The big race
25 years ago: 1988
Washington — Former White House chief of staff Howard Baker is going on the professional lecture circuit and will earn $30,000 a speech.
The Harry Walker Agency in New York City announced Wednesday that it had signed Baker to a lecture management contract. Baker left the White House July 1 after 16 months on the job.
The former Senate Republican leader said he felt he had accomplished all that he could for President Reagan and wanted to return to Tennessee to spend more time with his ailing wife and mother.
50 years ago: 1963
Memphis’ first two entrants in the transcontinental Powder Puff Derby flew into their first day of competition yesterday, but were stopped by bad weather early in the afternoon at Farmington, New Mexico. “Cotton Jenny,” a Piper Comanche 250, left Bakersfield, Calif., at 8:30 (Memphis time) and arrived at Farmington at 1:45. “Our Comanche ran like a top,” said Mrs. Polly Duncan of 839 Rosebanks Road, who is in the all- women race with her co-pilot, Miss Bonnie Whiteleather of 71 North Perkins.
The fliers said they believe they are maintaining their own after the first leg of the race.
75 years ago: 1938
Eight Sea Scouts will leave this week in the 30foot cabin boat “Idlewild” for a 750-mile trip down the Mississippi. Alan Dixon will serve as skipper and Fred Carney Jr. as first mate. Others who will make the trip are Harry Gunther, Aubrey Watson, Steve Turnbull, Morgan Plummer, Joe Meek and
Sonny Reynolds.
100 years ago: 1913
The band concert for Wills Park tonight arranged by Director E.K. White for the Municipal Band will feature a piccolo solo by Joseph Alter.
125 years ago: 1888
Memphis police are determined to break up the practice of young boys swimming unclothed in the Mississippi River to the embarrassment of women passersby. Yesterday the officers arrested three newsboys for the offense.