On this day, Dec. 26 ... 1996: Six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey is found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family’s home in Boulder, Colo. (The slaying remains unsolved.) Also on this day: 1799: Former President George Washington is eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen." 1908: Jack Johnson becomes the first Black boxer to win the world heavyweight championship as he defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia. 1917: During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issues a proclamation authorizing the government to take over operation of the nation’s railroads.