1. In 1973, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes men’s gymnastics team won its first ever Big Ten championship on April 6. The team was led by All-Americans Dave Thor and Mark Kachur.

2. On April 6, 1862, the Battle of Shiloh began in Tennessee during the Civil War. Many Iowans fought in this battle, including the 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment, which suffered heavy casualties.

3. The first night game at Kinnick Stadium, home of the Hawkeyes football team, was played on April 6, 1979. Iowa defeated Big Ten rival Purdue 27-7 under the lights.

4. Iowa State University was founded on April 6, 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. It was the first state college in the United States to be governed by a board of trustees.

5. In 1936, Fred Becker of Des Moines became the first Iowan to win a gold medal at the Olympics. He won for the 50-meter rifle shooting event at the Summer Games held in Berlin, Germany. The event took place on April 6.