MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1994 The U.S. Olympic Committee, troubled by Tonya Harding’s role in the Nancy Kerrigan assault, called a special hearing for next Tuesday to decide whether to bar the U.S. champion skater from the Winter Games at Lillehammer, Norway. If Harding is banned, her only chance of competing in Lillehammer would be through a court order. Meanwhile, in Portland, Ore., the deadline for a grand jury report on the criminal investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on Kerrigan in Detroit was moved back to March 21, and a prosecutor said any indictments are unlikely before then. 50 years ago — 1969 About 1,450 persons are expected to attend the eighth annual Brotherhood Award dinner of the Memphis Round Table tomorrow night when Sam Cooper, president of Humko Products, will be honored for his contributions to the community. A number of Mr. Cooper’s friends and business acquaintances from such points as Boston, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles are to attend the dinner at the Holiday Inn Rivermont. Entertainer Danny Thomas will be the speaker. He will be introduced by attorney Edward F. Barry, first recipient of the award in 1962. 75 years ago — 1944 Courthouse custodian George Finley cleaned house yesterday and as a result a month’s collection of about 5,000 pounds of waste paper was started on its way to paper salvaging mills. Since Jan. 1, more than 10,000 pounds of waste paper has been added to the waste paper salvage program from the courthouse, Mr. Finley said. 100 years ago — 1919 President Woodrow Wilson has signed a proclamation removing restrictions on the manufacture of so-called “near beer.” Production of the beverage was halted several months ago as a war-time conservation measure. The required majority of three-fourths of the states ratified the national prohibition amendment last month, halting the brewing of real beer. 125 years ago — 1894 Mardi Gras was more generally celebrated in Memphis yesterday than it has been for years, and the gay revelers from all parts of the city made things hum until late this morning. Men and women, masked and wearing gaudy, ridiculous costumes, thronged every block.