
| Vol MMXIII, No 91 | March 31, 1980 | Monday Evening |
(1995)
On this date in 1995, Latino superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez was shot and killed by employee and founder of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, whom she was about to fire. Selena's music and stage presence attracted audiences all over the world. She died just a month before her 24th birthday.
On this date in 1928, William Orville R. C. "Lefty" Frizzell was born (in Corsicana). His hits included "Long Black Veil" and "Saginaw Michigan" for which he received a grammy.
(1980)
On this date in 1980, future Hall of Fame quaterback roger Staubach announced his retirement at a press conference at Texas Stadium. Staubach held all major Dallas passing records and became the all-time leading NFL passer. At the time of his retirement he was the highest rated passer of all time (83.4). Sports Illustrated placed Staubach 29th in their list of 100 Greatest Football Players of all time. In a 1975 playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, Staubach threw a 50-yard bomb to Drew Pearson in the final moments to give Dallas the win 17-14. In an interview following the game, Staubach quipped that he prayed "Hail, Mary" before releasing the pass, and the "Hail Mary pass" became an enduring part of football nomenclature ever since.
(1887)
On this date in 1877, William Sanders Oury died in Tuscon, Arizona.
(1883)
In March 1883, 24 Cowboys in five major Texas cattle ranches drew up an ultimatum demanding higher wages and submitted it to the ranch owners. On this date, March 31, they walked off the job in the Cowboy Strike of 1883. Some cowboys were fired on the spot, others received small increases in pay. Some cowboys were fired on the spot, some found work on other ranches as "strike breakeres". By the May roundup, most of the ranches were back to normal.
(1968)
On this date in 1968, on a nationally televised broadcast, President Johnson announces "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President." Federal law allowed him to run again, but the pressures from his own party to end the war in Viet Nam took their toll, and Johnson would return to Texas.