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Texas on This Day:
500 Years of History

by Gary C. Vliet

(CreateSpace, 2015; Second printing, 2018)
Illustrated
460 pages
ISBN: 9781-4921-48609
Paperback
$20.00


Reviewed by Dr. Kirk Bane

September 5, 2020

This superb reference work, written by Lone Star history enthusiast Dr. Gary C. Vliet, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas-Austin, belongs in the collection of every reader fascinated by our state's storied past. Vliet's informative volume discusses "important events pertinent to Texas: historical, political, sporting, artistic, criminal, tragic, celebrative and amusing, which occurred in the past on the various days of the year." The author pays special attention to the events of the Revolution (1835-36), "the most interesting period in Texas history."


Consider, for example, three such dates:

On January 2, the town of Abilene was incorporated (1883); singer Roger Miller, known for such hits as "King of the Road" and "England Swings," was born in Fort Worth (1936); the T.C.U. Horned Frog football team defeated Carnegie Tech 15-7 in the Sugar Bowl, thus becoming National Champions for the 1938 season (1939); and entertainer and Panola County native Tex Ritter passed away (1974).

On May 15, the town of Laredo was founded (1755); rodeo star Coy "Toots" Mansfield was born in Bandera; the brutal lynching of African American Jesse Washington, often referred to as the "Waco Horror," took place (1916); Joseph D. Sayers, Texas governor from 1899 to 1903, died in Bastrop (1929); and Refugio native and California Angel Nolan Ryan pitched his first no-hitter (1973).

On October 14, Dwight D. Eisenhower, military hero and future president of the United States, was born in Denison (1890); Marcellus Foster founded the Houston Chronicle (1901); and Texas Aggie shot putter Randy Matson won gold and set a new Olympic record while Texas Southern sprinter Jim Hines won gold and set a new world record at the Mexico City Olympics (1968).


You get the picture. In short, readers interested in the Lone Star heritage, whether educators, students, or lay historians, will find Professor Vliet's thoroughly researched publication a useful and compelling read!

Dr. Kirk Bane,
Book Review Editor,
Central Texas Historical Association


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