Leaderboard
Celebrate Texas History Month -
Help Decide the Top Texan in Texas History!
Last year, David Crockett defeated Selena to become the 2022 Top Texan! This year, he joins Sam Houston (2016, 2017, 2019) and Stephen F. Austin (2018, 2020, 2021) in retirement to make way for fresh competition as sixty-four famous Texans face off against each other in the ultimate battle of Texas pride. Vote for your Top Texan through April 3rd!
How does it work?
Prediction Round: Between now and Sunday, March 13th, build your Top Texan Tournament bracket - it's just like March Madness for Texas history! Click on the entrants' names to learn a little more about them, then make your predictions. (You'll need to sign up for a free account to save your predictions.) Then, on March 14 come back to vote in the first round, and don't forget to vote in all the rounds after that!
Voting Rounds: Between March 14th and April 3rd, vote for your Top Texans in each round's matchups.
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 a special grand prize from the Save Texas History Program.
Tournament Schedule
(voting begins at 12:00 AM and ends at 11:59 PM on the days listed)
Deadline to Submit Predictions: Sunday, March 12 by 11:59 PM
Round 1 Voting: Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 17
Round 2 Voting: Saturday, March 18 - Tuesday, March 21
Round 3 Voting: Wednesday, March 22 - Friday, March 24
Round 4 Voting: Saturday, March 25 - Monday, March 27
Semifinal Voting: Tuesday March 28 - Thursday, March 30
Final Voting: Friday, March 31 - Monday, April 3
Winner Announced: Tuesday, April 4
Round 1
Round 4
Semi-Finals
Championship
Leaderboard
Round 1 | Matchup 1 of 32
Nettie Lee Benson
Historian of Mexico, librarian, and one of the principal organizers of one of the U.S.’s most distinguished collections of Latin Americana, the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection at UT-Austin.
Traveled extensively in Mexico to acquire rare volumes and manuscripts and published numerous academic works on Mexico and Texas in the Spanish and early independence period.
Under her leadership, the library grew from 30,000 volumes to over 300,000 between 1942 and 1975, the year she retired.
Annie Webb Blanton
First woman elected to statewide office in 1918, serving as Superintendent of Public Instruction. As Superintendent, oversaw the creation of a free textbook system, revised certification laws, increased teachers' salaries, and improved rural education.
Served for 18 years on the English faculty of North Texas Normal College (now the University of North Texas) and was active with the Texas State Teachers Association, including serving as president.
Taught for over two decades in the Education Department (now the College of Education) at the University of Texas.
Round 1 | Matchup 2 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.
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 young philanthropist received extensive national publicity as the "Savior of the Alamo."
She was elected as the Democratic Party's national committeewoman from Texas in 1922 and served in that position for an unprecedented sixteen years.
Round 1 | Matchup 3 of 32
Sarah Horton Cockrell
A businesswoman, entrepreneur, and community leader during Dallas’ pioneer era; established early businesses in Dallas including a construction firm, a sawmill, and a gristmill; handled the recordkeeping, finances, and correspondence for the businesses.
Took over the family’s enterprises after her husband’s death; opened and managed the St. Nicholas Hotel and later the Dallas Hotel.
Her most important contribution to the city was the construction of a bridge spanning the Trinity River to link Dallas with all major roads to the south and west; also diversified her business empire to include a flour mill, real estate, and land speculation.
Patricia de la Garza de León
One of the earliest pioneers to colonize Texas; arrived in 1824 with her husband and founded the town of Victoria, where she tried to establish cultural traditions of Spain and Mexico.
Helped to establish schools and a church in the town and registered the first cattle brand in Texas.
Supported Texas’ independence and smuggled arms for the Texan side during the Texas Revolution.
Fled Texas following the revolution amid waves of anti-Mexican sentiments and returned in 1844, having lost most of her possessions and community influence; returned to working at the church she helped found until her death in 1849.
Round 1 | Matchup 4 of 32
Lizzie Johnson Williams
Known as the "Texas Cattle Queen" due to her success as a rancher.
Believed to be the first woman to drive cattle up the Chisholm Trail under her own brand, which she registered in 1871 after investing in land and cattle.
A talented real estate speculator; owned several small ranches in multiple counties, as well as valuable property in Austin.
Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson
Known as “The Lady of the Alamo.” Moved into the Alamo with her daughter and husband on February 23, 1836.
Interviewed by Santa Anna after the fall of the Alamo and sent to Gonzales to inform the Texans of their loss.
Provided first-hand accounts of the Battle of the Alamo for the rest of her life, including testimony on land grant claims.
Round 1 | Matchup 5 of 32
Mary Elizabeth Branch
Became president of Tillotson College in 1930 at a time when the Austin school suffered from poor administration and declining enrollment; the first woman to lead an accredited college in Texas.
Led the college into an era of renewal by improving its facilities, educational programs, and faculty, earning the institution an “A” rating from the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1943.
Actively participated in the civil rights movement; became president of the Austin chapter of the NAACP in 1943 and served on the State Interracial Commission of Texas and the National Youth Administration Negro Advisory Board for Texas; helped establish the United Negro College Fund in 1944.
Juanita Jewel Shanks Craft
Began her long service as a civil rights activist in 1935 by joining the Dallas chapter of the NAACP; appointed as the chapter’s membership chair in 1942 and promoted to the state NAACP field organizer in 1946; helped organize 182 branches of the NAACP in Texas in 11 years.
Helped to enroll the first Black student at North Texas State College (now North Texas State University) and picketed against segregation at the Texas State Fair, lunch counters, restaurants, theaters, and public transportation.
Political achievements included being the first Black woman to vote in the Dallas County Democratic primary, serving as a Democratic precinct chair from 1952-1975, and serving two terms on the Dallas City Council from 1975-1979.
Round 1 | Matchup 6 of 32
Jovita Idár
Organizer, writer, advocate of Mexican American women's rights; in 1911, she participated in the First Mexican Congress at Laredo, called the first attempt in Mexican American history to organize a militant feminist social movement, to discuss educational, social, labor, and economic issues.
Founded La Liga Femenil Mexicanista to provide free instruction for poor Mexican children.
Wrote for La Cronica and El Progreso, Spanish language newspapers condemning violence against Mexican Americans in South Texas and supporting women’s suffrage in the U.S. and the efforts of revolutionary forces in Mexico.
Jovita González de Mireles
Fifth-generation descendant of a land grant recipient; was born on her grandparents' rancho near the border town of Roma, TX; became one of the first Texans of Mexican descent to obtain a master's degree authoring a thesis entitled "Social Life in Cameron, Starr, and Zapata Counties" (UT Austin, 1930).
Was an avid collector of Mexican-American folklore and became the first Mexican-American woman to serve as president of the Texas Folklore Society (1930-1932).
Taught at St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio, the San Felipe Independent School District, and for 21 years at W. B. Ray High and Miller High in Corpus Christi; wrote extensively on Hispanic historical figures in Texas and published a six-book series titled El Español Elemental; worked to promote the teaching of Spanish in public schools.
Round 1 | Matchup 7 of 32
Lillian B. Horace
Author, educator, and librarian from Fort Worth, graduated valedictorian from Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College (now Prairie View A&M University).
Her novels Five Generations Hence, Crowned with Glory and Honor, and Angie Brown are recognized as the earliest novels on record by an African American woman from Texas; used her novels to critique Black exclusion and highlight positive characteristics through the lens of intelligent Black women.
Member of numerous organizations including the Texas Commission on Interracial Cooperation, Progressive Women's Club, Texas Library Association, and the National PTA.
Elisabet Ney
German-born sculptor who immigrated to Texas with her husband at age 39.
During her career in Texas, she sculpted busts and statues of Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Albert Sidney Johnson, 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.
Her Austin studio is now the home of the Elisabet Ney Museum; the Texas Fine Arts Association (now the Contemporary Austin) was formed in her honor.
Round 1 | Matchup 8 of 32
Lulu Belle 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, chose the plaintiff, Heman 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.
Ima Hogg
Became active in philanthropy after oil was discovered on her family's property. Founded the Houston Child Guidance Center, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, and the Ima Hogg Foundation, and worked to establish symphony concerts for schoolchildren.
Was very active in historical preservation, including the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historical Site and the Winedale Historical Center.
One of the first three women to become members of the Academy of Texas, which honored persons who "enrich, enlarge, or enlighten" knowledge.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 1 | Matchup 9 of 32
Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson
Ran the office of her husband, Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, while he was serving overseas during World War II.
As First Lady, she worked to beautify the city of Washington, D.C., and promoted the recognition of women's accomplishments, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Head Start program to help disadvantaged children.
Town Lake in Austin was renamed Lady Bird Lake due to her efforts with the Town Lake Beautification Project; responsible for the promotion of planting wildflowers along Texas Highways and the promotion of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (nicknamed "Lady Bird's Bill").
Jessie Harriet Daniel Ames
Author, women’s rights advocate, and Texas anti-lynching and penal reform activist.
In 1919, founded the League of Women Voters of Texas, which in the aftermath of the Nineteenth Amendment served to educate newly enfranchised Texas women.
Founded the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching in 1930, an organization of white women who spoke out against the targeted violence against Black men.
Round 1 | Matchup 10 of 32
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, serving from 1991-1995.
Memorable quote: "Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels."
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, and be the 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 hearings' best speech.
Round 1 | Matchup 11 of 32
Janis Joplin
Had a brief yet prolific career singing 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.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
Competed in the 1932 Olympics in the 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.
Round 1 | Matchup 12 of 32
Selena
Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was a beloved Latin music recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club.
She was also sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Madonna" for her risqué 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.
Bessie Coleman
The world's first licensed Black pilot; traveled abroad to attend aviation school in Le Crotoy, France, after discovering 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 13 of 32
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 Texas' first female pediatric surgeon.
Today, the Benjy Brooks Foundation for Children provides grants for the study of pediatric illnesses and diseases.
Leona Ruth Guy
Published or presented more than 100 scientific papers, and organized or participated in more than 35 blood banking workshops over the course of her medical career.
Served as president of the South Central Association of Blood Banks from 1964-1965.
Taught at the University of Texas Medical Center at Dallas as a professor of microbiology, eventually becoming the first chair of the Department of Medical Technology and helping to found the university’s School of Medical Technology.
Round 1 | Matchup 14 of 32
Teresa Altagracia Lozano Long
In 1965, became the first Mexican American woman to earn a doctorate in health and physical education from the University of Texas at Austin.
Helped promote the arts, educational and medical programs, and Latin American studies through philanthropic donations totaling over $150 million; established the Long Foundation and the Joe R. and Teresa L. Long Center for the Performing Arts; UT-Austin's Teresa Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies and UT Health San Antonio’s Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine reflect her generous donations to those institutions.
Served on the boards of the Texas Committee for the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the National Council on the Arts, the UT Development Board, and the Chancellor’s Executive Committee; received numerous awards including the Texas Medal of Arts Award, the Santa Rita Award for philanthropy, and the National Humanities Medal.
Clotilde Pérez GarcÃa
One of the first Mexican American women to practice medicine in Texas; earned her doctorate from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1954.
Focused her practice on caring for Corpus Christi’s poorest citizens by treating the sick and educating the community about preventive medicine, hygiene, nutrition, and infant care; delivered over 10,000 babies over her forty-year career.
Actively promoted local history and Hispanic genealogy; co-founded the Spanish American Genealogical Association in 1987 and served with numerous local and national history organizations.
Round 1 | Matchup 15 of 32
MarÃa Ninfa RodrÃguez Laurenzo
Founded Rio Grande Food Products Company in Houston with her husband in 1949 to sell tortillas and pizza dough to restaurants; converted part of the factory to a ten-table Mexican food restaurant called Ninfa’s in 1973.
Expanded to thirteen restaurants by 1980, including locations in Dallas and San Antonio; her menu popularized tacos al carbón (grilled beef in a soft tortilla) also known as fajitas.
Actively worked in Houston’s Mexican American community to support education, health, and civic engagement.
Received numerous awards including the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Business Woman of the Year, and the Texas Restaurant Association’s Woman Restauranteur of the Year; served on several boards and charity organizations including the Houston Hispanic Forum and University Cancer Foundation – M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Lucille Elizabeth Bishop Smith
An educator, businesswoman, author, and inventor, she created Lucille’s All Purpose Hot Roll Mix.
Established one of the first college-level commercial foods and technology departments in the U.S. at Prairie View A&M University.
Appointed to the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women and received numerous awards, including Merit Mother of Texas and Prairie View’s Distinguished Partner in Progress Award.
Round 1 | Matchup 16 of 32
Oveta Culp Hobby
Headed the Women’s Interest Section in the War Department’s Bureau of Public Relations during World War II before becoming the director of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later the Women’s Army Corps); the first woman commissioned a colonel in the U.S. Army and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Service Medal for her efforts.
Appointed head of the Federal Security Agency under President Dwight Eisenhower; later appointed the first secretary of the newly established Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (later the Department of Health and Human Services); oversaw the approval of Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine.
Returned to Houston after her government service and resumed her role as president and editor of the Post-Dispatch newspaper; received honorary degrees from seventeen colleges and universities.
Emma Tenayuca
Nicknamed "La Pasionaria de Texas" for her efforts on behalf of the working poor in San Antonio.
Organized the Pecan-Shellers' Strike, the largest labor strike in San Antonio history, in 1938. Her achievements as a pioneering female civil rights leader were recognized by the National Association for Chicano and Chicana Studies and Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (Women Active in Letters and Social Change).
She was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame in 1991.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 1 | Matchup 17 of 32
William B. Travis
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
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’ annexation, declared “The Republic of Texas is no more.”
Round 1 | Matchup 18 of 32
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.
Juan N. SeguÃn
Raised a company of 37 men after receiving a captain’s commission following the Battle of Gonzales; participated in the Siege of Béxar 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 Congresses as the only Mexican Texan in the Senate of the Republic and later served as mayor of San Antonio.
Round 1 | Matchup 19 of 32
Emmett Jay Scott
Born to formerly enslaved parents, Scott became a civic leader, author, editor, and civil rights activist, and helped found the National Negro Business League.
Worked as a journalist at the Houston Post before founding and editing the weekly Texas Freeman, Houston’s first Black newspaper.
Served as Booker T. Washington’s chief aide and as college administrator at both the Tuskegee Institute and Howard University, two of the most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
During World War I, Scott was appointed Special Assistant to the Secretary of War and advocated on behalf of better conditions and treatment of African American military service personnel; his post-war publication, American Negro in the World War, drew attention to the experiences and contributions of Black World War I veterans.
Charles Goodnight
One of the most famous and successful ranchers in Texas; sometimes known as the "Father of the Texas Panhandle" due to his founding the JA Ranch, the first ranch in the Panhandle.
As a Texas Ranger, he participated in the raid that recovered Cynthia Ann Parker from her Comanche captors.
Laid the route for the Goodnight-Loving Trail, one of the Southwest's most heavily used cattle trails.
Round 1 | Matchup 20 of 32
José Antonio Navarro
Elected to the state legislature of Coahuila and Texas, the Mexican Federal Congress, the Republic of Texas Congress, and the Texas State Senate.
One of three Tejano signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
The only Hispanic delegate to the Convention of 1845, which approved Texas’ annexation; helped write Texas' first state constitution.
Lorenzo de Zavala
Held several positions in the Mexican government, including governor, congressional deputy, secretary of the treasury, and diplomatic minister; resigned his diplomatic position when Santa Anna assumed dictatorial power.
Drafted and signed both the Mexican and Texan constitutions; 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 1 | Matchup 21 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, and was named Texas' 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' annexation, he served as president of the Convention of 1845, which accepted the annexation terms.
William J. Durham
Served in the U.S. Army’s forestry regiment during World War I.
Became a civil rights attorney and established a law practice in Sherman, Texas; his office was destroyed when a white mob destroyed the Black business district during the Sherman riot of 1930.
A peer of Thurgood Marshall, he played an important role in over forty civil rights cases, including landmark decisions such as Smith v. Allwright, which struck down white-only election primaries in Texas, and Sweatt v. Painter, which desegregated the University of Texas School of Law.
Worked extensively after the Brown v. Board of Education decision to desegregate public schools in Dallas and the rest of the state.
Round 1 | Matchup 22 of 32
James S. Hogg
Born in Texas in 1851 and elected governor in 1890, he was the first governor of Texas to be born in the state.
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.
Matthew Gaines
A former enslaved person; after he was emancipated following the Civil War, he settled in Washington County, where he became a leader of the Black community as a minister and politician.
During Reconstruction, was elected as a senator to represent the Sixteenth District in the Texas Legislature; focused on reforming education, prison, and tenant-farming, as well as protecting African American voting rights.
Helped to pass the Land-Grant College Act of 1862, also known as the Morrill Act, which provided grants of lands to states to finance the establishment of colleges specializing in "agriculture and mechanic arts;" Texas established the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University) and the first publicly funded Black college in the state, the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Benefit of Colored Youth (now Prairie View A&M University).
Round 1 | Matchup 23 of 32
Samuel McCulloch, Jr.
Joined the Matagorda Volunteer Company as a private on October 5, 1835, to fight in the Texas Revolution.
Fought at Goliad on October 9 and was severely wounded in the right shoulder, making him the first casualty of the Revolution; carried the musket ball in his shoulder for about nine months until it was finally removed by a Texas Army surgeon.
Successfully fought for his family's right to remain in Texas as free Black citizens and settled on land that he earned for his military service.
John O. Meusebach
Served as commissioner general of the Adelsverein, which helped bring thousands of German immigrants to Texas; 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.
Elected to the Texas Senate in 1851 to represent Bexar, Comal, and Medina counties; in 1852, helped pass a bill to establish a system of public schools.
Round 1 | Matchup 24 of 32
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.
José de Escandón
Was the colonizer and first governor of Nuevo Santander; founded over twenty towns and villas and several missions 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.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 1 | Matchup 25 of 32
George H.W. Bush
Career highlights: 41st president of the United States, 43rd vice president of the United States, 11th director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, U.S. Representative from Texas' 7th District.
Enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday during World War II, becoming one of its youngest aviators, and served until September 1945.
Focused on humanitarian activities after leaving the presidency; awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011.
Lyndon Baines Johnson
36th president of the United States, serving from 1963-1969; ushered through significant legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Great Society program.
Served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years (1937-1949), and the U.S. Senate for 12 years (1949-1961).
One of only four people who has served as president and vice president, as well as in both houses of Congress.
Round 1 | Matchup 26 of 32
Sam Rayburn
Served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives (1906-1912).
Elected as a Democrat in the U.S. Congress for Texas' fourth district; he had no Republican opponents throughout his entire congressional career and was the longest-running member of the House of Representatives, serving more than 48 years (1913-1961).
Elected Speaker of the House in 1940 and held the position until 1961.
Henry B. González
Served as a civilian cable and radio censor for military and naval intelligence during World War II.
Prolific political career began when he became the first Mexican American elected to the San Antonio City Council in 1953; in 1956, he became the first Mexican American elected to the state Senate in 110 years; in 1961, he became the first Mexican American from Texas elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for 37 years.
Political causes included defeating segregation bills in Texas and fighting for reforms in civil rights, banking, and housing.
Round 1 | Matchup 27 of 32
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Rose through the Austin music scene with bands including the Nightcrawlers, Paul Ray and the Cobras, Triple Threat, and Double Trouble.
Earned Mick Jagger and David Bowie's attention and began recording albums; was named Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitarist for 1983 by Guitar Player Magazine Reader's Poll and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Won four Grammys over the course of his career; died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990; Governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, 1991, "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day," and the city of Austin unveiled a memorial statue of Vaughan on November 21, 1993.
Bob Wills
A musical pioneer in the western swing genre; born in Limestone County, Texas, in 1905.
Earned a Grammy for his final album in 1973, a posthumous Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Was elected to the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Round 1 | Matchup 28 of 32
Ornette Coleman
Pioneer saxophonist and composer born in Fort Worth in 1930; put Texas on the map of American Jazz music.
Principal founder of the “free jazz” movement, an avant-garde approach that downplayed formal musical conventions, erased traditional hierarchies between instruments, and allowed for simultaneous, collective improvisation.
Won the Pulitzer Prize for his 2006 album Sound Grammar, making him only the second jazz musician to receive the honor.
Scott Joplin
By age 7, he was proficient in the banjo and began playing the piano; eventually became known as the "King of Ragtime."
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 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 29 of 32
Hector P. GarcÃa
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.
Howard Hughes
Eccentric and controversial film producer, aviator, airplane designer, philanthropist, and businessman.
Produced several big budget Hollywood films between the late 1920s and 1950s; fought against movie industry censorship imposed by the Hays Office.
In 1932 he formed the Hughes Aircraft Company; designed his own aircraft and established new flying speed records.
Established the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a leading biomedical research organization.
Round 1 | Matchup 30 of 32
Daniel Webster Wallace
Born into slavery in Victoria County, he ran away from home as a teenager to join a cattle drive in 1877.
Gained the nickname "80 John." Branded cattle as a wrangler and horse-breaker for John Nunn.
Learned to read and write, then invested in and raised his own herd of cattle; became one of the most respected Black ranchers with an estate valued at over $1 million.
Carlos E. Castañeda
Civil rights activist, educator, librarian, and historian of Texas’ Spanish and Mexican periods. One of the namesakes of UT Austin’s Perry-Castañeda Library.
Authored the monumental Our Catholic Heritage in Texas, a pioneering seven-volume history of Hispanic Texas.
Involved in early efforts to organize the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the oldest Hispanic civil rights organization.
Appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as regional director of the Fair Employment Practices Committee, where he worked to counter discrimination against Latino workers.
Round 1 | Matchup 31 of 32
Doris "Dorie" Miller
Enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was assigned to the USS West Virginia as a Mess Attendant, Third Class - one of the few positions available to African Americans at the time.
Became the first African American hero of the war during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; assisted with moving his ship's mortally wounded captain, then fired a deck gun at the attacking planes despite never having been trained on the weapon; received the Navy Cross on May 27, 1942, in a ceremony at Pearl Harbor.
Served on the aircraft carrier USS Liscome Bay during the Battle of Makin in November 1943; the ship was torpedoed and sank, killing Miller; the Navy honored him by naming a dining hall and barracks for him, as well as a destroyer escort, the USS Miller; a forthcoming aircraft carrier that will be the most advanced and costliest in the U.S. fleet will also bear his name, and become the only vessel named for either an enlisted sailor or an African American when it enters service in the early 2030s.
Cleto Luna RodrÃguez
World War II U.S. Army veteran; received numerous service awards including the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster).
In 1945 while serving as a rifleman in Company B, 148th Infantry, 37th Division, his unit was attacked during the Battle for Manila in the Philippine Islands; alongside his partner, he killed 82 enemy soldiers in under three hours and helped facilitate the U.S. victory.
After returning home to San Antonio, joined the League of United Latin American Citizens and worked as a representative of the Veterans Administration; served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-1954, and in the U.S. Army from 1955-1970, retiring as a master sergeant.
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 to fourteen songs and collaborated on three instrumentals; wrote the best-selling book To Hell and Back (1949).
Chester Nimitz
Native of Fredericksburg, TX; guided the Allied forces to victory in the Pacific Theater during World War II and signed the peace treaty with the Japanese aboard the Battleship Missouri.
Supervised the building and installation of the first diesel engine to power a U.S. Navy vessel.
Developed the prototype for the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, which was duplicated at colleges and universities across the country.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 2 | Matchup 1 of 16
Annie Webb Blanton
First woman elected to statewide office in 1918, serving as Superintendent of Public Instruction. As Superintendent, oversaw the creation of a free textbook system, revised certification laws, increased teachers' salaries, and improved rural education.
Served for 18 years on the English faculty of North Texas Normal College (now the University of North Texas) and was active with the Texas State Teachers Association, including serving as president.
Taught for over two decades in the Education Department (now the College of Education) at the University of Texas.
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 young philanthropist received extensive national publicity as the "Savior of the Alamo."
She was elected as the Democratic Party's national committeewoman from Texas in 1922 and served in that position for an unprecedented sixteen years.
Round 2 | Matchup 2 of 16
Sarah Horton Cockrell
A businesswoman, entrepreneur, and community leader during Dallas’ pioneer era; established early businesses in Dallas including a construction firm, a sawmill, and a gristmill; handled the recordkeeping, finances, and correspondence for the businesses.
Took over the family’s enterprises after her husband’s death; opened and managed the St. Nicholas Hotel and later the Dallas Hotel.
Her most important contribution to the city was the construction of a bridge spanning the Trinity River to link Dallas with all major roads to the south and west; also diversified her business empire to include a flour mill, real estate, and land speculation.
Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson
Known as “The Lady of the Alamo.” Moved into the Alamo with her daughter and husband on February 23, 1836.
Interviewed by Santa Anna after the fall of the Alamo and sent to Gonzales to inform the Texans of their loss.
Provided first-hand accounts of the Battle of the Alamo for the rest of her life, including testimony on land grant claims.
Round 2 | Matchup 3 of 16
Juanita Jewel Shanks Craft
Began her long service as a civil rights activist in 1935 by joining the Dallas chapter of the NAACP; appointed as the chapter’s membership chair in 1942 and promoted to the state NAACP field organizer in 1946; helped organize 182 branches of the NAACP in Texas in 11 years.
Helped to enroll the first Black student at North Texas State College (now North Texas State University) and picketed against segregation at the Texas State Fair, lunch counters, restaurants, theaters, and public transportation.
Political achievements included being the first Black woman to vote in the Dallas County Democratic primary, serving as a Democratic precinct chair from 1952-1975, and serving two terms on the Dallas City Council from 1975-1979.
Jovita Idár
Organizer, writer, advocate of Mexican American women's rights; in 1911, she participated in the First Mexican Congress at Laredo, called the first attempt in Mexican American history to organize a militant feminist social movement, to discuss educational, social, labor, and economic issues.
Founded La Liga Femenil Mexicanista to provide free instruction for poor Mexican children.
Wrote for La Cronica and El Progreso, Spanish language newspapers condemning violence against Mexican Americans in South Texas and supporting women’s suffrage in the U.S. and the efforts of revolutionary forces in Mexico.
Round 2 | Matchup 4 of 16
Elisabet Ney
German-born sculptor who immigrated to Texas with her husband at age 39.
During her career in Texas, she sculpted busts and statues of Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Albert Sidney Johnson, 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.
Her Austin studio is now the home of the Elisabet Ney Museum; the Texas Fine Arts Association (now the Contemporary Austin) was formed in her honor.
Ima Hogg
Became active in philanthropy after oil was discovered on her family's property. Founded the Houston Child Guidance Center, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, and the Ima Hogg Foundation, and worked to establish symphony concerts for schoolchildren.
Was very active in historical preservation, including the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historical Site and the Winedale Historical Center.
One of the first three women to become members of the Academy of Texas, which honored persons who "enrich, enlarge, or enlighten" knowledge.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 2 | Matchup 5 of 16
Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson
Ran the office of her husband, Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, while he was serving overseas during World War II.
As First Lady, she worked to beautify the city of Washington, D.C., and promoted the recognition of women's accomplishments, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Head Start program to help disadvantaged children.
Town Lake in Austin was renamed Lady Bird Lake due to her efforts with the Town Lake Beautification Project; responsible for the promotion of planting wildflowers along Texas Highways and the promotion of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (nicknamed "Lady Bird's Bill").
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, serving 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 6 of 16
Janis Joplin
Had a brief yet prolific career singing 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.
Selena
Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was a beloved Latin music recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club.
She was also sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Madonna" for her risqué 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.
Round 2 | Matchup 7 of 16
Leona Ruth Guy
Published or presented more than 100 scientific papers, and organized or participated in more than 35 blood banking workshops over the course of her medical career.
Served as president of the South Central Association of Blood Banks from 1964-1965.
Taught at the University of Texas Medical Center at Dallas as a professor of microbiology, eventually becoming the first chair of the Department of Medical Technology and helping to found the university’s School of Medical Technology.
Teresa Altagracia Lozano Long
In 1965, became the first Mexican American woman to earn a doctorate in health and physical education from the University of Texas at Austin.
Helped promote the arts, educational and medical programs, and Latin American studies through philanthropic donations totaling over $150 million; established the Long Foundation and the Joe R. and Teresa L. Long Center for the Performing Arts; UT-Austin's Teresa Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies and UT Health San Antonio’s Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine reflect her generous donations to those institutions.
Served on the boards of the Texas Committee for the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the National Council on the Arts, the UT Development Board, and the Chancellor’s Executive Committee; received numerous awards including the Texas Medal of Arts Award, the Santa Rita Award for philanthropy, and the National Humanities Medal.
Round 2 | Matchup 8 of 16
MarÃa Ninfa RodrÃguez Laurenzo
Founded Rio Grande Food Products Company in Houston with her husband in 1949 to sell tortillas and pizza dough to restaurants; converted part of the factory to a ten-table Mexican food restaurant called Ninfa’s in 1973.
Expanded to thirteen restaurants by 1980, including locations in Dallas and San Antonio; her menu popularized tacos al carbón (grilled beef in a soft tortilla) also known as fajitas.
Actively worked in Houston’s Mexican American community to support education, health, and civic engagement.
Received numerous awards including the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Business Woman of the Year, and the Texas Restaurant Association’s Woman Restauranteur of the Year; served on several boards and charity organizations including the Houston Hispanic Forum and University Cancer Foundation – M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Oveta Culp Hobby
Headed the Women’s Interest Section in the War Department’s Bureau of Public Relations during World War II before becoming the director of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later the Women’s Army Corps); the first woman commissioned a colonel in the U.S. Army and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Service Medal for her efforts.
Appointed head of the Federal Security Agency under President Dwight Eisenhower; later appointed the first secretary of the newly established Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (later the Department of Health and Human Services); oversaw the approval of Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine.
Returned to Houston after her government service and resumed her role as president and editor of the Post-Dispatch newspaper; received honorary degrees from seventeen colleges and universities.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 2 | Matchup 9 of 16
William B. Travis
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
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 2 | Matchup 10 of 16
Emmett Jay Scott
Born to formerly enslaved parents, Scott became a civic leader, author, editor, and civil rights activist, and helped found the National Negro Business League.
Worked as a journalist at the Houston Post before founding and editing the weekly Texas Freeman, Houston’s first Black newspaper.
Served as Booker T. Washington’s chief aide and as college administrator at both the Tuskegee Institute and Howard University, two of the most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
During World War I, Scott was appointed Special Assistant to the Secretary of War and advocated on behalf of better conditions and treatment of African American military service personnel; his post-war publication, American Negro in the World War, drew attention to the experiences and contributions of Black World War I veterans.
Lorenzo de Zavala
Held several positions in the Mexican government, including governor, congressional deputy, secretary of the treasury, and diplomatic minister; resigned his diplomatic position when Santa Anna assumed dictatorial power.
Drafted and signed both the Mexican and Texan constitutions; 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 2 | Matchup 11 of 16
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, and was named Texas' 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' annexation, he served as president of the Convention of 1845, which accepted the annexation terms.
James S. Hogg
Born in Texas in 1851 and elected governor in 1890, he was the first governor of Texas to be born in the state.
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 2 | Matchup 12 of 16
Samuel McCulloch, Jr.
Joined the Matagorda Volunteer Company as a private on October 5, 1835, to fight in the Texas Revolution.
Fought at Goliad on October 9 and was severely wounded in the right shoulder, making him the first casualty of the Revolution; carried the musket ball in his shoulder for about nine months until it was finally removed by a Texas Army surgeon.
Successfully fought for his family's right to remain in Texas as free Black citizens and settled on land that he earned for his military service.
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
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 2 | Matchup 13 of 16
George H.W. Bush
Career highlights: 41st president of the United States, 43rd vice president of the United States, 11th director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, U.S. Representative from Texas' 7th District.
Enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday during World War II, becoming one of its youngest aviators, and served until September 1945.
Focused on humanitarian activities after leaving the presidency; awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011.
Sam Rayburn
Served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives (1906-1912).
Elected as a Democrat in the U.S. Congress for Texas' fourth district; he had no Republican opponents throughout his entire congressional career and was the longest-running member of the House of Representatives, serving more than 48 years (1913-1961).
Elected Speaker of the House in 1940 and held the position until 1961.
Round 2 | Matchup 14 of 16
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Rose through the Austin music scene with bands including the Nightcrawlers, Paul Ray and the Cobras, Triple Threat, and Double Trouble.
Earned Mick Jagger and David Bowie's attention and began recording albums; was named Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitarist for 1983 by Guitar Player Magazine Reader's Poll and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Won four Grammys over the course of his career; died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990; Governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, 1991, "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day," and the city of Austin unveiled a memorial statue of Vaughan on November 21, 1993.
Scott Joplin
By age 7, he was proficient in the banjo and began playing the piano; eventually became known as the "King of Ragtime."
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 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 15 of 16
Howard Hughes
Eccentric and controversial film producer, aviator, airplane designer, philanthropist, and businessman.
Produced several big budget Hollywood films between the late 1920s and 1950s; fought against movie industry censorship imposed by the Hays Office.
In 1932 he formed the Hughes Aircraft Company; designed his own aircraft and established new flying speed records.
Established the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a leading biomedical research organization.
Carlos E. Castañeda
Civil rights activist, educator, librarian, and historian of Texas’ Spanish and Mexican periods. One of the namesakes of UT Austin’s Perry-Castañeda Library.
Authored the monumental Our Catholic Heritage in Texas, a pioneering seven-volume history of Hispanic Texas.
Involved in early efforts to organize the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the oldest Hispanic civil rights organization.
Appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as regional director of the Fair Employment Practices Committee, where he worked to counter discrimination against Latino workers.
Round 2 | Matchup 16 of 16
Doris "Dorie" Miller
Enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was assigned to the USS West Virginia as a Mess Attendant, Third Class - one of the few positions available to African Americans at the time.
Became the first African American hero of the war during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; assisted with moving his ship's mortally wounded captain, then fired a deck gun at the attacking planes despite never having been trained on the weapon; received the Navy Cross on May 27, 1942, in a ceremony at Pearl Harbor.
Served on the aircraft carrier USS Liscome Bay during the Battle of Makin in November 1943; the ship was torpedoed and sank, killing Miller; the Navy honored him by naming a dining hall and barracks for him, as well as a destroyer escort, the USS Miller; a forthcoming aircraft carrier that will be the most advanced and costliest in the U.S. fleet will also bear his name, and become the only vessel named for either an enlisted sailor or an African American when it enters service in the early 2030s.
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 to fourteen songs and collaborated on three instrumentals; wrote the best-selling book To Hell and Back (1949).
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 3 | Matchup 1 of 8
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 young philanthropist received extensive national publicity as the "Savior of the Alamo."
She was elected as the Democratic Party's national committeewoman from Texas in 1922 and served in that position for an unprecedented sixteen years.
Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson
Known as “The Lady of the Alamo.” Moved into the Alamo with her daughter and husband on February 23, 1836.
Interviewed by Santa Anna after the fall of the Alamo and sent to Gonzales to inform the Texans of their loss.
Provided first-hand accounts of the Battle of the Alamo for the rest of her life, including testimony on land grant claims.
Round 3 | Matchup 2 of 8
Juanita Jewel Shanks Craft
Began her long service as a civil rights activist in 1935 by joining the Dallas chapter of the NAACP; appointed as the chapter’s membership chair in 1942 and promoted to the state NAACP field organizer in 1946; helped organize 182 branches of the NAACP in Texas in 11 years.
Helped to enroll the first Black student at North Texas State College (now North Texas State University) and picketed against segregation at the Texas State Fair, lunch counters, restaurants, theaters, and public transportation.
Political achievements included being the first Black woman to vote in the Dallas County Democratic primary, serving as a Democratic precinct chair from 1952-1975, and serving two terms on the Dallas City Council from 1975-1979.
Ima Hogg
Became active in philanthropy after oil was discovered on her family's property. Founded the Houston Child Guidance Center, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, and the Ima Hogg Foundation, and worked to establish symphony concerts for schoolchildren.
Was very active in historical preservation, including the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historical Site and the Winedale Historical Center.
One of the first three women to become members of the Academy of Texas, which honored persons who "enrich, enlarge, or enlighten" knowledge.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 3 | Matchup 3 of 8
Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson
Ran the office of her husband, Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, while he was serving overseas during World War II.
As First Lady, she worked to beautify the city of Washington, D.C., and promoted the recognition of women's accomplishments, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Head Start program to help disadvantaged children.
Town Lake in Austin was renamed Lady Bird Lake due to her efforts with the Town Lake Beautification Project; responsible for the promotion of planting wildflowers along Texas Highways and the promotion of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (nicknamed "Lady Bird's Bill").
Selena
Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was a beloved Latin music recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club.
She was also sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Madonna" for her risqué 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.
Round 3 | Matchup 4 of 8
Teresa Altagracia Lozano Long
In 1965, became the first Mexican American woman to earn a doctorate in health and physical education from the University of Texas at Austin.
Helped promote the arts, educational and medical programs, and Latin American studies through philanthropic donations totaling over $150 million; established the Long Foundation and the Joe R. and Teresa L. Long Center for the Performing Arts; UT-Austin's Teresa Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies and UT Health San Antonio’s Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine reflect her generous donations to those institutions.
Served on the boards of the Texas Committee for the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the National Council on the Arts, the UT Development Board, and the Chancellor’s Executive Committee; received numerous awards including the Texas Medal of Arts Award, the Santa Rita Award for philanthropy, and the National Humanities Medal.
Oveta Culp Hobby
Headed the Women’s Interest Section in the War Department’s Bureau of Public Relations during World War II before becoming the director of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later the Women’s Army Corps); the first woman commissioned a colonel in the U.S. Army and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Service Medal for her efforts.
Appointed head of the Federal Security Agency under President Dwight Eisenhower; later appointed the first secretary of the newly established Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (later the Department of Health and Human Services); oversaw the approval of Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine.
Returned to Houston after her government service and resumed her role as president and editor of the Post-Dispatch newspaper; received honorary degrees from seventeen colleges and universities.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 3 | Matchup 5 of 8
William B. Travis
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Emmett Jay Scott
Born to formerly enslaved parents, Scott became a civic leader, author, editor, and civil rights activist, and helped found the National Negro Business League.
Worked as a journalist at the Houston Post before founding and editing the weekly Texas Freeman, Houston’s first Black newspaper.
Served as Booker T. Washington’s chief aide and as college administrator at both the Tuskegee Institute and Howard University, two of the most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
During World War I, Scott was appointed Special Assistant to the Secretary of War and advocated on behalf of better conditions and treatment of African American military service personnel; his post-war publication, American Negro in the World War, drew attention to the experiences and contributions of Black World War I veterans.
Round 3 | Matchup 6 of 8
James S. Hogg
Born in Texas in 1851 and elected governor in 1890, he was the first governor of Texas to be born in the state.
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.
Samuel McCulloch, Jr.
Joined the Matagorda Volunteer Company as a private on October 5, 1835, to fight in the Texas Revolution.
Fought at Goliad on October 9 and was severely wounded in the right shoulder, making him the first casualty of the Revolution; carried the musket ball in his shoulder for about nine months until it was finally removed by a Texas Army surgeon.
Successfully fought for his family's right to remain in Texas as free Black citizens and settled on land that he earned for his military service.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 3 | Matchup 7 of 8
George H.W. Bush
Career highlights: 41st president of the United States, 43rd vice president of the United States, 11th director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, U.S. Representative from Texas' 7th District.
Enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday during World War II, becoming one of its youngest aviators, and served until September 1945.
Focused on humanitarian activities after leaving the presidency; awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011.
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Rose through the Austin music scene with bands including the Nightcrawlers, Paul Ray and the Cobras, Triple Threat, and Double Trouble.
Earned Mick Jagger and David Bowie's attention and began recording albums; was named Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitarist for 1983 by Guitar Player Magazine Reader's Poll and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Won four Grammys over the course of his career; died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990; Governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, 1991, "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day," and the city of Austin unveiled a memorial statue of Vaughan on November 21, 1993.
Round 3 | Matchup 8 of 8
Howard Hughes
Eccentric and controversial film producer, aviator, airplane designer, philanthropist, and businessman.
Produced several big budget Hollywood films between the late 1920s and 1950s; fought against movie industry censorship imposed by the Hays Office.
In 1932 he formed the Hughes Aircraft Company; designed his own aircraft and established new flying speed records.
Established the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a leading biomedical research organization.
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 to fourteen songs and collaborated on three instrumentals; wrote the best-selling book To Hell and Back (1949).
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 4 | Matchup 1 of 4
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 young philanthropist received extensive national publicity as the "Savior of the Alamo."
She was elected as the Democratic Party's national committeewoman from Texas in 1922 and served in that position for an unprecedented sixteen years.
Ima Hogg
Became active in philanthropy after oil was discovered on her family's property. Founded the Houston Child Guidance Center, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, and the Ima Hogg Foundation, and worked to establish symphony concerts for schoolchildren.
Was very active in historical preservation, including the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historical Site and the Winedale Historical Center.
One of the first three women to become members of the Academy of Texas, which honored persons who "enrich, enlarge, or enlighten" knowledge.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 4 | Matchup 2 of 4
Selena
Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was a beloved Latin music recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club.
She was also sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Madonna" for her risqué 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.
Oveta Culp Hobby
Headed the Women’s Interest Section in the War Department’s Bureau of Public Relations during World War II before becoming the director of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later the Women’s Army Corps); the first woman commissioned a colonel in the U.S. Army and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Service Medal for her efforts.
Appointed head of the Federal Security Agency under President Dwight Eisenhower; later appointed the first secretary of the newly established Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (later the Department of Health and Human Services); oversaw the approval of Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine.
Returned to Houston after her government service and resumed her role as president and editor of the Post-Dispatch newspaper; received honorary degrees from seventeen colleges and universities.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 4 | Matchup 3 of 4
William B. Travis
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
James S. Hogg
Born in Texas in 1851 and elected governor in 1890, he was the first governor of Texas to be born in the state.
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
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Round 4 | Matchup 4 of 4
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Rose through the Austin music scene with bands including the Nightcrawlers, Paul Ray and the Cobras, Triple Threat, and Double Trouble.
Earned Mick Jagger and David Bowie's attention and began recording albums; was named Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitarist for 1983 by Guitar Player Magazine Reader's Poll and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Won four Grammys over the course of his career; died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990; Governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, 1991, "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day," and the city of Austin unveiled a memorial statue of Vaughan on November 21, 1993.
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 to fourteen songs and collaborated on three instrumentals; wrote the best-selling book To Hell and Back (1949).
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Semi-Finals | Matchup 1 of 2
Ima Hogg
Became active in philanthropy after oil was discovered on her family's property. Founded the Houston Child Guidance Center, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, and the Ima Hogg Foundation, and worked to establish symphony concerts for schoolchildren.
Was very active in historical preservation, including the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historical Site and the Winedale Historical Center.
One of the first three women to become members of the Academy of Texas, which honored persons who "enrich, enlarge, or enlighten" knowledge.
Selena
Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was a beloved Latin music recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club.
She was also sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Madonna" for her risqué 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
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Semi-Finals | Matchup 2 of 2
William B. Travis
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Rose through the Austin music scene with bands including the Nightcrawlers, Paul Ray and the Cobras, Triple Threat, and Double Trouble.
Earned Mick Jagger and David Bowie's attention and began recording albums; was named Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitarist for 1983 by Guitar Player Magazine Reader's Poll and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Won four Grammys over the course of his career; died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990; Governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, 1991, "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day," and the city of Austin unveiled a memorial statue of Vaughan on November 21, 1993.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Championship | Matchup 1 of 1
Selena
Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena was a beloved Latin music recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club.
She was also sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Madonna" for her risqué 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.
William B. Travis
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.
Winner
Arrived in Texas in 1831, after the Law of April 6, 1830, made his immigration illegal; he obtained a land grant from Stephen F. Austin and established a legal practice at Anahuac.
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; worked with engineer Green B. Jameson to fortify the mission compound prior to Santa Anna's arrival.
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 before Santa Anna’s siege; killed early in the Battle of the Alamo by a single gunshot to the head.