This Day in History (1966): Najran hosts oil exhibit

From the April 13, 1966, edition of the Sun and Flare

Twenty-three Aramcons, most of them native to the area, flew to Najran to celebrate the opening of the Mobile Oil Exhibit on March 26.

After closing in Bishah at the end of February, the exhibit moved to this southern border city, the farthest point it has reached from its Dhahran origin, for a three-week stay.

The Aramco delegation was headed by Mohammed al-Ma’na, supervisor of Abqaiq Pump Station No. 4, who welcomed the citizens of Majran to the travelling display on behalf of Aramco. The Director of the Municipality of Najran, Shaykh Mohammed ibn Hussain, in turn greeted the delegates and expressed appreciation for the opportunity presented to the citizens of the area to learn more about this vital industry. Deputy Amir of Najran, Shaykh ‘Ulayan al-Mu’ammar, cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the exhibit.

During its first week the exhibit attracted 30,000 visitors, with 19,000 spectators attending film showings.

Caption for top photo: Deputy Governor of Najran, Shaykh ‘Ulayan al-Mu’ammar, center, and his entourage are escorted by Aramco’s Public Relations representative Mohammed Talib, left, into the three-winged Aramco Mobile Oil Exhibit, which opened March 26 in Najran.

Also on this date

1997 – Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament

1976 – The United States Treasury Department reintroduces the two-dollar bill as a Federal Reserve Note on Thomas Jefferson's 233rd birthday as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration

1970 – An oxygen tank aboard the Apollo 13 Service Module explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the Apollo command and service module (codenamed "Odyssey") while en route to the Moon

1964 – At the Academy Awards, Sidney Poitier becomes the first African-American male to win the Best Actor award for the 1963 film Lilies of the Field

1944 – Relations between New Zealand and the Soviet Union are established

1941 – A pact of neutrality between the USSR and Japan is signed

1923 - The Hollywood Sign is officially dedicated in the hills above Hollywood, Los Angeles. It originally reads "Hollywoodland" but the four last letters are dropped after renovation in 1949

1870 – The New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded

1849 – Lajos Kossuth presents the Hungarian Declaration of Independence in a closed session of the National Assembly

1772 - Captain James Cook begins his second voyage to the South Seas aboard the Resolution to search for Terra Australis (Southern continent)

1742 – George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah makes its world premiere in Dublin, Ireland

1612 – In one of the epic samurai duels in Japanese history, Miyamoto Musashi defeats Sasaki Kojirō at Funajima island