1. On April 8, 1929, Mississippi-born actor Will Geer made his Broadway debut in the play "R.U.R." Geer was later known for his role as Grandpa Zebulon Walton in the television show "The Waltons."

2. On April 8, 1953, B.B. King recorded his first hit single "You Know I Love You" in Los Angeles. King, born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, is widely regarded as one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time.

3. On April 8, 1960, the deadliest tornado outbreak in Mississippi history occurred, killing 57 people across the state. The tornado outbreak also caused extensive damage to homes, buildings, and infrastructure.

4. On April 8, 1972, Mississippi State University's men's basketball team won its first Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship. The team, led by Coach Richard Williams, went on to make it to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament.

5. On April 8, 1999, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that a law making it a crime to burn a state flag was unconstitutional. The ruling came after an African American man was arrested for burning the Mississippi state flag, which contains the Confederate battle emblem.