MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
Cordova’s Andy Roberts is used to wearing a black hat when he plays in tournaments on the International Racquetball Tour. This week’s event at The Racquet Club gives him a chance to be a fan favorite. “It’s a little bit nicer here,” said Roberts in between matches of Thursday’s opening rounds of the Promus Hotels Pro Nationals. “I have a lot of fans here. Usually, the fans are rooting against me because of my ranking. They’re rooting for the underdog, which, I guess, is the nature of sports.” Roberts, 30, gave his supporters something to cheer about and cemented his role as one of this week’s favorites by winning two matches on the tournament’s first day. Roberts, the defending tournament champion and second-ranked player on the tour, said it was important for him to turn in a good performance in the early rounds. Roberts is also looking for a strong performance in his hometown to fuel a good run through the second half of the tour schedule, which lasts from August through June. This week’s tournament is the first on the schedule following a five-week break.
50 years ago — 1971
Eleven Black Panthers, chanting “death to the fascist pigs” as they were led into the courtroom of Judge Joseph Evans, were granted a continuation of their preliminary hearing yesterday on charges stemming from an armed confrontation with police at a housing project the Panthers had occupied. The 11 — eight men and three women — were being held last night in Shelby County Jail without bond pending the second hearing, which probably will be tomorrow. Their lawyers sought the delay so they could confer with their clients. Meanwhile, some of the families which were led into the Texas Court apartments by the Panthers over the weekend were still there last night.
75 years ago — 1946
HOLLYWOOD – An all-night party at the home of Errol Flynn’s artist pal, John Decker, ended shortly before dawn Friday in a free-for-all fight that involved two movie villains, part of the Barrymore family, half a dozen other party guests and a dressmaker’s dummy. The predawn battle, which started in Decker’s house and spread to his front lawn, was described tersely in a sheriff’s report as a “scuffle.” But the people who saw it said it was more like a brawl.
100 years ago — 1921
Believing that the people of Memphis should at this time know just what bills authorizing bond issues have been asked of the Legislature by the city administration, Mayor Paine has issued a signed statement that goes fully into the matter. The mayor outlines the immediate needs of the city which cannot be met from the regular tax levy, but which must be cared for through the medium of bond issues. He explains that the city has no intention of issuing all the bonds asked at the same time, tells how they will be issued and the objects for which the money will be used.