In Texas history, October 14th has seen several significant events and births. One of these events took place in the year 1843, when Ole Ringness, an early settler and inventor, was born in Norway. Ringness went on to become the first mail carrier in Bosque County and his original disc plow can still be found on display in the Texas Memorial Museum in Austin.
Another notable birth happened on this day in 1890, when Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas. Eisenhower would later go on to become the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in World War II and eventually the 34th President of the United States.
Moving ahead to the year 1936, the first Social Security Board (SSB) office opened in Austin, Texas. This marked a significant turning point as the responsibility of assigning Social Security Numbers was transitioned to the Board’s local office.
One of the most memorable events in Texas history occurred on October 14th, 1987, when 18-month-old Jessica McClure fell down an abandoned well in Midland, Texas. The rescue operation stretched over a grueling 58 hours, capturing national attention and highlighting the bravery and determination of the rescuers.
Shifting gears to sports, October 14th, 2010, marked a significant milestone for the Texas Rangers when they started the American League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history. The series pitted them against the New York Yankees in a thrilling battle.
However, not all Texas sports stories have happy endings. On this day in 2015, the Texas Rangers’ season came to a disappointing end when they lost Game 5 of the American League Division Series to the Toronto Blue Jays.