Author Archives: Red from Texas

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About Red from Texas

I'm proud to be Red. I have lived most of my life in Texas and I love this place. Here are a few things you should know about me. 1. I am happily married and intend to stay so. 2. I live in a house that is older than you, unless you are really old. 3. I own 2 rifles and a shotgun. I think handguns are just trouble. 4. I have never killed a man, but have taken out some deer and hogs. 5. I was a good student, but never close to being valedictorian. 6. In no particular order I like the Houston Texans, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Astros, FC Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Texas Longhorns and Houston Dynamo. 7. I hate Dallas but always have a good time when I go there. 8. I was a Dallas Cowboys fan for 26 years but declared that I was no longer a fan during the 1987 strike. 9. I don't own any pets. I like cats, and a good dog and I have met at least 3 of them in my lifetime. 10. I think the best part of Texas is west of I-35. 11. I own two pairs of cowboy boots, but don't wear them very often. 12. I don't have a pronounced Texas accent, but can affect one when needed. 13. My last meal would be fried shrimp with tartar sauce, a baked potato with all the fixins', a dinner salad with 1000 Island dressing, yeast rolls and chocolate fudge pie for dessert. 14. I'm an old Dad, but my children are none of your business. 15. I have two degrees from UT-Austin and somehow managed to fall in love with and marry an Aggie. 16. Most of my family are right-wing nut jobs but I love them anyway. 17. When I get to play golf on a regular basis, I shoot in the low 80's. 18. I don't get to play golf on a regular basis. 19. I think Fort Worth is the best town in Texas by a long shot. 20. I have a mean herb garden. Regards, Red P.S. Remember it's not a color, it's a state of mind.

Today in Texas History – May 13

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From the Annals of Senseless Combat –  In 1865, the last battle of the Civil War was fought near Brownsville at Palmito Ranch.  Union and Confederate commanders had previously reached a local truce thinking that a confrontation in the what appeared to be the waning days of the war over non-strategic ground in south Texas would be a waste of time, ammunition and most importantly lives.  Despite this on May 11, Col. Theo. H Barrett sent 300 mostly Black troops to take possession of Brownsville.  The Union force surprised about 150 Confederate cavalrymen and quickly routed them.  However, later in the afternoon the Confederates engaged the Union in a skirmish.  The Union commanders assumed that the Confederates had received reinforcements and quickly withdrew.  On May 13, Col. John “Rip” Ford arrived with artillery and assumed command.  The Confederates opened up with the cannons and an ensuing cavalry charge.  The Union troops were quickly routed and fell back to Brazos Island.  Approximately 30 unfortunate Union soldiers were killed in the meaningless and unnecessary battle.  After capturing some Union troops, the Confederates learned of the surrender of Lee and Johnston.  This small battle is only remembered because it was the last actual battle of the Civil War.

Texas Has Education Priorities Straight – Millions for Football. Everything Else – Not so Much.

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The recent decision of the McKinney Independent School District to spend millions on a high school football stadium has drawn nation-wide attention.  After months of controversy and debate, more than two-thirds of McKinney voters approved spending $63 million as part of a $220 million bond package on a show-piece high school football stadium.  Yes, that’s $63 million.  By way of imperfect and time-challenged contrast, the Astrodome cost only $35 million to build in 1965 – that would be around $375 million today.

But the 12,000 seat McKinney stadium will hardly be alone in the on-going arms race to build bigger and swankier high school football stadiums in wealthy Texas suburbs.  Allen recently completed a $60 million stadium that seats 18,000 and is located about 3 miles from where McKinney will build its sports temple.  Another 12,000 seat edifice is under construction in Katy with a projected cost of more than $62 million.  The first $100 million high-school stadium cannot be far down the road.

For comparison, the $63 million  (financed by school bonds)  would be about 30% of the annual operating budget of McKinney ISD which was about $206 million for the 2015-16 school year.  Supporters claim that the stadium will be a source of local pride and bring tournaments and other business to the area.  Opponents look upon it as a case of completely misplaced priorities.   Red appreciates that, like it or not, football is king in Texas, but does it have to sit on a $63 million throne?    For the record, McKinney High School was 3-7 overall and 1-6 in district in 2015.  McKinney Boyd was 6-5, but did not make the playoffs, and McKinney North was 6-4 and also missed the playoffs. Even $63 million can’t buy you a winning football team.

Today in Texas History – May 12

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CAM-3

From the Annals of Aviation –   In 1926, the first commercial air mail service (known as CAM-3) to and from Texas was begun.  The initial route was between Dallas and Chicago.  The initial CAM-3 service was awarded to National Air Transport, Inc.  which had been founded in 1925 by Clement M. Keys.  CAM-3 air service was inaugurated with both north and south flights between Chicago and Dallas with interim stops in Moline Illinois, Saint Joseph & Kansas City Missouri, Wichita Kansas, Oklahoma City Oklahoma and Fort Worth.  NAT used Curtiss Carrier Pigeon bi-planes with Curtiss engines for this initial CAM-3 service. The Carrier Pigeon bi-planes were built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company founded by Glenn Curtiss and now controlled by Clement Keys.   Postal mail covers carried on the inaugural flight between each point of landing and take-off are collectible and are known as CAM-3 covers.

Photo from http://www.aerodacious.com.

A Texan Responds to the NY Times

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The New York Times recently published What Makes Texas Texas, and the article has received a lot of attention.  One Texan responds as follows:

I am a Texan. I was born in Texas and I grew up in Texas. I got my first pair of cowboy boots at the M. L. Leddy’s boot shop when I was 4.

I no longer live in Texas, and the Texas I read about and hear about does not seem like the Texas I knew. It does not seem like the Texas I keep close to my heart.

My Texas was the Texas of John Connally and Ann Richards. My Texas was the place where my grandfather, a windmill repairman and former ranch foreman, could wear a Stetson hat and cowboy boots and yet not believe in the death penalty or in the killing of animals for sport.

I am sad that I no longer recognize the Texas of today.

DAPHNE HAUBER

Killingworth, Conn.

Today in Texas History – May 11

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From the Annals of the Twisters –  In 1953, a massive tornado killed 114 people in Waco.   The tornado was the strongest (F5 on the Fujita scale) and deadliest of a series of at least 33 tornados that struck central Texas over a three day period. The tornado’s winds reached speeds of 300 mph and destroyed or damaged over 600 houses, 1000 other buildings and 2000 vehicles.  In addition to those killed another 597 were injured.

According to an old Huaco Native American legend, tornadoes could not touch down in Waco.   There was some truth to the legend as most storms in the area travel from west to east and split around the Waco area due to the bluffs around the Brazos River, making tornadoes relatively rare in the city. The 1953 storm, however, traveled against the prevailing winds, and the tornado approached Waco from the North-Northeast.

Over half the victims were killed in a single city block bounded by 4th and 5th streets and Austin and Franklin avenues.   Due to a heavy thunderstorm, many people were seeking shelter in downtown buildings.  One such building was the five-story Dennis Building which was directly in the path of the twister.   The building was practically destroyed in seconds when the tornado struck leaving dozens of people trapped beneath its ruins.  Twenty-two people died in the Dennis Building alone. 

Before and after photo from http://www.ustornados.com

Attention Independent Candidates – Time’s Up in Texas

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The deadline for independent candidates to get on the ballot in Texas passed yesterday without any action.  An independent presidential candidate would have had to present petitions with almost 80,000 signatures of registered voters who did not participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary in March.  No one stepped up to fill that tall order and the likelihood of a conservative candidate making a credible run for president without being on the ballot in the biggest, most conservative state of all is very small indeed.

Today in Texas History – May 10

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From the Annals of the Small Towns –  In1937, Life magazine featured Mary Lucy Kyle Hartson as the only woman mayor in Texas. The 72-year-old great-grandmother was elected mayor of Kyle by a write-in vote that year. She held office from 1937 until 1941 and again from 1944 until 1946 and was part of the celebrated “all-woman” city council elected in 1944.  As mayor, Hartson oversaw the building of a municipal water system, installed street lights and updated the fire department.  According to Hartson, “We balanced the budget, and cleaned up the town. Then when everything was under control, I retired.”

George P. Bush – Enemy of Democracy

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Bush family scion and Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush took to Facebook on Sunday to decry the results of a democratically held referendum on Austin’s  Uber and Lyft ordinance on Sunday.   According to Bush, “Liberalism has consequences. Austin claims to be a forward-thinking city … This is what happens with liberalism — the government wins and the people lose.”

There is no more direct form of democracy than the referendum, where the people – not the politicians – vote on specific issues.  Yet, when the people don’t fall in line with what George Pee thinks is right, they somehow lose.  Explain that one please.  Maybe next time, the voters will agree with George Pee and they will win!  Of note here, is the fact that Uber outspent its opponents by a factor of 100 to 1 and still lost because the people are – what  – losers?   Exactly how does the government win, when it is doing exactly what the people have told it they want.

George Pee obviously thinks he knows a lot more than the voters of Austin.  Red wonders when he had the time to get so smart.  Maybe he picked up some knowledge about this particular issue when he was missing in action from his job for much of the time until JEB!!!!$$$$?’s presidential campaign imploded in a heap of misspent money, incompetence and acrimony.  Citizens of Austin, congratulations for standing up for what you believe in.  Red urges you to ignore this Bush family freeloader who has no interest in doing the job he was elected to do and who – if not for his name and family connections – would be toiling in obscurity somewhere.  Like Red.

And by the way, it’s refreshing to pick on someone other than Sen. Ted Cruz (TP-Texas) for a change.