MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
New faces behind the scenes and in front of the camera begin work in Memphis this week and next. WPTYTV Channel 24 has hired a news director and WHBQ-TV Channel 13 has hired a new anchorman to replace Byron Day, who was fired in June. Steve Dawson, who most recently has been a reporter and weekend anchor at WGNX-TV, the CBS affiliate in Atlanta, is Channel 13’s new anchor. He begins work Monday, Nov. 25. Jeff Alan, a former news director in Johnstown, Pa., Clarksburg, W. Va., and Flagstaff, Ariz., begins work as Channel 24’s news director today. He replaces Borys Tomaszczuk, the station’s first news director who in October announced his resignation, effective Nov. 22.
50 years ago — 1971
Two men with “very distinct Southern accents” robbed the Laurelwood branch of First National Bank at 4631 Poplar, at 10:10 a.m. yesterday and escaped with $20,770, some of it boobytrapped. One or more of the packages of money they put in a brown paper Walgreens shopping bag contained tear gas and red marking ink timed to explode a minute or so after being taken from the bank. At least one package did explode.
75 years ago — 1946
Amid a symphony of “top brass,” W. Stuart Symington, undersecretary of War for Air, and Gen. Carl. Spantz, commanding general of the Army Air Forces, arrived at Municipal Airport at 5:30 yesterday afternoon preliminary to opening of the national Air Reserve Association convention at The Peabody today.
100 years ago — 1921
Alabama and Mississippi Presbyterians are solidly behind the campaign for funds for the establishment of the new Memphis College. In an address before the Alabama Synod at Talladega, Ala., yesterday, Dr. W.R. Dobyns of Birmingham declared the plan to establish the college the most statesmanlike plan ever presented to the Southern Presbyterian Church, and that Memphis is the ideal location for such a college.
125 years ago — 1896
The Nashville American censures The Commercial Appeal unjustly in saying we have criticized Gov.-elect Bob Taylor’s decision to go on the stage and appear with his fiddle in minstrel shows while awaiting his inauguration day. No such right has been denied our amusing governor-elect by The Commercial Appeal. He is perfectly welcome to turn an honest penny anyway which to him may seem proper. It is, after all, a matter of taste.