Wise About Texas

Born into poverty and raised in north central Texas, Bessie Coleman wanted to fly.  But in the early 20th century, nobody in the United States would teach a black woman to fly an airplane.  So Bessie Coleman learned a new language, traveled a world away, and realized her dream.  A pioneer pilot, Coleman came home and became famous.  She used her talent and her perseverance to show everyone what was possible.  Learn more about a true pioneer aviator in this episode of Wise About Texas.  

This bonus episode features an interview with Dr. Jody Edward Ginn, Ph.D., who was a consulting historian on the new Netflix movie The Highwaymen.  The movie stars Kevin Costner as former Texas Ranger Frank Hamer and Woody Harrelson as former Texas Ranger Maney Gault.  The movie tells the story of the chase and killing of two of the most vicious killers in American history.  In the interview, Dr. Ginn talks about historical movies, the myths surrounding Bonnie and Clyde and what its like to take Texas history to the big screen.  Enjoy this bonus episode of Wise About Texas.

Bonnie & Clyde were on the run for two years.  They committed small time thefts but big time murders.  They were killers, pure and simple.  They drove fast and far, laid low, and had help all over their territory.   But they always came home. Over 1000 men from various law enforcement agencies, including the new FBI, couldn't catch them.  So we needed one Texas Ranger, and that man was Frank Hamer.  Hamer, his friend and fellow Ranger Maney Gault, along with two Dallas deputy sheriffs, tracked the outlaws and set them up to get what they had coming.  The posse did in a few weeks what the rest of the country couldn't do in two years.  They got justice.  Hear about the chase and dramatic end to the crime spree of Bonnie & Clyde in the latest episode of Wise About Texas. 

The great depression was hard on everyone everywhere, and Texas was no exception.  People couldn't work, could barely eat and just needed a break.  The people wanted excitement, they wanted romance, they wanted something to cheer for...even if it was evil.  That's when a petty chicken thief met a beautiful wanna-be movie star, both from the poor side of town.  They set off on one of the most wide-ranging, violent, notorious, and legendary crime sprees in American history.  Pretty soon, everyone knew their names...Bonnie & Clyde.  Meet two of America's most notorious outlaws in this episode of Wise About Texas.  

 The account of the Texas revolution makes for glorious telling, retelling and reading.  It seemed that every man, woman and child in early Texas just couldn't wait to rebel against the tyrannical Mexican government and win another glorious war for independence.  Didn't they?  Well, not exactly.  Just like the 13 American colonies, Texas had its tories too.  Learn more about "differences of opinion" in revolutionary Texas in the latest episode of Wise About Texas

 The late 19th century saw Texas industry expanding west.  The railroads were laid and towns were springing up everywhere.  That quintessential Texas opportunity was knocking once again. One railroad entrepreneur gave one aspiring town builder the idea to layout a new town near the Big Bend called...what else...Progress City.  He surveyed, he platted, and he sold.  He sold thousands of lots.  Deeds were filed and taxes were charged and paid.  The problem was...it never existed.  Hear the story of Progress City in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.  

Over 5000 Texans served in World War One.  Many returned to Texas and continued their service to their home State.  Here are just a few stories of men who returned from war and continued their service.  A tribute to all our men and women who served so bravely in the Great War.  

December 23, 1927 was a typical day in Cisco, Texas.  People going about their Christmas shopping, ready for holiday time with family and friends.  The kids even saw Santa Claus walking down Main Street!  He engaged with the kids, wishing them Merry Christmas.  Then he walked to the First National Bank, and into history, in what would be one of the most sensational gunfights and manhunts in Texas history.  Hear the story of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.   

Before they can fight, our soldiers must be trained.  General Sherman decided that the dwindling U.S. Army would be consolidated into two garrisons, one being based in San Antonio, Texas to protect the frontier and conduct the Indian wars necessary to western expansion.  When war in Europe beckoned, San Antonio was ready.  But the Army was running out of room.  So the Army began buying ranches until San Antonio became the huge military city it remains today.  Learn about San Antonio's role in equipping our troops for world war in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.  

A Tribute to our 41st President...a Texan.

The early 20th century brought chaos to the Texas/Mexico border.  The Mexican revolution(s) created opportunities for raiders, bandits and criminals to run rampant.  The law was hard to enforce and depredations hard to prevent.  Germany fostered this chaos to distract the U.S. from the war in Europe.  Soon, two documents were discovered that would focus U.S. attention on either quelling the chaos, or joining the war.  Hear the story of the role Texas played in the U.S. entering World War I in the latest episode of Wise About Texas:  Texas and the Great War, Part 1.

In the early 20th century Japan sought to extend its relations around the world.  Texas made imminent sense.  A Japanese professor saw the Alamo as a perfect companion to one of ancient Japan's most famous battles.  The Emperor saw Texas as a perfect place to relocate some of his brightest farmers.  Learn about the early connections between Japan and Texas in this latest episode of Wise About Texas.

In the first days of 1836 revolution was brewing in Texas.  The battle of Gonzales had spawned the Texian conquest of La Bahia and Bexar.  The Texians were sure the Mexicans would soon see the wisdom of allowing the Texians their own government.  The Indians, however, just saw opportunity.  Depredations continued and the further up the Guadalupe river you lived, the more danger you faced.  That danger reached Sarah Hibbens and her family.  This wasn't her first suffering at the hand of the indians and it wouldn't be her last.  But after a harrowing escape from the horror of captivity, she ran into a new force that would change the course of Indian/settler relations forever:  The Texas Rangers.  Captain Tumlinson and his men chased the Indians into the area that would later become the capital of the Republic of Texas.  Hear the story of the first battle between Texas Rangers and Comanche Indians in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.

San Antonio was founded 300 years ago in 1718.  From day one, the residents, priests and soldiers faced a constant and menacing threat from the Apache Indians.  Raids from the indians and retaliatory campaigns from the soldiers made life in early San Antonio stressful and difficult.  Attempts at peace never seemed to work.  But all of a sudden, in 1749, the Apache wanted not only to make peace, but also to enter mission life and convert to Christianity.  The reason for the Apache's sudden change of heart is a matter of perspective.  But rather than look a gift horse in the mouth, the Spanish held a grand peace ceremony in San Antonio's main plaza, the likes of which has never been seen in North America.  Learn about this unique event in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.

Dr. Lytle Adams had bats in his belfry.  He had visited Carlsbad cavern right before  Pearl Harbor was attacked.  He came up with a great idea for weapon(s) of mass destruction hat would burn up the paper and wood cities of Japan.  All he would need was a one ounce incendiary bomb, a breakaway bomb case, and millions of bats.  So the Marines set up guards at several Texas caves containing millions of 3-inch winged warriors on their way to the Pacific.  Testing sacrificed thousands of these brave flyers but the concept worked...until one worked better.  Hear the wild story of the World War II Bat Bomb in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.

What is it about Texas women?  Independent, smart, strong, spirited, they can do it all!  Ask any Texas man and he'll tell you, the ladies run the show!  But this is nothing new.  Back before the Texas revolution, the women of Texas formed the spirit of Texas.  Some were because their husbands moved the family to this new land of opportunity.  These women did their best to build a household in the harsh Texas frontier, and they did it well.  But some came on their own, and brought their spirit with them.  That was Pamelia Mann.  She was a Houston entrepreneur, hotelier, rancher, businesswoman, forger, possibly a thief, and willing to be a killer.  She was even sentenced to death...but slipped the noose.  During the Texas revolution she handed Sam Houston himself the only defeat he would suffer in command of the Texas Army.  Celebrate the spirit of Texas women in this latest episode of Wise About Texas.

Fredericksburg Texas has a very interesting history.  Created during the massive German immigration to Texas in the middle 1800's, Fredericksburg was not intended to be the city it soon became.  A treaty with the Comanche Indians and the California gold rush made Fredericksburg a prosperous place to set up a store.  John Hunter did just that.  Hunter supplied his patrons with everything they need, including whiskey.  He was also the county clerk.  But Hunter's temper got the better of him, his store, and the entire early history of Fredericksburg.  Learn more in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.

In June of 1865, Texas was in chaos.  Robert E. Lee had just surrendered the Army of Northern of Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War.  But without a government or functioning economy, it was every man for himself.  Many former Confederates were heading for Mexico, while others tried to bring order to chaos.  A few dozen men decided they'd get their money the old fashioned way--they'd steal it.  But they weren't satisfied with small potatoes, they were going big.  The were going to rob the Texas treasury..,  Learn more about the coldest case in Texas in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.

Bob Kleberg, Jr. had an eye for good horses.  When he did something, he did it big.  He also managed one of the largest and most storied ranches in Texas, founded by his grandfather Richard King.  When Kleberg decided that the King Ranch would race thoroughbreds, he bought and bred the best.  In 1943, a chestnut colt was born on the King Ranch in far South Texas.  The scampering colt stepped on an old surveyor stake and it went right through his hoof.  Not a good situation for a racehorse.  Instead of putting him down, an enterprising veterinarian fixed the foot and he went on to race.  As a 3 year-old, the horse had a chance to bring the coveted triple crown home to Texas.  Hear the unlikely story of Assault, the Club-Footed Comet, in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.

The Trinity River flows from roughly Fort Worth to Trinity Bay in Chambers County.  For several years boats navigated the river but never all the way.  Several attempts were made to promote the Trinity River as a commercial asset but none were more enthusiastic than the 2-year, 9000 mile, yes 9000 mile, journey of Basil Muse Hatfield.  The grandson of a San Jacinto veteran and steamboat man, Hatfield boasted a family that not only had many "Basil Muse's" but also one of the most famous "Devil's" in American history.  He fought wars in South Africa, South America and China, hunted ivory and mined diamonds in Africa, mined silver in Mexico and even studied with Tibetan Lamas.  Or so he claimed.  He did find oil in Texas.  One of the great characters of Texas, meet Basil Muse Hatfield, the First Admiral of the Trinity, in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.