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Vol 8, No 243

August 31, 1845

Sunday Evening

First Public Hospital to be in Galveston

Born This Date
Drummer Jerry Allison born in Hillsboro
HILLSBORO   (1939)   On this date in 1939, drummer Jerry Allison was born in Hillsboro. In 1955, he joined his high school friend, Buddy Holly to form a country band, but after hearing Elvis Pressley at the Cotton Club in Lubbock, the band took up "Rock-a-Billy".
   One evening after seeing the John Wayne Movie with band member Buddy Holly, Buddy lamented to the band how he'd like to have a hit record. Jerry replied with a John Wayne accent lifted from the movie, "Well, That'll be the Day". The line inspired the Crickets first No 1 hit.
   The group came up with the name "The Crickets" when searching through a dictionary for good insect names. Later, Paul McCartney would tell the surviving members of the band, that if it wasn't for The Crickets, there would be no Beatles. Later bands like the Searchers and Hollies also got their inpiration from Buddy Holly and the Crickets.
   The Crickets were history's first sucessful "rock band", where the members sang and played all their own instruments and songs without backup musicians.   
Baseball MVP Frank Robinson born in Beaumont
BEAUMONT   (1935)   On this date in 1935, baseball great Frank Robinson was born in Beaumont. Robinson was the only player in major league history to be named MVP (Most Valuable Player) in both the American and National Leagues, AND the World Series and All-Star game.
   In his rookie year, he hit 38 home runs, tieing a major league record. He currently holds the record for the most home runs on opening day with 8, the first being his first at bat in the major leagues. In 2005, he was presented the Presidental Medal of Freedom by George W Bush.
   Robinson played 10 seasons with the National League Cincinnati Reds, and 6 seasons with the American League Baltimore Orioles before moving to the Dodgers, Angels, and Cleveland. In 1975, Robinson became the first black manager in major league history when Cleveland made him their player-manager (1975-1977). Robinson has since gone on to manage the San Francisco Giants (1981 - 1984), the Baltimore Orioles (1988 - 1991) and the Montreal Expos (2002 - 2006).   
Actor Noble Willingham born in Mineola
MINEOLA   (1931)    On this date in 1931, actor Noble Williamham was born. After graduating Baylor University, Willingham taught briefly before pursuing a career in acting. He appeared in at least one episode of nearly 100 different television series, including 50 episodes as barkeeper CD Parker, in "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993-1999). Willingham also appeared in over two dozen movies.   

Galveston Hospital
AUSTIN  (1845)   On this date in 1845, a hospital is approved for Galveston. This will be the first public hospital in Texas.

Crime Desk
Man Guilty of Killing Employer, Hanged in Angleton
ANGLETON  (1923)    On this date in 1923, Nathan Lee was hanged in Angleton for killing his employer with a shotgun. This was the last public hanging in Texas, and followed the Roy Mitchell hanging in Waco by a full month.

Education Desk
Texas A&M becomes a Space-Grant College
COLLEGE STATION  (1989)   On this date in 1989, Texas A&M University was designated a space-grant college. In September 1971, A&M was designated a Sea-Grant college. Today A&M is one of only a few colleges in the nation to be a land- sea- and space-grant college.   

Political Desk
Loyalty Oaths Ruled Unconstitutional by panel
AUSTIN  (1967)   A Federal Court ruled on this date in 1967, that having state employees take a loyalty oath, was unconstitutional.