Texas has produced three Miss America winners: Jo-Carroll Dennison of Tyler in 1942; Phyllis Ann George of Denton in 1971; and Shirley Cothran of Fort Worth in 1975. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know How Many Miss America Winners Were From Texas?
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Texas History – Do You Know What Famous Lyricist Served as Defense Counsel for Sam Houston?
Francis Scott Key, who wrote the words to the "Star Spangled Banner," was employed as defense counsel for Sam Houston. In 1832, before coming to Texas, Houston was insulted by a U.S. Congressman while serving as an Indian Agent in Washington. Houston encountered the Congressman on the street and assaulted him with his ever-present hickory cane. The Congressman filed charges against Houston, and Houston hired Key to defend him. Houston was found guilty and reprimanded. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What Famous Lyricist Served as Defense Counsel for Sam Houston?
Texas History – What Prominent Texas Family is Responsible for Putting Two Words in the Dictionary?
U.S. Representative Maury Maverick coined the word Gobbledygook after the gobbling of turkeys. Gobbledygook means "inflated, involved, and obscure verbiage characteristic of the pronouncements of officialdom," according to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary. In 1944, Maverick wrote a memo to his staff in which he told them to stay away from wordy, unintelligible correspondence. "Don’t use so much gobbledygook." This memo was picked up by the press and printed in other publications, and the word … [Read more...] about Texas History – What Prominent Texas Family is Responsible for Putting Two Words in the Dictionary?
Texas History – Do You Know How the Brazos River Got Its Name?
A very poignant legend, accepted by most historians as fact, involves the explorer Francisco de Coronado, who in 1716, with his expedition party, wandered through Texas for days without water and would have died had a band of Indians not led them to a stream. Upon finding the water, a padre accompanying the expedition exclaimed, "los brazos de dios!" which means "the arms of God!" Thus, the life-saving body of water became the Brazos. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know How the Brazos River Got Its Name?
Texas History – Do You Know the Texan Who Founded the Sealy Mattress Company?
We have Daniel Haynes to thank for giving us a good night’s sleep. In the 1880s, the Austin County settler invented the process and the machinery for manufacturing the cotton mattress. This was the forerunner of today’s modern bedding. Haynes named his company for the town where he developed the machinery - Sealy, Texas. Thus, began the Sealy Mattress Company. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know the Texan Who Founded the Sealy Mattress Company?
Texas History – Do You Know When the First Time an Airplane Was Used for Military Purposes?
During February and March of 1911, the aviation section of the U.S. Army was attached to a military force along the Rio Grande River, and for the first time in American history an airplane was used for military purposes, and the use occurred in Texas airspace. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know When the First Time an Airplane Was Used for Military Purposes?
Texas History – Do You Know What the “Semicolon Court” Was?
This historic and derisive appellation was given to the Supreme Court of Texas during Reconstruction in Texas. The name was given because the court invalidated the general election of 1873 based on the placement of a semicolon in Section 6, Article 3 of the Constitution of 1869. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What the “Semicolon Court” Was?
Texas History – When Was the First European Marriage Ceremony in Texas?
The first European marriage ceremony in Texas took place January 12, 1687, at Fort Saint Louis, when Sieur de Barbier, who accompanied La Salle, married a young Indian maiden. De Barbier was the first colonist to marry an Indian. … [Read more...] about Texas History – When Was the First European Marriage Ceremony in Texas?
Texas History – Do You Know How Many Different Bat Species Live in Texas?
More species of bats live in Texas than any other part of the United States. There are 32 species of bats in Texas. An estimated 1.5 million of Mexican free-tailed bats dwell under the Congress Avenue bridge in Austin … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know How Many Different Bat Species Live in Texas?
Texas History – Do You Know Which Texan Holds the Patent for Processing Condensed Milk in a Vacuum?
Gail Borden Jr. sought a patent for processing condensed milk in a vacuum in 1853, but it was 1856 before he received British and American patents. When the Civil War brought intensified demand for such milk, his company experienced an upsurge in sales that assured success. Millions are indebted to this Texan for taking the "bite" out of their coffee. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Which Texan Holds the Patent for Processing Condensed Milk in a Vacuum?
