Today in Texas History, we look back at notable events that have shaped the Lone Star State. On October 3, 1788, Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala y Sáenz was born in Tecoh, Yucatán. Zavala went on to serve as the interim vice president of the Republic of Texas under interim President David G. Burnet.
In 1842, Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, ordered Alexander Somervell to organize the militia and volunteers and invade Mexico. This decision marked a significant moment in Texas-Mexico relations.
Moving forward to 1894, Charles W. DeRyee of Corpus Christi wrote a letter announcing the presence of the boll weevil in Texas. This was the first official announcement of the pest in the state, and it caused great concern among farmers. In response, the Texas Legislature offered a $50,000 prize for a solution to rid Texas of the boll weevil.
On this day in 1930, Columbus Marion Joiner made a momentous discovery in Rusk County. Joiner’s discovery of Daisy Bradford No. 3 in the East Texas oilfield marked the largest oilfield find in the world at that time. This discovery played a significant role in the development of Texas as an oil-producing state.
In the world of music, October 3, 1954, saw the birth of Stevie Ray Vaughan in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. Vaughan would go on to become one of the most influential and talented blues guitarists of his time.
Moving ahead to more recent history, in 1991, Governor Ann Richards declared October 3 as “Stevie Ray Vaughan Day” in honor of the late musician’s contributions to the world of music.
Finally, on October 3, 2002, the Texas Rangers released professional baseball player John Rocker. This decision put an end to Rocker’s time with the team.