MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1998
In a tempestuous ending to 31⁄2 months of debate, city leaders Tuesday pulled the plug on the prospect of selling Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division anytime soon. Mayor Willie Herenton recommended to City Council members that Memphis retain ownership of LG&W. And the council went one step further, unanimously adopting a resolution stating its intent to block any sale of LG&W that the administration might request.
50 years ago — 1973
HOUSTON – A season-long dream interrupted only by a momentary nightmare became reality for Memphis State on a Saturday afternoon that now stands as the Tigers' finest athletic hour. Memphis State whipped through Kansas State, 92-72, with a fury the capacity crowd of 10,060 in Hofheinz Pavilion could hardly believe. The Tigers claimed their 23rd and most precious victory of the campaign.
75 years ago — 1948
The Shelby County School of Aeronautics at Whitehaven has been ordered closed, effective July 1. Closing of the specialized training school, where approximately 170 veterans are receiving instructions under the G.I. Bill, was ordered by the Shelby County Board of Education. The reason: Need of additional space for students attending the Whitehaven School.
100 years ago — 1923
Arnold Depuy Raeburn, 29, a telegraph operator and cartoonist, who eloped to Memphis last Feb. 28 with Frances L. Whittington, 19, a Blue Mountain College girl and daughter of
E.O. Whittington, an attorney, of Tutwiler, Miss., was stripped of his mask and revealed as Floyd L. Overstake, who had been trailed through half a dozen states in the last two months by postal inspectors, railway special agents and police. Overstake, who boasted a long string of aliases, was arrested Friday at Norwood, Mo., by Frank Ward, a St. Louis postal inspector, after the fugitive had been identified as the man who attempted to defraud a Kansas City diamond firm out of $6,000 worth of gems.
125 years ago — 1898
LITTLE ROCK – It is learned here today that the United States government has contracted for the immediate delivery of 500 cars of Arkansas coal for the use of the Navy. The coal will be shipped from Coal Hill to Galveston and will go forward as fast as it can be loaded upon the cars. Another contract of immense proportions is said to have been made with the Western Coal and Mining Company. This latter contract is said to call for 10,000 cars of Sebastian County coal.