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Vol 8, No 76

March 17, 1897

Wednesday Evening

Fitzsimmons takes Heavyweight title from Corbett

Today in Sports
Ranger Infielder Chris Davis born in Longview
LONGVIEW  (1986)   On this date in 1986, Texas Ranger infieldere Chris Davis was born in Longview, Texas. His first appearance as a Texas Ranger was on June 26, 2008 against Houston, where he got a hit in his first and only time at bat.
   He finished the game with a perfect 1.000 average. The next night, Davis struck out 3 times, but did manage an RBI. By the end of the 2008 season, Davis had only played in 80 games, but managed 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .285 average. Not bad for a rookie.
   Davis was traded prior to the 2012 season to the Baltimore Orioles, along with Tommy Hunter, and Darren O'Day.   

Obituaries
Singer Terry Stafford dies
AMARILLO    (1996)     On this date in 1996, Amarillo native (born in Oklahoma), Terry Stafford died. His 1962 hit "Suspicion" reached No. 3 on Billboard's top 100. He also wrote "Amarillo by Morning" which became a big hit by George Strait.

Born This Date
Legendary Quarterback Sam Baugh born in Temple
TEMPLE   (1914)   On this date in 1914, Samuel Adrian Baugh was born near Temple. He was raised in Sweetwater, where he played football, leading his team to a district championship.
   His legendary passing brought TCU to a National Championship in 1936, and the Washington Redskins to an NFL Championship two years later. In 1963, he was among the first class of inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio.   
Hunter and author, Frank Buck born in Gainesville
GAINESVILLE   (1884)    On this date in 1884, World famous hunter, trapper, and author Frank Buck was born in Gainesville. He trapped and transported exotic animals to zoos and circuses nationwide.

Left Handed K.O.
CARSON CITY NV (1897)  On this date in 1897, in the first edition of the Port Arthur News, word of the Fitzsimmons - Corbett fight in Carson City, Nevada reached Southeast Texas. With a left-handed punch, Ruby Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out James J Corbett to take away the world's heavyweight title.
   Fitzsimmons would attempt to defend his title against Maher in 1898, but laws changed all over the country and prize fighting was outlawed in both the United States and Mexico. The long anticipated title fight eventually found it's way to a small sand bar in the middle of the Rio Grande river, outside the jurisdiction of either the United States or Mexico just a ways down from the newly constructed Southern Pacific Railroad at Langtry, Texas.
   Word of the fight spread throughout the country, and when the day for the fight came, hundreds lined both banks of the Rio Grande River. Texas Rangers and Mexican authorities, unsure of jurisdiction, were powerless to stop the fight. And besides, the whole event was the doings of the only law, West of the Pecos, none other than Judge Roy Bean, himself.
   The winner? Well, Fitzsimmons may have won in the ring, but the real winner was Judge Roy Bean.

Business Desk
Diamond Glenn opens Shamrock Hotel in Houston
HOUSTON   (1949)    On St Patricks day in 1949, wildcatter, "Diamond Glenn" McCarthy opened his new Shamrock Hotel in Houston. 50,000 guests including 175 celebrities showed up for the million dollar party that followed. NBC radio broadcast live from the Shamrock's Emerald Room, until drunken revellers took over the stage from Dorothy Lamour and told off-color joke. NBC quickly cut to other programming, and Lamour left the stage is anger. The Shamrock Hotel has maintained a long reputation for extravagant luxury suites.

Education Desk
Law School Established in Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE   (1855)    On this date in 1855, at Austin College in Huntsville, the first law school in Texas was established.

Entertainment Desk
Elvis Presley appears on Waco television show.
WACO  (1955)   On this date in 1955, Elvis Presley appeared on Jimmy Thomason's "The Home Folks Show" on KCEN-TV, Channel 6 in Waco. Just a week before he sang on The Louisiana Hay Ride, and he was beginning to get lots of air time on the radio. The next day, Elvis recorded 4 songs from a live concert at Eagle's Hall in College Station, before going on to Houston.

Elvis comes to Dessau Hall in Pfluegerville
AUSTIN  (1955)   After two successful tours of Texas, Elvis Presley comes to the Austin area to perform at Dessau Hall in Pflugerville. By this time, Elvis has appeared on the Louisiana Hayride on half a dozen occasions, and toured East Texas and the Panhandle.

Lifestyles Desk
Shamrock holds First St. Patricks Day Celebration
SHAMROCK   (1938)    On this date in 1938, the panhandle town of Shamrock held it's first St Patrick's Day Celebration. Parades, Bands, Food and Fun were the start of a tradition that continues today. It was the town's bandmaster, Glen Truax that conceived of the idea. Today the two-day celebration (nearest to March 17th), includes Irish food, a banquet, parade and the crowning of Miss Irish Rose.
   Shamrock, on historic Route 66, was named for good luck and courage. The name was first suggested by George Nickel, an Irish immigrant and sheep rancher. But the post office never opened until 6 miles south, the Rock Island railroad came through in 1902. Originally the town was named Wheeler, but with Nickel's store just up the road, the railroad named the rail stop "Shamrock", and that name was transferred to the post office in 1903.   

Political Desk
Convention Adjorns as Mexican Army Approaches
NAVASOTA  (1836)   On this date in 1836, the Convention of 1836 meeting at Washington-on-the-Brazos, hastily adjorns as the Mexican Army approached. The Convention had declared Texas Independence, organized a government, and appointed Sam Houston as Commander-in-Chief.