MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
The aftermath of Mississippi State’s dream basketball season is producing additional excitement for the Bulldogs, including the possibility of a Hollywood movie. Bulldogs athletic director Larry Templeton disclosed those developments Friday on the eve of tonight’s ”Celebration of Success” that is expected to attract about 4,000 fans for an awards program and concert at Humphrey Coliseum. “Nothing has ever come close to getting this much attention for us,” said Templeton, referring to State’s reaching the NCAA Final Four at East Rutherford, N.J., and finishing with a 26-8 overall record. It was the first time for the Bulldogs, or any team in the state, to reach the NCAA semifinals, and the 26 victories are the most in school history. Representatives of an independent movie company want to feature Mississippi State in a production that would start with the racially tense 1960s and conclude with the Final Four appearance. State’s all-white teams in the early ’60s were prohibited from NCAA play because of the state’s stance on segregation.
50 years ago — 1971
WASHINGTON – A veteran Illinois state legislator urged Congress Monday to take a uniform national approach to no-fault auto insurance instead of letting each state fashion its own plan. “I think that we are all deluding ourselves if we expect state legislators who are in the active daily practice of law, or who are selling insurance, to enact good no-fault plans,” similar to a proposed federal law, state Representative Anthony Scariano told a House Commerce subcommittee.
75 years ago — 1946
Only the second report meeting and already workers in Southwestern’s Pre-centennial and Endowment Fund drive have attained 81 percent of their goal. A total of $814,959 was rung up yesterday as teams reported $45,809 and the Initial Gifts Committee reported $769,150 to date. The goal for Memphis and Shelby County is $1,000,000. An additional $1,000,000 will be raised by Presbyterian synods elsewhere in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. When the $2,000,000 has been assured, the college will receive $500,000 from the General Election Board of New York City.
100 years ago — 1921
After a day spent hearing the domestic trials and the petty bickerings that had led two couples into the chancery court for relief via the divorce route, Chancellor Peres yesterday told a reporter that before another Legislature is elected he would like to see the daily papers start a campaign for a court of domestic relations. He doesn’t think the calendar of the chancery and circuit courts should be all cluttered up with divorce proceedings. The divorce proctor, C.I. Neely coincides with Chancellor Peres’ views.