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The last public hanging in Texas took place on July 30, 1923, in Waco when Roy Mitchell was executed for one of eight murders he committed during a reign of terror. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know When the Last Public Hanging Took Place?

Every strike brings me closer to the next home run. Babe Ruth … [Read more...] about Thought for the Day:

Proof of this can be found on a historical marker five miles south of Ringgold on U.S. 81. The pavement on sections of U.S. 81 and U.S. 287 in Montague County contains gold. When the two highways were being paved in 1936, sand for the concrete was taken from a nearby pit. Seeing glints of gold in the sand, the owner of the pit had samples tested, but although the laboratory confirmed that it was gold, there was only about 54 cents’ worth of gold per ton of ore, and it was very difficult to … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know There are Streets in Texas that are Paved in Gold?

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. Amelia Earhart … [Read more...] about Thought for the Day:

The Stetson hat was actually the creation of Yankee ingenuity. John B. Stetson of Philadelphia, who went West to regain his health in the 1860's, fashioned himself a big hat that would protect him from rain, sun, and wind. After his return to Philadelphia, Stetson made a hat which he called "boss of the plains" and sent it to Western dealers. The Texas Rangers adopted the hat and found it could be used for many things: to drink from, water one’s horse, fan a campfire, blindfold a stubborn horse, … [Read more...] about Texas History – Who Created the Stetson Hat?

I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan … [Read more...] about Thought for the Day:

The Democratic state convention of August 1892 met in the Houston streetcar barn because it was the only building large enough to accommodate all the delegates. The "car-barn convention" nominated James Hogg, who was re-elected governor that same year. … [Read more...] about Texas History – What was the “Car-Barn Convention”?

Gringo, the Latin American slang word used to denote English-speaking foreigners, especially North Americans, originated during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. A popular soldier’s song sung by Americans contained the phrase "Green grow the violets," which to the Mexicans who heard it sounded like "gringo" instead of "green grow." The term was thereafter associated with the "Norte Americanos." … [Read more...] about Texas History – What is the Origin of the Word Gringo?

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Wayne Gretzsky … [Read more...] about Thought for the Day:

In 1841, Mirabeau B. Lamar, president of the Republic of Texas, made an alliance with Yucatan, which was then in revolt, to rent out the Texas navy (all three ships) for $8,000 a month. When Sam Houston was inaugurated, he promptly ordered the fleet back to Texas. Since the Yucatans did not expect the Mexicans to fight for eight months or a year, they suspended the agreement with the understanding that it could be renewed when the Texas navy was needed again. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Did You Know that the Texas Navy was Rented to Another Country?