Rains County Leader

Today is Friday, April 7, 2017

Today in
Texas History

1817 - Francisco Xavier Mina and his men set sail from Galveston with the task of driving Spanish king Ferdinand VII from Mexico. After some minor victories Mina was captured and eventually executed with 25 companions at Fort San Gregorio.

1825 - Green DeWitt successfully petitioned the Mexican government to settle a colony of 400 families in Texas between the Lavaca and Guadalupe Rivers.

1886 - In Laredo, TX, one of the biggest gun battles in the history of the American West began. Political factions began fighting during a celebration parade the day after the elections. It required two companies of the Sixteenth United States Infantry and one company of the Eighth Cavalry to restore peace. The official death toll was 16 but, unofficial reports placed the total close to 30.

1914 - Sam Rayburn took the oath of office as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He served in the house for more than 48 years.

1970 - Texan PFC Milton Lee was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism for overrunning enemy positions and providing covering fire for his platoon during the Vietnam War. He died that day, April 26, 1968, from wounds he had suffered. President Nixon presented the medal to his grandmother.

Texas Quote

If you’ve ever driven across Texas, you know how different one area of the state can be from another. Take El Paso. It looks as much like Dallas as I look like Jack Nicklaus.
- Pro Golfer Lee Trevino

Today, April 6, is the last day to register to vote in the May 6 elections for City of East Tawakoni and City of Emory. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!

Today is Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Today in
Texas History

1981 - Henry Cisneros became the first Mexican-American elected mayor of a major U.S. city, which was San Antonio, TX.

1981 - The documentary film "This is Elvis" premiered at the USA Film Festival in Dallas, TX.

Texas Quote

"No important incident took place until 4:30 p.m. At this fatal moment, the bugler on our right signaled the advance of the enemy upon that wing." - Mexican Colonel Pedro Delgado, April 21, 1836 about the Battle of San Jacinto

Funeral services for Oliver Richardson Barnes, 96, of Alba, are scheduled for Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Alba, with Bro. Kelly Burton officiating. Visitation is one hour before service. See this week's Rains County Leader for the full obituary.