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Texas History – What is the Origin of the Word Gringo?

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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?

Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

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Howard Hughes, Jr. (1905-1976) - Entrepreneur, Aerospace Engineer & Film Director Howard Hughes was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, aerospace engineer, film maker, and philanthropist. While he was alive, he was one of the wealthiest people in the world. As a maverick film producer, Hughes gained prominence in Hollywood from the late 1920s, making big-budget and often controversial films. Hughes was one of the most influential aviators in history. He set multiple world air … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

The Basics: What an Estate Plan is

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Recently, it struck me that as an estate planning attorney I often do a poor job of adequately explaining the fundamentals of estate planning on this blog. I try to explain the basics for people here, but I often make the mistake of assuming that the people coming here for information know some things that they do not actually know. That is my fault and I would like to address one area today that some of you will know about, but that some people might not understand. Some people do not know … [Read more...] about The Basics: What an Estate Plan is

Texas History – Did You Know that the Texas Navy was Rented to Another Country?

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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?

The Interest in Celebrity Estates

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It should come as no surprise to anyone that the more an estate is worth, the more interest there is in an estate and the more fights there are over the estate. This is the reason that celebrity estates are often discussed and that they often get messy. People want to know what is in the estate plan and those who could possibly gain from the celebrity estates want to fight over them. It is the reason that people are still arguing about Michael Jackson's estate. It is also the reason that Whitney … [Read more...] about The Interest in Celebrity Estates

Texas History – What Wife of a Comanche Indian Chief was Given Land & a Pension by the Texas Legislature?

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Cynthia Ann Parker, a white child who was captured at age nine by the Comanches during a raid on Fort Parker in 1836, was raised by the Indians and later married Chief Peta Nocona. She bore him three children, one of whom, Quanah Parker, later became chief of the Comanches. Although Cynthia Ann’s whereabouts were discovered several times, attempts by the whites to get her back were unsuccessful until 1860 when she was recaptured and brought to live with the whites again. Several times she tried … [Read more...] about Texas History – What Wife of a Comanche Indian Chief was Given Land & a Pension by the Texas Legislature?

Texas History – What Wife of a Comanche Indian Chief was Given Land & a Pension by the Texas Legislature?

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  Cynthia Ann Parker, a white child who was captured at age nine by the Comanches during a raid on Fort Parker in 1836, was raised by the Indians and later married Chief Peta Nocona. She bore him three children, one of whom, Quanah Parker, later became chief of the Comanches. Although Cynthia Ann’s whereabouts were discovered several times, attempts by the whites to get her back were unsuccessful until 1860 when she was recaptured and brought to live with the whites again. Several times … [Read more...] about Texas History – What Wife of a Comanche Indian Chief was Given Land & a Pension by the Texas Legislature?