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vrb553
7886 pts
2
Hopson
7878 pts
3
PapawClint77
7814 pts
4
TXSGUY
7812 pts
5
MeMyselfAndEye
7800 pts
6
TXheritage
7794 pts
7
WillMassey
7792 pts
8
ILoveTexas
7786 pts
9
PNCrawfordSmith
7774 pts
10
Txn4Real
7764 pts
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Celebrate Texas History Month—help us choose the top Texan in history!
Who will be the Top Texan in Texas history? Sixty-four famous Texans face off against each other in the ultimate battle of Texas pride. Vote for your Top Texan through April 3rd!
The Top Texan Tournament is hosted by the Texas General Land Office's Save Texas History program.
How does it work?
Prediction Round: Between now and March 22nd, build your Top Texan Tournament bracket (a la March Madness). Predict who Texans will vote for as the Top Texan in Texas history. (You'll have to create a free account to do this part.)
Voting Round: Between March 23rd and April 3rd, vote for your Top Texan. (Anyone can vote in these rounds; no account creation necessary.)
How do I win prizes?
After each voting round, our system will calculate who most accurately predicted the results based on brackets submitted during the prediction round. The top point earners in each round will receive a prize. The top point earner at the end of the entire tournament will receive our grand prize.
What can I win?
GRAND PRIZE
- A Texas flag flown over the Alamo on March 6, 2017
- A 1-Year Homestead Membership to the Bullock Texas State History Museum
- A 1-Year Membership to the Texas State Historical Association
- A hardcover 2016-2017 Texas Almanac
- TSHA Book Bundle
- $500 gift card to TXHumor.com
- A map reproduction of your choice from the Texas General Land Office and assorted Save Texas History swag.
ROUNDS (1-SEMIFINALS)
- A pair of tickets to the Bullock Texas State History Museum
- A flexbound 2016-2017 Texas Almanac
- $100 gift card to TXHumor.com
- Assorted Save Texas History swag
Tournament Schedule
Deadline to Submit Predictions: March 22
Round 1 Voting: March 23 - 24
Round 2 Voting: March 25 - 26
Round 3 Voting: March 27 - 28
Round 4 Voting: March 29 - 30
Semifinal Voting: March 31 - April 1
Final Voting: April 2 - 3
Winner Announced: April 4
Thank you to our sponsors!
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By registering, you are opting to share your email address with the Save Texas History program and its sponsors.
In the event of a tie, tied users will be numbered alphabetically by username and chosen via random.org. Texas General Land Office employees and their household family members are encouraged to submit a prediction bracket, but are not eligible to win prizes.
This bracket has ended
This bracket has ended
Voting is now closed! The winner will be announced on Facebook on Tuesday, April 4th.
Claim your FREE prize from the Texas State Historical Association. Download your Texas Almanac Now!
Round 1
Round 4
Semi-Finals
Championship
Thanks for voting! The winner will be announced on Facebook on Tuesday, April 4th.
Claim your FREE prize from the Texas State Historical Association. Download your Texas Almanac Now!
Leaderboard
1
vrb553
7886
pts
2
Hopson
7878
pts
3
PapawClint77
7814
pts
4
TXSGUY
7812
pts
5
MeMyselfAndEye
7800
pts
6
TXheritage
7794
pts
7
WillMassey
7792
pts
8
ILoveTexas
7786
pts
9
PNCrawfordSmith
7774
pts
10
Txn4Real
7764
pts
Round 1 | Matchup 1 of 32
John O. Meusebach
- Founder of Fredericksburg, Castell, and Leiningen, and peacemaker with the Comanche Indians
- Signed the Meusebach-Comanche Treaty on May 9, 1847 in Fredericksburg; this treaty was one of the most important pioneer works of the Germans in Texas
- In 1851, was elected to the Texas Senate to represent Bexar, Comal, and Medina counties; in 1852 helped pass a bill to establish a system of public schools
Elisabet Ney
- German-born sculptor who immigrated to Texas with her husband at age 39
- In her teens, she went on a weeks-long hunger strike when her parents opposed her becoming a sculptor
- During her career in Texas, she commissioned busts and statues of Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Albert Sidney Johnston, and Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. Her works can be found in the Texas State Capitol, the U.S. Capitol, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Round 1 | Matchup 2 of 32
William B. Travis
- Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830 made his immigration illegal
- Recruited 29 men to reinforce James C. Neill’s command in San Antonio, and quickly found himself in command of the Alamo garrison when Neill took leave
- Penned the famous “Victory or Death” letter, addressed “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World” to try to add reinforcements to the Alamo prior to Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head
Green DeWitt
- Awarded an empresario grant to settle 400 families along the Guadalupe River adjacent to Austin’s Colony; issued land scrip to his colonists in denominations of five, ten, and twenty dollars, thereby creating one of the earliest examples of paper currency in Texas
- Represented the District of Gonzales in the Convention of 1833
- His daughter, Naomi, cut up her wedding dress to make the famous “Come and Take It” banner that became the Gonzales battle flag
Round 1 | Matchup 3 of 32
Lorenzo de Zavala
- Held several positions in the Mexican government, including governor, congressional deputy, Secretary of the Treasury of Mexico, and diplomatic minister; resigned his diplomatic position when Santa Anna assumed dictatorial power
- Advocated for Texas independence, served in the Permanent Council and as a representative of Harrisburg in the Consultation and Convention of 1836
- Served as the first Vice President of the Republic of Texas
Anson Jones
- Arrived in Texas in October 1833, and established a successful medical practice at Brazoria as well as the first Masonic lodge in Texas; later helped found the Medical Association of Texas in 1853
- Appointed by Sam Houston to the position of minister to the United States, and earned the nickname “Architect of Annexation”
- The final President of Texas, upon the completion of Texas’s annexation, declared “The Republic of Texas is no more”
Round 1 | Matchup 4 of 32
George Childress
- Elected to represent Milam Municipality at the Convention of 1836
- Was the primary author of the Texas Declaration of Independence and served as a diplomatic agent for the Republic of Texas in Washington, D.C.
- Childress County is named in his honor
Antonio Margil de Jesús
- Throughout his life, referred to himself as “Nothingness Itself”
- Became a Franciscan missionary, receiving Holy Orders at the age of 25 and worked extensively throughout New Spain; remains under consideration for sainthood by the Vatican
- Supervised the founding of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores and San Miguel de los Adaes in East Texas in 1717, and Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, in San Antonio in 1720
Round 1 | Matchup 5 of 32
Martín De León
- Registered the first cattle brand in Texas, a connected E and J, representing “Espíritu de Jesús” and eventually became a successful rancher
- The only Mexican empresario to found a colony in Texas; founded the town of Nuestra Señora Guadalupe de Jesús Victoria
- The De León family was closely involved with Texas’ fight against Santa Anna, serving in and providing supplies to the army, and offering resources and refuge to civilians
Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca
- Participated in the failed Narváez expedition in 1527, eventually made his way to Mexico City in 1536, covering nearly 2,400 miles on foot; his trading with natives made him the first European merchant of record in Texas
- His book about his 18-month enslavement by Coahuiltecans caused him to be regarded as Texas’ first ethnologist
- Performed surgery on a Native American who had an arrowhead lodged in his chest above his heart, known as the “Patron Saint” of the Texas Surgical Society
Round 1 | Matchup 6 of 32
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Albert Martin
- Alamo defender and officer of the Alamo garrison
- At the outbreak of the Texas Revolution, Martin was one of the "Old Eighteen," defenders of the Gonzales "Come and Take It" cannon
- Met Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna's adjutant, Col. Juan N. Almonte, who rejected Martin's invitation to come to the Alamo and speak directly to Travis. On the following day, Martin left the Alamo carrying Travis's famous letter "To the People of Texas."
Round 1 | Matchup 7 of 32
Clara Driscoll
- Businesswoman, philanthropist, and historic preservationist.
- From 1903 to 1905 she worked with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to acquire and preserve the Alamo by personally paying most of the purchase price. The attractive young philanthropist received extensive national publicity as the "Savior of the Alamo."
- She was elected the Democratic Party's national committeewoman from Texas in 1922 and served in that position for an unprecedented sixteen years.
Quanah Parker
- Son of Cynthia Ann Parker, the captive of an 1836 Comanche raid on Parker’s Fort.
- The last chief of the Quahada Comanche Indians.
- After several years of tension with the U.S. Army, Parker and the rest of the Quahadas moved to the Kiowa-Comanche reservation in Oklahoma in 1874; federal agents named Quanah chief of the Comanche at the reservation and he encouraged self-sufficiency among the Comanche.
Round 1 | Matchup 8 of 32
J. Frank Dobie
- A well-known folklorist, Dobie often wrote about Texas ranch life and the Southwestern culture.
- “Paisano Ranch,” Dobie’s writer’s retreat, was donated to the University of Texas shortly after his death. Today, two 6-month fellowships are awarded to student writers whose writing identifies closely with Texas.
- Today, a statue of Dobie and his friends Walter Prescott Webb and Roy Bedichek stands in Zilker Park in Austin in honor of their efforts to preserve Barton Springs.
Oveta Culp Hobby
- Married former governor, William P. Hobby, when she was 26 and he was 53.
- Headed the War Department’s Women’s Interest Section, then became the first director of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps, which was created to fill gaps left by a shortage of men; first woman in the Army to receive the Distinguished Service Medal.
- After the war, she became the first secretary of the new Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (later the Department of Health and Human Services).
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 1 | Matchup 9 of 32
Erasmo Seguín
- Father of notable Texas Revolution soldier Juan Seguín
- Held the position of postmaster of San Antonio off and on from 1807 until October 1835; elected alcalde of San Antonio shortly before Mexico's independence from Spain, and served as Texas’s representative to the congress that wrote the Constitution of 1834
- Supplied cattle, horses, mules, and corn to the Texas army during the Revolution from his ranch, Casa Blanca
Mirabeau B. Lamar
- After the Goliad Massacre, joined the revolutionary army as a private; commissioned a colonel at the onset of the Battle of San Jacinto, where he commanded the cavalry
- Elected vice president in September 1836, and then elected president in 1838; suggested the location for a new capital city, Austin, on the frontier
- Nicknamed the “Father of Texas Education” due to his proposal for an education system endowed by public lands
Round 1 | Matchup 10 of 32
Thomas Jefferson Rusk
- Served as commander-in-chief of the Army of the Republic of Texas, with the rank of brigadier general, from May 4 to October 31, 1836; was named the first Secretary of War
- Elected chief justice of the Supreme Court on December 12, 1838, later he headed the bar of the Republic of Texas
- Vocal supporter of Texas's annexation; was president of the Convention of 1845, which accepted the annexation terms
Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson
- Known as “The Lady of the Alamo.” Moved into the Alamo with her daughter and husband on February 23, 1836. She was one of the lone survivors.
- Interviewed by Santa Anna after the fall of the Alamo, and sent to Gonzales to inform the Texans of the loss.
- Provided firsthand accounts of the Battle of the Alamo for the rest of her life.
Round 1 | Matchup 11 of 32
Mary Maverick
- Established St. Mark’s Church in San Antonio, and served as the president of the Ladies’ Parish Aid Society for over twenty years
- Prominent member of the San Antonio Historical Society and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas who published memoirs that provide dramatic insight into pioneer Texas life
- As president of the Alamo Monument Association, advocated for the restoration of the site
Santos Benavides
- Colonel Santos Benavides was the highest ranking Latino officer in the Confederate Army, first commissioned a captain in the Thirty-third Texas Cavalry
- As a political and military leader in Laredo, Benavides brought a traditionally isolated region closer to the mainstream of Texas politics while preserving a sense of local independence
- He served three times in the Texas legislature from 1879 to 1884 and twice as an alderman of Laredo
Round 1 | Matchup 12 of 32
Stephen F. Austin
- Arrived in San Antonio in 1821 and was authorized to carry on the colonization enterprise begun under his father, Moses's, grant
- Settled 300 families, the “Old Three Hundred,” under the terms of his first contract, and obtained three additional contracts in 1825, 1827, and 1828 to settle 900 additional families
- Elected to lead the volunteer army at Gonzales at the outbreak of war; served as the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas until his untimely death on December 27, 1836
Juan N. Seguín
- Raised a company of 37 men after receiving a captain’s commission following the Battle of Gonzales; participated in the Siege of Bexar, and occupied the Alamo before being sent out as a courier prior to the siege
- Accepted the Mexican surrender of San Antonio on June 4, 1836, and served as the city’s military commander through the fall of 1837
- Served in the Second, Third, and Fourth Congress as the only Mexican Texan in the Senate of the Republic, and as mayor of San Antonio
Round 1 | Matchup 13 of 32
Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross
- Served in the U.S. Army as the leader of a band of Indian auxiliaries from the Brazos Indian reservation; almost died in 1858, due to wounds sustained during a battle with the Comanche
- Served as the 19th Governor of Texas (1887-1891) – the new Capitol building was completed during his term in office
- As president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now A&M University), provided extensive reforms and improvements
John Bell Hood
- Graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1849, and served on the Texas frontier in the Second United States Cavalry
- Resigned from the United States Army in 1861, and was commissioned a captain in the Confederate cavalry, eventually gaining the rank of Brigadier General
- Commanded what became known as Hood’s Brigade, considered one of the greatest brigades of the Army of Northern Virginia
Round 1 | Matchup 14 of 32
Adina de Zavala
- Preservationist and granddaughter of Lorenzo de Zavala
- Central to the preservation of the Alamo and portions of the original wall and convent through work with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; she barricaded herself inside the north barrack of the Alamo for three days in February 1908 to protest its destruction
- In 1912 she organized the Texas Historical and Landmarks Association, which placed thirty-eight markers at historic sites in Texas
Benjamin Rush Milam
- Was granted Mexican citizenship and commissioned a colonel in the Mexican army in 1824; obtained empresario grant in Texas
- A Colonel in the Texas Army, helped capture Goliad and inspired and led the attack on San Antonio from December 5 to December 9, which resulted in victory
- Milam was shot in the head by a sniper and died instantly on December 7
Round 1 | Matchup 15 of 32
José de Escandón
- Was the colonizer and first governor of Nuevo Santander; he founded over twenty towns, or villas, and a number of missions in the colony, on both sides of the Rio Grande
- Sometimes called the “father” of the lower Rio Grande Valley
- Died in Mexico City while standing trial for charges of maladministration; was posthumously exonerated of all charges
James S. Hogg
- Born in Texas in 1851, he was the first elected native governor of Texas in 1890
- As governor, he passed the “Hogg Laws,” which included the establishment of the Railroad Commission and an act restricting the amount of debt that could be incurred through county and municipal bonds, among others
- Successfully petitioned for financial support for a state archive
Round 1 | Matchup 16 of 32
Chief Bowles
- Principal chief of the Cherokees in Texas; born in North Carolina in 1756 to a Scottish father and a full-blooded Cherokee mother
- Negotiated a treaty in February 1836 with Sam Houston guaranteeing his tribe’s possession of lands occupied in East Texas, but the treaty was invalidated by the Senate of the Republic of Texas
- Resisted expulsion from his tribe’s lands and was killed in the Battle of the Neches, the last engagement between Cherokees and whites in Texas
José Antonio Navarro
- Elected to the state legislature of Coahuila and Texas, the federal congress of Mexico, the Congress of the Republic of Texas, and the Senate of the State of Texas
- One of the three Mexican signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence
- The only Hispanic delegate to the Convention of 1845 that approved Texas’s annexation; helped to write the first state constitution of Texas
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 1 | Matchup 17 of 32
James Earl Rudder
- Football coach, educator, World War II hero, mayor of Brady, GLO Commissioner, President of Texas A&M University
- Commander and trainer of the Second Ranger Battalion, which had a major role in the D-Day invasion; commander of the 109th Infantry Regiment, which saw key service in the Battle of the Bulge
- Received the Distinguished Service medal in 1967 from President Lyndon Johnson, the highest peacetime service award
Dwight Eisenhower
- Commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France
- He became President of Columbia University, then took leave to assume supreme command over the new NATO forces being assembled in 1951
- Elected President of the United States in 1952, was responsible for ending the Korean War in 1953 and establishing NASA as a civilian space agency
Round 1 | Matchup 18 of 32
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
- Competed in the 1932 Olympics in javelin, hurdles and high jump, and broke the world record in all three events
- Became an amateur golfer in 1943, and won seventeen consecutive tournaments; founded the Ladies Professional Golf Association in 1948
- In 1950 the Associated Press voted her Woman Athlete of the Half-Century; was voted Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press six times during her career
Ann Richards
- Elected State Treasurer in 1982, making her the first woman in 50 years elected to a statewide office in Texas.
- Became the second woman ever elected Governor of Texas in 1990. She served from 1991-1995.
- Memorable quote: “Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.”
Round 1 | Matchup 19 of 32
Nolan Ryan
- Former Major League Baseball pitcher and CEO of the Texas Rangers; currently an executive adviser to the owner of the Houston Astros and leads the Nolan Ryan Foundation
- 27-year major league career; was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999
- The all-time leader in no-hitters with seven, three more than any other pitcher; he ranked 41st on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was elected to the MLB All-Century Team
Hector P. Garcia
- Founded American G.I. Forum, an organization dedicated to securing equal rights for Hispanic Americans
- Served in WWII as an infantry officer, a combat engineer officer, and a Medical Corps officer and surgeon where he earned a Bronze Star with six battle stars
- First Mexican American to receive The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award
Round 1 | Matchup 20 of 32
Buddy Holly
- Pioneering American singer/songwriter/musician from Lubbock who influenced many later bands such as the Beatles and Rolling Stones
- First to use the standard 4 piece band set of lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboard
- Died in a plane crash at age 22 in Iowa while on tour
Jane McCallum
- Entered politics by campaigning for prohibition and women's suffrage; elected president of the Austin Women's Suffrage Association in 1915
- During World War I, as women's chairman of the fourth Liberty Loan Drive, she led Austin women in raising nearly $700,000 for the war effort
- McCallum was appointed Secretary of State in 1927 and retained the position until 1933. She is the only person to hold the position of Secretary of State under two governors and for more than two terms
Round 1 | Matchup 21 of 32
Michael DeBakey
- One of the first people to discover a connection between cigarette use and lung disease, in 1936
- Developed the “roller pump,” which provided a continuous flow of blood during operations. This became an essential component of the heart-lung machine, making open-heart surgery possible
- Created a plastic tubing, called the DeBakey Dacron Graft, to repair blood vessels – used to prevent recurring strokes and kidney failure, and to restore circulation to limbs
Janis Joplin
- Had a brief yet prolific career signing the blues
- Rolling Stone ranked Joplin number 46 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004, and number 28 on its 2008 list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time
- She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995
Round 1 | Matchup 22 of 32
William Goyens
- Free biracial man who arrived in Nacogdoches in 1820 and worked as a blacksmith, wagon maker, and freight hauler; he was abducted and nearly sold into slavery during a trip to Louisiana in 1826
- Negotiated treaties with the Comanche and other native tribes because he was considered very trustworthy
- During the Revolution, was tasked with maintaining a friendly relationship with the Cherokees, and served as interpreter with General Sam Houston in negotiating a treaty
George Strait
- A country music icon since the 1980s, in 2009, he earned a Grammy award for Troubadour, and also landed the Artist of the Decade award from the Academy of Country Music
- Served in US Army; while stationed in Hawaii, he began singing in the Army-sponsored band called Rambling Country
- His family founded The Jennifer Lynn Strait Foundation, which raises money for children's charities, in honor of his daughter who died in a car accident in 1986
Round 1 | Matchup 23 of 32
Barbara Jordan
- First African-American congresswoman from the Deep South
- First African-American woman to: be elected to the Senate, preside over a legislative body, be keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention
- Gained national prominence for her role in the 1974 Watergate hearings as a member of the House Judiciary Committee when she delivered what many considered to be the best speech of the hearings
Willie Nelson
- Iconic musician, in 1975,the Red-Headed Stranger album made Nelson a major national artist; “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” earned him his first Grammy Award for best country vocal performance
- Helped organize the first Farm Aid concert, earned nearly $10 million to help family farmers; worked extensively on behalf of the environment, promoting the alternative, cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel
- Earned his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art GongKwon Yusul in 2014 at the age of 81
Round 1 | Matchup 24 of 32
Walter Prescott Webb
- Became the director of the Texas State Historical Association in 1939 – he held this position until 1946
- Launched a project to create an encyclopedia of Texas, published in 1952 as the Handbook of Texas. Today, the Handbook of Texas Online has expanded to include thousands of entries
- Today, a statue of Webb and his friends J. Frank Dobie and Roy Bedichek stands in Zilker Park in Austin in honor of their efforts to preserve Barton Springs
Selena Quintanilla
- Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was a beloved Latin recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club
- She was also sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Madonna" for her sexy outfits and dance moves
- At the 1987 Tejano Music Awards, she won both "Best Female Vocalist of the Year" and "Performer of the Year." Her 1990 album, Ven Conmigo, was the first Tejano record to achieve gold record status, selling more than 500,000 copies
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 1 | Matchup 25 of 32
George W. Bush
- Elected Governor of Texas in 1994; re-elected in 1998, becoming the first Texas governor to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms since Dolph Briscoe was re-elected in 1974
- Elected 43rd President of the United States in 2000, serving two terms
- In the 1980s and early 1990s, Bush was a partial owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team and before that worked in the energy sector
Kay Bailey Hutchison
- First woman elected to represent Texas in the US Senate
- Was elected Texas State Treasurer where she increased returns on state investments to $1 billion annually, led a successful campaign against a state income tax, and helped cap Texas's state debt
- Became the chair of Commerce's Science and Space Subcommittee where she supported funding for NASA and investment in research and education in the STEM fields and sponsored the NASA Administration Authorization Act of 2005
Round 1 | Matchup 26 of 32
James L. Farmer, Jr.
- Notable Civil Rights leader, one of the founders of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a Chicago-based interracial organization that sought to change racist attitudes through non-violent tactics, such as sit-ins, jail-ins, and freedom rides.
- Was a member of the 1935 Wiley College debate team that inspired the 2007 movie, The Great Debaters.
- Farmer was on the first Freedom Ride in May 1961 and was jailed in Mississippi’s Parchman Prison for 39-days.
Scott Joplin
- Called the “King of Ragtime," by age 7, he was proficient in the banjo, and began playing the piano.
- Received a formal education in music from Julius Weiss, who taught him sight reading and harmony; began playing “ragtime” in St. Louis in 1890 and integrated his ragtime music into a ballet and two musicals.
- Witnessed the staged collision of two railroad trains near Waco, and wrote a popular piano rag called Great Crush Collision.
Round 1 | Matchup 27 of 32
George H.W. Bush
- 41st President of the United States
- Texas Representative to Congress, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Chief of the U.S. Liason Office in the People's Republic of China, and Director of Central Intelligence Agency
- Rallied the United Nations, the US people, and Congress and sent 425,000 American troops who were joined by 118,000 allied troops to defeat Iraq's million-man army in Operation Desert Storm
Sam Rayburn
- Served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives (1906-1912)
- Elected as a Democrat in Congress for the Fourth Texas District; he had no Republican opponents throughout his entire congressional career and was the longest-running member of the House of Representatives; he served more than 48 years (1913-1961)
- Elected Speaker of the House in 1940 and held that position until 1961
Round 1 | Matchup 28 of 32
Howard Hughes
- An aviator, movie producer, and billionaire, he inherited Hughes Tool Company and a large portion of the family estate at the age of 18 after the deaths of his parents
- Broke several records, including the land-speed record in 1935, the transcontinental record in 1936, and an around-the-world flight record in 1938; survived four plane crashes as a pilot
- Invested in military aircraft and in 1944 received a government contract to build the “Spruce Goose"
Denton Cooley
- Majored in Zoology at the University of Texas and starred on the varsity basketball team
- Founder of The Texas Heart Institute, a not-for-profit cardiology and heart surgery center in Houston
- Performed the first implantation of an artificial heart in 1969
Round 1 | Matchup 29 of 32
Lyndon Baines Johnson
- 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963-1969
- Served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years (1937-1949), and the U.S. Congress for 12 years (1949-1961)
- One of only four people who have served as President and Vice President, as well as in both houses of Congress
LuLu Bell Madison White
- Served the NAACP as director of the Youth Council and organizer of new chapters throughout the state. She became the president of the Houston NAACP Chapter in 1939, which grew to become the largest chapter in the South by 1943, thanks to White’s fund-raising efforts
- In 1945, White chose the plaintiff, Herman Marion Sweatt, in the NAACP case that sought to integrate the University of Texas
- Became the state director of the NAACP in 1949, a position she held until her death in 1957
Round 1 | Matchup 30 of 32
Raul A. Gonzalez
- First Mexican American to be elected to the Texas Supreme Court
- As a student at UT he was involved with the Texas Young Democrats and active in the civil rights movement of the 1960s; earned a JD from the University of Houston law school in 1966
- In 1978 he was appointed judge of the 103rd Judicial District, marking the beginning of a 20-year judicial career in which he was appointed an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court in 1984, holding the position until 1998
Benjy Brooks
- Performed her first operations at the age of four – on her sister’s dolls
- One of the first women to enter the department of surgery at Harvard; in 1960, she became the first female pediatric surgeon in the state of Texas
- Today, the Benjy Brooks Foundation for Children provides grants for the study of pediatric illnesses and diseases
Round 1 | Matchup 31 of 32
Miriam "Ma" Ferguson
- First female Governor of Texas in 1924. She served two terms
- Became the second woman elected as governor in the United States
- Had a lasting career in Texas politics, campaigning in 11 statewide elections between 1924 and 1940
Bessie Coleman
- The world's first licensed black pilot, traveled abroad to attend aviation school in Le Crotoy, France, after she discovered that no American school would accept African Americans
- After studying for ten months in France she was issued a license on June 15, 1921, by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
- Her first performance in Texas took place in Houston; on April 30, 1926, she died during a test flight before a show in Florida
Round 1 | Matchup 32 of 32
Audie Murphy
- The most decorated soldier of World War II; received 33 awards, citations, and decorations, and won a battlefield promotion to second lieutenant; received every medal that the United States gives for valor, two of them twice
- Appeared in 45 motion pictures, including The Red Badge of Courage (1951), and The Unforgiven (1960)
- Wrote the lyrics for fourteen songs and collaborated on three instrumentals; wrote the best-selling book To Hell and Back (1949)
Henry B. Gonzales
- First Mexican American elected to the San Antonio City Council and the first Mexican American to serve in the State Senate in at least 110 years
- First Mexican American from Texas to be elected to the US House of Representatives
- Won the Profile in Courage award from the John F. Kennedy Library
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 2 | Matchup 1 of 16
Elisabet Ney
- German-born sculptor who immigrated to Texas with her husband at age 39
- In her teens, she went on a weeks-long hunger strike when her parents opposed her becoming a sculptor
- During her career in Texas, she commissioned busts and statues of Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Albert Sidney Johnston, and Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. Her works can be found in the Texas State Capitol, the U.S. Capitol, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum
William B. Travis
- Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830 made his immigration illegal
- Recruited 29 men to reinforce James C. Neill’s command in San Antonio, and quickly found himself in command of the Alamo garrison when Neill took leave
- Penned the famous “Victory or Death” letter, addressed “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World” to try to add reinforcements to the Alamo prior to Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head
Round 2 | Matchup 2 of 16
Lorenzo de Zavala
- Held several positions in the Mexican government, including governor, congressional deputy, Secretary of the Treasury of Mexico, and diplomatic minister; resigned his diplomatic position when Santa Anna assumed dictatorial power
- Advocated for Texas independence, served in the Permanent Council and as a representative of Harrisburg in the Consultation and Convention of 1836
- Served as the first Vice President of the Republic of Texas
George Childress
- Elected to represent Milam Municipality at the Convention of 1836
- Was the primary author of the Texas Declaration of Independence and served as a diplomatic agent for the Republic of Texas in Washington, D.C.
- Childress County is named in his honor
Round 2 | Matchup 3 of 16
Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca
- Participated in the failed Narváez expedition in 1527, eventually made his way to Mexico City in 1536, covering nearly 2,400 miles on foot; his trading with natives made him the first European merchant of record in Texas
- His book about his 18-month enslavement by Coahuiltecans caused him to be regarded as Texas’ first ethnologist
- Performed surgery on a Native American who had an arrowhead lodged in his chest above his heart, known as the “Patron Saint” of the Texas Surgical Society
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 2 | Matchup 4 of 16
Quanah Parker
- Son of Cynthia Ann Parker, the captive of an 1836 Comanche raid on Parker’s Fort.
- The last chief of the Quahada Comanche Indians.
- After several years of tension with the U.S. Army, Parker and the rest of the Quahadas moved to the Kiowa-Comanche reservation in Oklahoma in 1874; federal agents named Quanah chief of the Comanche at the reservation and he encouraged self-sufficiency among the Comanche.
J. Frank Dobie
- A well-known folklorist, Dobie often wrote about Texas ranch life and the Southwestern culture.
- “Paisano Ranch,” Dobie’s writer’s retreat, was donated to the University of Texas shortly after his death. Today, two 6-month fellowships are awarded to student writers whose writing identifies closely with Texas.
- Today, a statue of Dobie and his friends Walter Prescott Webb and Roy Bedichek stands in Zilker Park in Austin in honor of their efforts to preserve Barton Springs.
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 2 | Matchup 5 of 16
Mirabeau B. Lamar
- After the Goliad Massacre, joined the revolutionary army as a private; commissioned a colonel at the onset of the Battle of San Jacinto, where he commanded the cavalry
- Elected vice president in September 1836, and then elected president in 1838; suggested the location for a new capital city, Austin, on the frontier
- Nicknamed the “Father of Texas Education” due to his proposal for an education system endowed by public lands
Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson
- Known as “The Lady of the Alamo.” Moved into the Alamo with her daughter and husband on February 23, 1836. She was one of the lone survivors.
- Interviewed by Santa Anna after the fall of the Alamo, and sent to Gonzales to inform the Texans of the loss.
- Provided firsthand accounts of the Battle of the Alamo for the rest of her life.
Round 2 | Matchup 6 of 16
Mary Maverick
- Established St. Mark’s Church in San Antonio, and served as the president of the Ladies’ Parish Aid Society for over twenty years
- Prominent member of the San Antonio Historical Society and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas who published memoirs that provide dramatic insight into pioneer Texas life
- As president of the Alamo Monument Association, advocated for the restoration of the site
Stephen F. Austin
- Arrived in San Antonio in 1821 and was authorized to carry on the colonization enterprise begun under his father, Moses's, grant
- Settled 300 families, the “Old Three Hundred,” under the terms of his first contract, and obtained three additional contracts in 1825, 1827, and 1828 to settle 900 additional families
- Elected to lead the volunteer army at Gonzales at the outbreak of war; served as the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas until his untimely death on December 27, 1836
Round 2 | Matchup 7 of 16
Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross
- Served in the U.S. Army as the leader of a band of Indian auxiliaries from the Brazos Indian reservation; almost died in 1858, due to wounds sustained during a battle with the Comanche
- Served as the 19th Governor of Texas (1887-1891) – the new Capitol building was completed during his term in office
- As president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now A&M University), provided extensive reforms and improvements
Benjamin Rush Milam
- Was granted Mexican citizenship and commissioned a colonel in the Mexican army in 1824; obtained empresario grant in Texas
- A Colonel in the Texas Army, helped capture Goliad and inspired and led the attack on San Antonio from December 5 to December 9, which resulted in victory
- Milam was shot in the head by a sniper and died instantly on December 7
Round 2 | Matchup 8 of 16
James S. Hogg
- Born in Texas in 1851, he was the first elected native governor of Texas in 1890
- As governor, he passed the “Hogg Laws,” which included the establishment of the Railroad Commission and an act restricting the amount of debt that could be incurred through county and municipal bonds, among others
- Successfully petitioned for financial support for a state archive
José Antonio Navarro
- Elected to the state legislature of Coahuila and Texas, the federal congress of Mexico, the Congress of the Republic of Texas, and the Senate of the State of Texas
- One of the three Mexican signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence
- The only Hispanic delegate to the Convention of 1845 that approved Texas’s annexation; helped to write the first state constitution of Texas
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 2 | Matchup 9 of 16
Dwight Eisenhower
- Commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France
- He became President of Columbia University, then took leave to assume supreme command over the new NATO forces being assembled in 1951
- Elected President of the United States in 1952, was responsible for ending the Korean War in 1953 and establishing NASA as a civilian space agency
Ann Richards
- Elected State Treasurer in 1982, making her the first woman in 50 years elected to a statewide office in Texas.
- Became the second woman ever elected Governor of Texas in 1990. She served from 1991-1995.
- Memorable quote: “Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.”
Round 2 | Matchup 10 of 16
Nolan Ryan
- Former Major League Baseball pitcher and CEO of the Texas Rangers; currently an executive adviser to the owner of the Houston Astros and leads the Nolan Ryan Foundation
- 27-year major league career; was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999
- The all-time leader in no-hitters with seven, three more than any other pitcher; he ranked 41st on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was elected to the MLB All-Century Team
Buddy Holly
- Pioneering American singer/songwriter/musician from Lubbock who influenced many later bands such as the Beatles and Rolling Stones
- First to use the standard 4 piece band set of lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboard
- Died in a plane crash at age 22 in Iowa while on tour
Round 2 | Matchup 11 of 16
Michael DeBakey
- One of the first people to discover a connection between cigarette use and lung disease, in 1936
- Developed the “roller pump,” which provided a continuous flow of blood during operations. This became an essential component of the heart-lung machine, making open-heart surgery possible
- Created a plastic tubing, called the DeBakey Dacron Graft, to repair blood vessels – used to prevent recurring strokes and kidney failure, and to restore circulation to limbs
George Strait
- A country music icon since the 1980s, in 2009, he earned a Grammy award for Troubadour, and also landed the Artist of the Decade award from the Academy of Country Music
- Served in US Army; while stationed in Hawaii, he began singing in the Army-sponsored band called Rambling Country
- His family founded The Jennifer Lynn Strait Foundation, which raises money for children's charities, in honor of his daughter who died in a car accident in 1986
Round 2 | Matchup 12 of 16
Willie Nelson
- Iconic musician, in 1975,the Red-Headed Stranger album made Nelson a major national artist; “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” earned him his first Grammy Award for best country vocal performance
- Helped organize the first Farm Aid concert, earned nearly $10 million to help family farmers; worked extensively on behalf of the environment, promoting the alternative, cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel
- Earned his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art GongKwon Yusul in 2014 at the age of 81
Selena Quintanilla
- Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was a beloved Latin recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club
- She was also sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Madonna" for her sexy outfits and dance moves
- At the 1987 Tejano Music Awards, she won both "Best Female Vocalist of the Year" and "Performer of the Year." Her 1990 album, Ven Conmigo, was the first Tejano record to achieve gold record status, selling more than 500,000 copies
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 2 | Matchup 13 of 16
George W. Bush
- Elected Governor of Texas in 1994; re-elected in 1998, becoming the first Texas governor to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms since Dolph Briscoe was re-elected in 1974
- Elected 43rd President of the United States in 2000, serving two terms
- In the 1980s and early 1990s, Bush was a partial owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team and before that worked in the energy sector
Scott Joplin
- Called the “King of Ragtime," by age 7, he was proficient in the banjo, and began playing the piano.
- Received a formal education in music from Julius Weiss, who taught him sight reading and harmony; began playing “ragtime” in St. Louis in 1890 and integrated his ragtime music into a ballet and two musicals.
- Witnessed the staged collision of two railroad trains near Waco, and wrote a popular piano rag called Great Crush Collision.
Round 2 | Matchup 14 of 16
George H.W. Bush
- 41st President of the United States
- Texas Representative to Congress, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Chief of the U.S. Liason Office in the People's Republic of China, and Director of Central Intelligence Agency
- Rallied the United Nations, the US people, and Congress and sent 425,000 American troops who were joined by 118,000 allied troops to defeat Iraq's million-man army in Operation Desert Storm
Howard Hughes
- An aviator, movie producer, and billionaire, he inherited Hughes Tool Company and a large portion of the family estate at the age of 18 after the deaths of his parents
- Broke several records, including the land-speed record in 1935, the transcontinental record in 1936, and an around-the-world flight record in 1938; survived four plane crashes as a pilot
- Invested in military aircraft and in 1944 received a government contract to build the “Spruce Goose"
Round 2 | Matchup 15 of 16
Lyndon Baines Johnson
- 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963-1969
- Served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years (1937-1949), and the U.S. Congress for 12 years (1949-1961)
- One of only four people who have served as President and Vice President, as well as in both houses of Congress
Benjy Brooks
- Performed her first operations at the age of four – on her sister’s dolls
- One of the first women to enter the department of surgery at Harvard; in 1960, she became the first female pediatric surgeon in the state of Texas
- Today, the Benjy Brooks Foundation for Children provides grants for the study of pediatric illnesses and diseases
Round 2 | Matchup 16 of 16
Miriam "Ma" Ferguson
- First female Governor of Texas in 1924. She served two terms
- Became the second woman elected as governor in the United States
- Had a lasting career in Texas politics, campaigning in 11 statewide elections between 1924 and 1940
Audie Murphy
- The most decorated soldier of World War II; received 33 awards, citations, and decorations, and won a battlefield promotion to second lieutenant; received every medal that the United States gives for valor, two of them twice
- Appeared in 45 motion pictures, including The Red Badge of Courage (1951), and The Unforgiven (1960)
- Wrote the lyrics for fourteen songs and collaborated on three instrumentals; wrote the best-selling book To Hell and Back (1949)
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 3 | Matchup 1 of 8
William B. Travis
- Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830 made his immigration illegal
- Recruited 29 men to reinforce James C. Neill’s command in San Antonio, and quickly found himself in command of the Alamo garrison when Neill took leave
- Penned the famous “Victory or Death” letter, addressed “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World” to try to add reinforcements to the Alamo prior to Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head
Lorenzo de Zavala
- Held several positions in the Mexican government, including governor, congressional deputy, Secretary of the Treasury of Mexico, and diplomatic minister; resigned his diplomatic position when Santa Anna assumed dictatorial power
- Advocated for Texas independence, served in the Permanent Council and as a representative of Harrisburg in the Consultation and Convention of 1836
- Served as the first Vice President of the Republic of Texas
Round 3 | Matchup 2 of 8
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Quanah Parker
- Son of Cynthia Ann Parker, the captive of an 1836 Comanche raid on Parker’s Fort.
- The last chief of the Quahada Comanche Indians.
- After several years of tension with the U.S. Army, Parker and the rest of the Quahadas moved to the Kiowa-Comanche reservation in Oklahoma in 1874; federal agents named Quanah chief of the Comanche at the reservation and he encouraged self-sufficiency among the Comanche.
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 3 | Matchup 3 of 8
Mirabeau B. Lamar
- After the Goliad Massacre, joined the revolutionary army as a private; commissioned a colonel at the onset of the Battle of San Jacinto, where he commanded the cavalry
- Elected vice president in September 1836, and then elected president in 1838; suggested the location for a new capital city, Austin, on the frontier
- Nicknamed the “Father of Texas Education” due to his proposal for an education system endowed by public lands
Stephen F. Austin
- Arrived in San Antonio in 1821 and was authorized to carry on the colonization enterprise begun under his father, Moses's, grant
- Settled 300 families, the “Old Three Hundred,” under the terms of his first contract, and obtained three additional contracts in 1825, 1827, and 1828 to settle 900 additional families
- Elected to lead the volunteer army at Gonzales at the outbreak of war; served as the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas until his untimely death on December 27, 1836
Round 3 | Matchup 4 of 8
Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross
- Served in the U.S. Army as the leader of a band of Indian auxiliaries from the Brazos Indian reservation; almost died in 1858, due to wounds sustained during a battle with the Comanche
- Served as the 19th Governor of Texas (1887-1891) – the new Capitol building was completed during his term in office
- As president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now A&M University), provided extensive reforms and improvements
James S. Hogg
- Born in Texas in 1851, he was the first elected native governor of Texas in 1890
- As governor, he passed the “Hogg Laws,” which included the establishment of the Railroad Commission and an act restricting the amount of debt that could be incurred through county and municipal bonds, among others
- Successfully petitioned for financial support for a state archive
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 3 | Matchup 5 of 8
Dwight Eisenhower
- Commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France
- He became President of Columbia University, then took leave to assume supreme command over the new NATO forces being assembled in 1951
- Elected President of the United States in 1952, was responsible for ending the Korean War in 1953 and establishing NASA as a civilian space agency
Nolan Ryan
- Former Major League Baseball pitcher and CEO of the Texas Rangers; currently an executive adviser to the owner of the Houston Astros and leads the Nolan Ryan Foundation
- 27-year major league career; was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999
- The all-time leader in no-hitters with seven, three more than any other pitcher; he ranked 41st on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was elected to the MLB All-Century Team
Round 3 | Matchup 6 of 8
George Strait
- A country music icon since the 1980s, in 2009, he earned a Grammy award for Troubadour, and also landed the Artist of the Decade award from the Academy of Country Music
- Served in US Army; while stationed in Hawaii, he began singing in the Army-sponsored band called Rambling Country
- His family founded The Jennifer Lynn Strait Foundation, which raises money for children's charities, in honor of his daughter who died in a car accident in 1986
Willie Nelson
- Iconic musician, in 1975,the Red-Headed Stranger album made Nelson a major national artist; “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” earned him his first Grammy Award for best country vocal performance
- Helped organize the first Farm Aid concert, earned nearly $10 million to help family farmers; worked extensively on behalf of the environment, promoting the alternative, cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel
- Earned his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art GongKwon Yusul in 2014 at the age of 81
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 3 | Matchup 7 of 8
George W. Bush
- Elected Governor of Texas in 1994; re-elected in 1998, becoming the first Texas governor to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms since Dolph Briscoe was re-elected in 1974
- Elected 43rd President of the United States in 2000, serving two terms
- In the 1980s and early 1990s, Bush was a partial owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team and before that worked in the energy sector
George H.W. Bush
- 41st President of the United States
- Texas Representative to Congress, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Chief of the U.S. Liason Office in the People's Republic of China, and Director of Central Intelligence Agency
- Rallied the United Nations, the US people, and Congress and sent 425,000 American troops who were joined by 118,000 allied troops to defeat Iraq's million-man army in Operation Desert Storm
Round 3 | Matchup 8 of 8
Lyndon Baines Johnson
- 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963-1969
- Served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years (1937-1949), and the U.S. Congress for 12 years (1949-1961)
- One of only four people who have served as President and Vice President, as well as in both houses of Congress
Audie Murphy
- The most decorated soldier of World War II; received 33 awards, citations, and decorations, and won a battlefield promotion to second lieutenant; received every medal that the United States gives for valor, two of them twice
- Appeared in 45 motion pictures, including The Red Badge of Courage (1951), and The Unforgiven (1960)
- Wrote the lyrics for fourteen songs and collaborated on three instrumentals; wrote the best-selling book To Hell and Back (1949)
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 4 | Matchup 1 of 4
William B. Travis
- Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830 made his immigration illegal
- Recruited 29 men to reinforce James C. Neill’s command in San Antonio, and quickly found himself in command of the Alamo garrison when Neill took leave
- Penned the famous “Victory or Death” letter, addressed “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World” to try to add reinforcements to the Alamo prior to Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 4 | Matchup 2 of 4
Stephen F. Austin
- Arrived in San Antonio in 1821 and was authorized to carry on the colonization enterprise begun under his father, Moses's, grant
- Settled 300 families, the “Old Three Hundred,” under the terms of his first contract, and obtained three additional contracts in 1825, 1827, and 1828 to settle 900 additional families
- Elected to lead the volunteer army at Gonzales at the outbreak of war; served as the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas until his untimely death on December 27, 1836
Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross
- Served in the U.S. Army as the leader of a band of Indian auxiliaries from the Brazos Indian reservation; almost died in 1858, due to wounds sustained during a battle with the Comanche
- Served as the 19th Governor of Texas (1887-1891) – the new Capitol building was completed during his term in office
- As president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now A&M University), provided extensive reforms and improvements
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 4 | Matchup 3 of 4
Dwight Eisenhower
- Commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France
- He became President of Columbia University, then took leave to assume supreme command over the new NATO forces being assembled in 1951
- Elected President of the United States in 1952, was responsible for ending the Korean War in 1953 and establishing NASA as a civilian space agency
Willie Nelson
- Iconic musician, in 1975,the Red-Headed Stranger album made Nelson a major national artist; “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” earned him his first Grammy Award for best country vocal performance
- Helped organize the first Farm Aid concert, earned nearly $10 million to help family farmers; worked extensively on behalf of the environment, promoting the alternative, cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel
- Earned his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art GongKwon Yusul in 2014 at the age of 81
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Round 4 | Matchup 4 of 4
George W. Bush
- Elected Governor of Texas in 1994; re-elected in 1998, becoming the first Texas governor to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms since Dolph Briscoe was re-elected in 1974
- Elected 43rd President of the United States in 2000, serving two terms
- In the 1980s and early 1990s, Bush was a partial owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team and before that worked in the energy sector
Audie Murphy
- The most decorated soldier of World War II; received 33 awards, citations, and decorations, and won a battlefield promotion to second lieutenant; received every medal that the United States gives for valor, two of them twice
- Appeared in 45 motion pictures, including The Red Badge of Courage (1951), and The Unforgiven (1960)
- Wrote the lyrics for fourteen songs and collaborated on three instrumentals; wrote the best-selling book To Hell and Back (1949)
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Semi-Finals | Matchup 1 of 2
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Stephen F. Austin
- Arrived in San Antonio in 1821 and was authorized to carry on the colonization enterprise begun under his father, Moses's, grant
- Settled 300 families, the “Old Three Hundred,” under the terms of his first contract, and obtained three additional contracts in 1825, 1827, and 1828 to settle 900 additional families
- Elected to lead the volunteer army at Gonzales at the outbreak of war; served as the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas until his untimely death on December 27, 1836
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Semi-Finals | Matchup 2 of 2
Dwight Eisenhower
- Commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France
- He became President of Columbia University, then took leave to assume supreme command over the new NATO forces being assembled in 1951
- Elected President of the United States in 1952, was responsible for ending the Korean War in 1953 and establishing NASA as a civilian space agency
George W. Bush
- Elected Governor of Texas in 1994; re-elected in 1998, becoming the first Texas governor to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms since Dolph Briscoe was re-elected in 1974
- Elected 43rd President of the United States in 2000, serving two terms
- In the 1980s and early 1990s, Bush was a partial owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team and before that worked in the energy sector
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Championship | Matchup 1 of 1
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee
Dwight Eisenhower
- Commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France
- He became President of Columbia University, then took leave to assume supreme command over the new NATO forces being assembled in 1951
- Elected President of the United States in 1952, was responsible for ending the Korean War in 1953 and establishing NASA as a civilian space agency
Winner
Sam Houston
- Appointed Major General of the Texas army two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
- Wounded severely in the successful Battle of San Jacinto when his horse was shot out from under him
- Became the first regularly elected President of the Republic of Texas, serving twice; only person to be governor of two states (Tennessee & Texas). Elected governor of Texas in 1859-1861, and served until he was removed for refusing the take the oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America. Also served as a US Senator from Texas, and member of the US House of Representatives from Tennessee