Deaths on March 31

Ralph DePalma

Died on March 31, 1956

Ralph DePalma, Italian-American race car driver and actor (b. 1884)

Raffaele "Ralph" De Palma (December 18, 1882 – March 31, 1956) was an Italian-American racecar driving champion who won the 1915 Indianapolis 500. His entry at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame estimates that he won about 2,000 races. DePalma won the 1908, 1909, 1910, and 1911 American AAA national dirt track championships and is credited with winning 24 American Champ car races. He won the Canadian national championship in 1929. DePalma estimated that he had earned $1.5 million by 1934 after racing for 27 years. He is inducted in numerous halls of fame. He competed on boards and dirt road courses and ovals.

References

Ralph DePalma

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Events on 1956

26 Jul

Suez Crisis
Following the World Bank's refusal to fund building the Aswan Dam, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, sparking international condemnation.
17 Oct

Bobby Fischer
Donald Byrne and Bobby Fischer play a famous chess game called The Game of the Century. Fischer beat Byrne and wins a Brilliancy prize.
23 Oct

Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Thousands of Hungarians protest against the government and Soviet occupation. (The Hungarian Revolution is crushed on November 4).
4 Nov

Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Soviet troops enter Hungary to end the Hungarian revolution against the Soviet Union, that started on October 23. Thousands are killed, more are wounded, and nearly a quarter million leave the country.
12 Nov

Sudan
Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia join the United Nations.

Deaths on March 31

Ralph DePalma

Died on March 31, 1956

References

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Events on 1956

Suez Crisis

Bobby Fischer

Hungarian Revolution of 1956

Hungarian Revolution of 1956

Sudan