Historical Events
- "Different Times" closes at ANTA Theater NYC after 24 performances
- "Hard Job Being God" closes at Edison Theater NYC after 6 performances
- 5th ABA Championship: Indiana Pacers beat NY Nets, 4 games to 2
- 97th Preakness: Eldon Nelson aboard Bee Bee Bee wins in 1:55.6
- Republic of Cameroon declared as its constitution is ratified
Famous Birthdays
- Busta Rhymes [Trevor George Smith Jr.], American rapper (The Coming), born in New York City
- Christophe Dominici, French rugby union winger (65 caps; Stade Français), born in Toulon, France (d. 2020)
- Michael Cox, American 1.5k runner, born in Hannibal, Missouri
Famous Deaths
- Cornelis Jakob van der Klauw, Dutch biologist and zoologist, dies at 78
Died in 1972 1972 Highlights
About May 20, 1972
Day of the Week: Saturday
How Long Ago? 51 years, 11 months and 5 days
Leap Year: Yes
Generation: Generation X
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Taurus
Music Charts
- #1 Song: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
- #1 Song: Metal Guru - T Rex