Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Pa Ferguson was one of the most controversial governors in the history of Texas. The consequences of his administration would be felt for years. As a result of his actions, in 1917, Ferguson became the only Texas governor impeached and removed from office. James Edward Ferguson, also calledContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer The recent report that University of Texas engineering professor Dr. John B. Goodenough, along with Stanley Whittingham of New York and Akira Yoshino of Japan, has been awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry for the development of lithium-ion batteries has excited Texans and science fans alike. However,Continue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer John Connally became a giant in Texas politics in the 1960s. He had a long career that included service in World War II, work as an attorney, years of work with Lyndon Johnson as his right-hand man in many campaigns. He would eventually rise to become governor and Secretary of the TreasuryContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer More than 180 years after his death, the mention of Jim Bowie still stirs the imagination of admirers around the world. But Bowie was more than just the knife or the battle at the Alamo. Overall, it was a remarkable and colorful life of adventure. James Bowie wasContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer H. Bentley Glass was at one time one of the most famous scientists in the nation. His life was a journey that began with missionary parents and a Texas education. Glass traveled the world, wrote volumes of books, made important scientific discoveries, and in the 1950s andContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Roger Mills was an early Texas lawyer and legislator. He fought in the Civil War and served for nearly three decades in Congress and the U. S. Senate from the 1870s through the 1890s. Though respected for his dedication and work ethic, his political stands damaged hisContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Bob Wills was one of the earliest stars of country music in Texas just as radio became popular. Wills was one of the pioneers of western swing and inspired generations of country music artists. James Robert Wills was born in the small community of Kosse, about 45 milesContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer “A good man is always learning,” is an old Latin Proverb. Sages and thinkers since the days of the first schools thousands of years ago have recognized the importance of education in shaping and informing the minds of students from their earliest lessons and throughout their lives. Continue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Rienzi Johnston was the powerful editor of The Houston Post, one of the state’s most influential newspapers. Though mostly forgotten today, he was at one time one of the most widely read men in the state, and his words could make or break political careers. HeContinue Reading
An obstacle can be an opportunity for an enterprising spirit. This was the case for Texas inventor Bette Nesmith Graham. What had been an annoyance for typists led to the struggling single mother creating a new tool for offices and a multi-million dollar business. A single inspiration led Graham to invent the typing correctionContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Tex Ritter became one of country music’s most famous stars just as it was becoming known nationwide. He became a beloved character in dozens of appearances in movies, radio, and TV and released dozens of hit songs. He was born Woodward Maurice Ritter in January 1905 onContinue Reading
Sarah Cockrell was Dallas’ first millionaire Ken Bridges Contributing writer Success sometimes comes from the most unlikely places. Those intrepid souls willing to take a chance are the ones who change the course of their own lives and sometimes their own communities. Sarah Cockrell, an early Dallas settler, was oneContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer It has been said that heroism is defined as holding on for one moment longer. A moment can save a life or change the destiny of a nation. Travis Watkins, a native Texas resident, was one such hero who took charge and held on against overwhelming odds, savingContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer The 1880s and 1890s saw the rise of some of the most notorious criminals in American History, mostly riding the dusty trails of the West. One of the most infamous was the Dalton Gang, made up of outlaws from Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Dalton Gang terrorized theContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible,” said Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Such words describe the life of Gen. William O. Darby, a hero of World War II and an Arkansas native. The integrity and courage of Darby wasContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Writers are often asked where their story ideas originate. It is a question that writers sometimes have trouble answering. The final product only comes from imagination and a lot of work. One of many great Texas writers, Robert E. Howard, had a significant cultural impact in aContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer The University of Texas has been in operation for nearly 140 years. Since that time, tens of thousands of UT graduates have enjoyed careers in all fields that have shaped both the state and the world alike. In its early years, it struggled as it had difficultyContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer In the early 1900s, many city zoos did not have a significant number of animals to exhibit because of the difficulty in obtaining animals from the far corners of the globe. And fewer cities could establish zoos for that same reason. Frank Buck, an animal trapperContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Pat Garrett is another of the legendary figures of the Old West. He always had a taste for adventure and had a career as a distinguished law officer in a time when little law and order was to be found. Wherever Garrett went, trouble always seemed toContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer As of this writing, Ukraine and Russia appear on the brink of war. The deployment of thousands of Russian troops along the border of Ukraine has become the most serious crisis facing Europe since the end of the Cold War. If a war were to occur, it couldContinue Reading