| Vol 8, No 285 | October 12, 1997 | Sunday Evening |
On this date in 1919, Doris "Dorie" Miller was born in Waco. In 1939 he joined the navy and was serving on the West Virginia as a cook when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Miller stepped up to an abandoned heavy anti-aircraft gun, and without any prior training shot down at least two of the enemy planes.
On this date in 1782, James Ellison Groce was born in Virginia. He moved to Alabama where he made a fortune in the lumber industry, followed by a sucessful cotton plantation. In 1822, he relocated to present day Grimes County where he brought with him Cottonseed. He is credited with bring Cotton to this region of Texas. His son Leonard would establish "Bernardo" a huge Cotton plantation near San Felipe, where in 1836, Sam Houston brought his army for training in preparation to confront Santa Anna's army that was approaching following the Battle of the Alamo.
(1997)
On this date in 1997, Arlington Heights High School graduate, John Denver, died while piloting his small plane off the coast of Monterey Bay, California. His home made aircraft apparently ran out of fuel off the coast, and crashed as he attempted to make it back to land.
On this date in 1896, a parade through north Fort Worth opened the Fort Worth Stock Show. Earlier in the year a one day only stock show was held in North Fort Worth on the banks of Marine Creek. But today launched the second show, and first annual, Fort Worth Stock Show to coincide with the National Livestock Exchange Convention. The show would run annual every year since except 1943, when it was cancelled due to World War II. Today the Fort Worth Stock Show is held in mid-January, and is the largest of its kind in the World.
(1886)
On this date in 1886, a hurricane hits Sabine, Jefferson County killing 150. Flood extends 20 miles inland.
