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, Kansas coach Bill Self, former Chicago Bulls executive Jerry Krause and former UConn star Rebecca Lobo were among 11 people named to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
2020: Ron DeSantis
Under growing pressure, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined his counterparts in more than 30 states in issuing a stay-at-home order.
2021: Robert E. Lee
Virginia’s highest court ruled that the city of Charlottesville could take down two statues of Confederate generals, including one of Robert E. Lee that became the focus of a violent white nationalist rally in 2017.
2021: Roy Williams
North Carolina said Hall of Fame basketball coach Roy Williams was retiring; the decision came two weeks after Williams closed his 18th season with the Tar Heels.