MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1994 Little Rock – Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders’ son was convicted Monday of selling cocaine. Circuit Judge John Plegge set an August 29 sentencing date for Kevin Elders, 28. Deputy Prosecutor Chris Palmer said he would ask for a 10-year sentence. Rejecting Elders’ argument that he was entrapped by people with political motives, Plegge found Elders guilty moments after both sides finished presenting their non jury case. 50 years ago — 1969 Space Center, Houston – America’s Apollo 11, now firmly in the grip of the moon’s gravitational pull, zeroed in Saturday on the lunar surface when astronaut Neil Armstrong will take his first historic step Sunday night or early Monday. The spacecraft carrying Armstrong, his fellow moon-walker, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and command ship pilot Michael Collins fell under the moon’s dominance at 10:12 p.m. (Memphis time) Friday. At that point they were 214,402 miles from Earth and 38,895 miles from the moon. 75 years ago — 1944 The first step of Col. Roscoe Turner’s dream of “aviation for every community” will be achieved this morning when the first airplane of his new daily air service between Memphis and Detroit takes off from the Municipal Airport. Col. Turner arrived in Memphis yesterday to complete arrangements for the flight service that he organized as president of the Roscoe Turner Aeronautical Corp. of Indianapolis. 100 years ago — 1919 The short skirt now being worn by daring ladies on the streets of Paris will never be worn in America, say fashion experts. The skirt — a full seven inches above the ankle — is just a freak, a passing thing, says one expert. “Short sleeves, yes, but short skirts, never,” he said. 125 years ago — 1894 Memphis was sharply shaken early this morning by earthquake shocks which lasted four seconds. No damage has been reported to this office.