The last day of March is the birthday

. . . of hockey great Gordie Howe, NewMexiKen’s childhood sports hero. Mr. Hockey is 79.

. . . of actor Richard Chamberlain and actress Shirley Jones. They’re both 73 today. Miss Jones won the best supporting actress Oscar for Elmer Gantry.

. . . of trumpeter and record company founder Herb Alpert. He’s 72.

. . . of spooky two-time Oscar nominee Christopher Walken. He’s 64. Walken won the best supporting actor Oscar for The Deer Hunter. He was also nominated for Catch Me If You Can.

. . . of Al Gore. He’s 59.

. . . of two TV sitcom characters, Kotter and Carla. Gabe Kaplan is 62 and Rhea Perlman is 59.

. . . of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Ewan McGregor is 36.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ”Oklahoma!” opened on Broadway on this date in 1943.

”The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams opened on Broadway on this date in 1945.

LBJ stunned the nation on this date in 1968 when he announced “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president.” Read Johnson Says He Won’t Run from The New York Times. Listen to LBJ [mp3].