MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1994 City Councilman Kenneth Whalum and former basketball coach Dana Kirk joined the race for county mayor Thursday shortly before a noon deadline ended filings for the 22 county positions up for election this year. By the time the filing process was completed, there were 125 candidates for county offices, but the total list will not appear on any official ballot. The Election Commission staff reported seven failed to have the required signatures of 25 registered voters. 50 years ago — 1969 High points of the 1969 Memphis Cotton Makers’ Jubilee will again this year be three parades in downtown Memphis. The Jubilee, first held in 1936, will be May 3-10 in conjunction with the Memphis Cotton Carnival. The traditional midway will be in Linden and Church parks. Dr. R.Q. Venson, who helped organize the first Jubilee celebration, said its purposes are to change and glorify the black man’s image in American history, to emphasize contributions black Americans have made to the country and to accent the importance of Memphis to the cotton industry. 75 years ago — 1944 “E” pins will be presented at brief ceremonies today to employees of the Pidgeon-thomas Iron Co., builders of landing craft for the Navy. The company recently was given its second “E” Award for excellence and a star for its pennant. 100 years ago — 1919 NASHVILLE — A charter has been granted to Binswanger & Co. of Memphis, capitalized at $250,000. Incorporators are: H.S. Binswanger, M.I. Binswanger, R.A. Binswanger, M.S. Binswanger, S.E. Binswanger and M.E. Lesser. 125 years ago — 1894 The steamer Ohio sank Saturday night at Cottonwood Point, about 180 miles north of here. The news was brought by Capt. O.K. Joplin of the Gayoso, which docked here last night. He had on board the Ohio’s captain, John Carroll, who said that his boat caught on a cypress log as he was backing out of the Cottonwood Point landing. She carried 684 bales of Memphis cotton. No lives were lost.