Carole Sikes Artist / Writer in Austin, Texas

WHAT DO YOU KOW about Governor “Pappy” O’Daniel? Wilbert Lee O’Daniel (1890-1969) was a businessman, politician, musician and showman. As a boy in Kansas he lived with his mother and step-father after the death of his biological father. He completed a two year business college (1908) and went to work for a flour mill (later owned his own mill). With his wife and three children, he left Kansas moving to New Orleans and then to Ft. Worth.________ In Texas (1925) he wrote songs and discussed religion on his popular radio show called The Light Crust Boys. His western swing band was named The Hillbilly Boys. Mixing music, flour and the bible, this rather attractive man acquired a huge rural audience encouraging him to run for governor in the one party state of Texas (Democrat in 1939). He had promised no capital punishment, no sales tax, no poll tax and a raise in old age pensions. On all this, he reneged.________ As governor he vetoed a record 57 bills, he likely didn’t understand. Twel...

WHAT DO YOU KNOW about Angelina Eberly? Each year the Austin History Center honors her important participation in establishing Austin as the permanent capital of Texas.___________ After Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836, General Sam Houston was made leader of the Army at Gonzales. The Mexican Army had been victorious at the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio and now was in hot pursuit of Houston and his rag-tag new volunteers. Houston was fleeing eastward while training the green soldiers to fight. San Felipe on the Brazos River was on the way to Houston’s choice for the final stand for against Mexico.___________ Angelina and a group of women had cheered and waved to the soldiers sent to delay Santa Anna’s men who were crossing down river from San Felipe. Realizing it was only a delay, they joined terrified citizens in the “Runaway Scrape.” The deserted town was set on fire to prevent the Mexicans from acquiring its store of goods.______________________________________...