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 To accomplish great things, one must be willing to perform great work over a great span of time. Rice University in Houston, which has come to exemplify such glory, has in its century of life become one of the most respected universities in the nation. The collegeContinue 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 Civil War era produced many interesting figures in Texas History. Among them was Samuel B. Maxey, a lawyer, Confederate general, and U. S. Senator. Samuel Bell Maxey was born in 1825 in southern Kentucky. His father, Rice Maxey, was an attorney. He attended school faithfully, and inContinue 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 The Old West became notorious for the violence that befell communities and individuals. Some individuals, however, acted as peacemakers. Jesse Chisolm, a merchant who developed a network of trading posts from Texas up to Kansas, became known for his mediation efforts and his efforts to expand commerce in the area. He was neverContinue 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
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Cities are often known by the newspapers they support and the opportunities that their residents find. When one English immigrant arrived in Dallas in 1885, he became known for both. George Dealey became the driving force behind The Dallas Morning News from its founding and became an importantContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Musicians and songwriters paint a picture of the world with their sounds, telling stories of joy and heartbreak and of beauty or sorrow. Country music is especially famous for sometimes combining all of those elements into one song as it has evolved over the decades. The ups andContinue Reading
By Ken Bridges The Civil War was a time of great chaos and terrible destruction. Hundreds of thousands of men fought on both sides. In Texas, the commander of one of the most famous Confederate divisions was John George Walker. Walker’s adventures, however, would take him far from Texas. WalkerContinue Reading
By Ken Bridges She grew up in a time when women almost never attended college, almost never spoke out on the issues, and certainly never voted. But one woman did all of them, and in the process, “Ma” Ferguson became one of the most unforgettable women in Texas political history. Miriam A. Wallace wasContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Texas universities have produced many interesting political figures. Perhaps one of the most unusual journeys was that of University of Texas graduate Fernando Belaunde. Belaunde earned a Texas architectural license, became a noted architect, and was twice elected president of Peru, surviving a military coup in theContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer War hero and president are how Zachary Taylor is usually remembered, if at all. Though obscure today, he was at one time one of the most famous figures in the country. A Texas resident for a time, “Old Rough and Ready,” as his troops affectionately called him,Continue Reading
Texas is an immense landscape, and the land seems to stretch on forever. The question of the Texas border has resulted in many disputes. One infamous land dispute in the late 1800s resulted in a piece of Texas called Greer County becoming a part of Oklahoma. The dispute arose over a portion of a fork in the Red River. On the border ofContinue Reading