MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1993
NASHVILLE — Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen jumped into the Democratic race for governor Wednesday, declaring that “no strong consensus candidate” had emerged from the 10 other party candidates. Bredesen’s entry reverses his announcement six months ago that he would not run because he had too much left to do in his first term as mayor. He said he changed his mind because he’s accomplished most of those goals and he’s been heavily encouraged to run since no “strong” candidate emerged to take on the likely Republican nominee, Rep. Don Sundquist of Memphis.
50 years ago — 1968
Virginia Tech accepted an invitation yesterday to play Ole Miss in the 10th annual Liberty Bowl on Dec. 14 in Memphis Memorial Stadium. It was the second time in three years that the Liberty called and the Gobblers answered. A.F. ‘Bud’ Dudley, executive director of the bowl, made the announcement. “We are pleased to have Virginia Tech with us again,” Dudley said. “They are ranked 18th in the nation with big wins over Florida, West Virginia and South Carolina.”
75 years ago — 1943
NASHVILLE — Efforts of Representative Al Gore of Carthage to enter military service through Selective Service and induction by his Smith County Draft Board appeared doomed to failure unless he first resigns his seat in Congress. One section of the Selective Service Act precludes beyond question members of Congress from being inducted.
100 years ago — 1918
Mayor Monteverde has received a letter from Senator McKellar stating that the senator has high hopes of securing aerial mail service from Memphis.
125 years ago — 1893
The Memphis Athletic Club, together with the Lyceum Theater, was destroyed by fire last night. Flames spread rapidly and the roof of the $150,000 structure caved in only 25 minutes after the first alarm was sounded. Built in 1890, the building was one of the most elegantly appointed in the South. The Lyceum Theater, which occupied the bottom story, was a favorite gathering place for Memphis socialites. Now the Grand Opera House has a monopoly on the theater-going trade.