1. On April 8, 1861, Michigan Governor Austin Blair offered 1,000 troops to President Abraham Lincoln to support the Union in the Civil War.

2. On April 8, 1935, the Michigan State Emergency Relief Administration was established to provide assistance to those struggling during the Great Depression.

3. On April 8, 1952, Michigan State University opened the Kellogg Biological Station, a research facility focusing on ecology, evolution, and agricultural sustainability.

4. On April 8, 1961, hockey legend Gordie Howe scored a hat trick to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in game two of the Stanley Cup finals.

5. On April 8, 2017, Michigan State University men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizing his successful coaching career and contribution to the sport of basketball.