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Vol 8, No 100

April 10, 1979

Tuesday Evening

Tornado Kills 42 Injures 1700 in Wichita Falls

Today in Sports
Houston Colts open their first season
HOUSTON  (1962)   On this date in 1961, the Houston Colt 45s opened their first season with a 11-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Later, they would change their name to the Astros, and play their home games in the air conditioned Astrodome.

Born This Date
Don Meredith born in Mount Vernon
MOUNT VERNON  (1938)   On this date in 1938, "Dandy" Don Meredith was born in Mount Vernon (Franklin Co).
   Meredith was the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1969, and took Dallas to within one game of the first ever NFL/AFL Championship Game (later called the Superbowl). Later he became an announcer on ABC's Monday Night Football.   
Roy Hufheinz born in Beaumont
BEAUMONT   (1912)   On this date in 1912, Roy Hufheinz was born in Beaumont. He served as a judge and as mayor of Houston. He was instrumental in getting a major league baseball team in Houston, and later in getting Houston to build the Astrodome, which he billed as "the Eighth Wonder of the World". It was the world's first domed stadium.

Wichita Falls Tornado
WICHITA FALLS (1979)  The single worst tornado in Texas history in terms of property damage, hit Wichita Falls on this date in 1979 when an F4 tornado hit the city destroying 3,000 homes and causing over $400 million in damages.
   The tornado touched down about 3 miles northeast of Holliday where it damaged homes and businesses. Entering Wichita Falls, it severely damaged Memorial Stadium, McNeil Junior High, and a major part of the residential area of the Wichita Falls. The tornado continued it's path northeast across the Red River and into Oklahoma where it dissipated north of Waurika.
   The Wichita Falls tornado of 1979 was one of the deadliest in Texas history, killing 42, and leaving over 20,000 people homeless. Among the dead were 25 who died in their vehicles trying to escape the storm.

Capitol Desk
Lyndon Johnson wins 10th Congressional Race
AUSTIN   (1937)    On this date in 1937, Lyndon B Johnson won his first elected office, being elected to the US House of Representatives as Congressman from the 10th District of Texas. He is helped in his election by the Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn.