Deaths on August 17

Władysław Komar

Died on August 17, 1998

Władysław Komar, Polish shot putter and actor (b. 1940)

Władysław Stefan Komar (11 April 1940 – 17 August 1998) was a Polish shot putter, actor and cabaretist. Competing in three Summer Olympics between 1964 and 1972, he won the gold medal at the Munich Games in 1972 with a throw of 21.18 metres. His nickname was "King Kong" Komar as attributed to a Sports Illustrated article.

His personal bests in the shot put were 21.19 metres outdoors (Warsaw 1974) and 20.32 metres indoors (Grenoble 1972), both being national records during his career.

References

Władysław Komar

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Events on 1998

4 May

Unabomber
A federal judge in Sacramento, California, gives "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski four life sentences plus 30 years after Kaczynski accepts a plea agreement sparing him from the death penalty.
6 May

Houston Astros
Kerry Wood strikes out 20 Houston Astros to tie the major league record held by Roger Clemens. He threw a one-hitter and did not walk a batter in his fifth career start.
26 May

Ellis Island
The Supreme Court of the United States rules that Ellis Island, the historic gateway for millions of immigrants, is mainly in the state of New Jersey, not New York.
4 Jun

Oklahoma City bombing
Terry Nichols is sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.
5 Jun

General Motors
A strike begins at the General Motors parts factory in Flint, Michigan, that quickly spreads to five other assembly plants. The strike lasts seven weeks.

Deaths on August 17

Władysław Komar

Died on August 17, 1998

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1998

Unabomber

Houston Astros

Ellis Island

Oklahoma City bombing

General Motors