MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1993
The Alliance for the Mentally Ill of New York State criticized Ross Perot on Thursday, saying his use of Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” as a theme song at political rallies was insensitive to the mentally ill. The group is also angry about Perot’s frequent comparison of the federal deficit to “a crazy aunt we keep down in the basement.” Perot quickly apologized.
50 years ago — 1968
The first orbital flight by a manned spacecraft in the Apollo program was tentatively scheduled for Oct. 11 yesterday as a space agency official speculated that a lunar landing next year is now “clearly possible.” Air Force Lt. Gen. Samuel Phillips, director of the Apollo space program, said astronaut Walter Schirra will head a three man team on the mission of up to 10 days. The team will be launched from Cape Kennedy by a Saturn 1B booster. This mission will be called Apollo 7.
75 years ago — 1943
Announcement was made yesterday that the Reynolds Metal Co., America’s second largest manufacturer of aluminum, will build an 18-million-dollar plant in Shelby County for the production of bomber parts. The huge plant will employ 4,000 workers and will be located at Raines Station, six miles south of the city limits.
100 years ago — 1918
The Norfleet School, named in honor of J.P. Norfleet when he was president of the Memphis Board of Education, has been officially changed to Rozelle School.
125 years ago — 1893
The new sprinkling car was received at the Citizens’ Railway Company stable yesterday. Built at a cost of $3,000, it has its own motor and can run over the tracks by itself. The water is held in a tank on top and is sprinkled over the street by means of long perforated arms which extend from each side of the car to the curbstone. It is a handsome, highly decorated car and on each side is the inscription “Jupiter Pluvius,” the god of rain.