MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

50 years ago — 1969

Panama City, Fla. – Hurricane Camille intensified into the second most powerful hurricane of the century during a daylong stall yesterday in the Gulf of Mexico, then aimed her destructive 150 mph winds at the Florida coast. Officials at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm broke out of its stall about 9 p.m. and headed toward the resorts areas along Florida’s panhandle. Many tourists as well as residents appeared unworried by predictions that the hurricane would strike the mainland today.

75 years ago — 1944

The Germans have pulled out of Florence, releasing Italy’s most beautiful city from a vise in which it long has been clutched. Neither army shelled Florence and it is believed the historic city is intact except for five bridges blown up by the Germans.

100 years ago — 1919

A petition asking Governor Roberts to include the question of free textbooks in his call for a special session of the legislature will be prepared by Marion Evans, attorney for the Memphis Board of Education. Mr. Evans was so instructed last night after Mrs. B. Harris of the Federated Parent-teacher Association addressed the board on the subject.

125 years ago — 1894

Nashville – Governor Peter Turney has been renominated for governor by the assembled Democrats amid all the enthusiasm that has characterized the unterrified in this state since they buried Republicanism and the bolting Democrats two years ago.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Rev. and Mrs. James Smith are joined by Sen. Jim Sasser at a dinner at the Holiday Inn-rivermont on Aug. 17, 1979. Smith, who is head of the largest union local in Tennessee, was honored by a wide cross-section of religious, labor and political leaders. Sasser was the keynote speaker at the event, which was attended by over 600 people.