#HMATurns40 Years in Review – The 1980s

This year, HMA Public Relations is celebrating its 40thanniversary. So much has happened in this world since then. And so much is happening right now. While we acknowledge the events of the past few weeks, and are working diligently (from home and while social distancing and washing our hands constantly), we thought we would take a few moments for some levity and reflection. As such, here is the first in a series of quarterly blog posts that looks back at the major events of one of the decades since we’ve been in business.

Up first: the 1980s.

1980: CNN is launched; Mount St. Helens erupted; Iran-Iraq war began; Rubix Cube invented; Alison was born. Among the most popular songs: Call Me by Blondie.

1981: John McEnroe’s infamous tirade during Wimbledon; Prince Charles and Lady Diana get married; MTV is launched. Among the most popular songs: Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes.

1982: Michael Jackson released Thriller album; Princess Grace died; Abbie graduated high school. Among the most popular songs: Physical by Olivia Newton-John.

1983: Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast; United States invades Grenada; Super Mario Bros. debuted; Scott graduated college. Among the most popular songs: Every Breath You Take by The Police.

1984: Indira Gandhi assassinated; the original Apple Macintosh personal computer debuted; the “Beauty Queen Serial Killer” Christopher Bernard Wilder captured. Among the most popular songs: When Doves Cry by Prince.

1985: Ronald Regan sworn in as president; We Are the World is released; Coca-Cola introduced “New Coke.” Among the most popular songs: Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds.

1986: Soviet Nuclear reactor at Chernobyl explodes; Space Shuttle Challenger explodes after launch; the Oprah Winfrey Show debuted; Scott started at HMA. Among the most popular songs: That’s What Friends Are For by Dionne and Friends.

1987: Aretha Franklin became first female inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; televangelist Jim Baker resigned after his affair with Jessica Hahn was made public; The Legend of Zelda released; Prozac debuted.  Among the most popular songs: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston.

1988: Sonny Bono elected mayor of Palm Springs; Surgeon General reported cigarettes were addictive; Iran-Iraq war ended. Among the most popular songs: Eternal Flame by the Bangles.

1989: George H.W. Bush elected president; Exxon Valdez oil spill; Ayatollah Khomeini died; Hillsborough Stadium in England collapsed during a soccer game. Among the most popular songs: Look Away by Chicago.

Photo by Justice Thompson on Unsplash
Written by
at Mar 26, 2020

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