December 14 in San Antonio history…

1950
Services for Dr. Max Reiter, founder and conductor of the San Antonio Symphony, will be held tomorrow at Temple Beth-El. Reiter arrived in San Antonio in 1939, just a year after he fled his native Italy as a political refugee.  He died yesterday at the age of 45.

1996
J. Michael Heyman, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, speaks at the Alameda Theater.  He leads a delegation exploring options for a long-term presence in the “cultural zone” that long-term leaders envision for downtown between the Alameda Theater and El Mercado.

2002
Judson scores on a 76-yard pass with two seconds left to defeat Midland in the state championship game, 33-32.

November 2 in San Antonio history…

1949
Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves, head of the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb, gives a speech entitled, “The Future of Atomic Energy” at San Pedro Playhouse.

1976
The Eagles bring their Hotel California tour to Convention Center Arena.
J. D. Souther opens.

1987
Richard Marx comes to the Alamo City for the first time and plays a concert at Sneakers.  At the time of the show, his second single “Should’ve Known Better” is climbing the charts at #14.

2000
Dan Cook announces that he is stepping down as sports anchor on KENS Channel 5.  His last broadcast will be November 30.

September 5 in San Antonio history…

1948
St. Gerard’s High School, at 1619 Iowa Street, is dedicated.

1993
George Strait chooses the Alamodome to host his First Annual George Strait Country Music Festival. It features superstar performers Brooks & Dunn, Lee Roy Parnell, Suzy Bogguss, McBride & the Ride, Delbert McClinton, Bobbie Cryner and, of course, George Strait.

2000
The mercury reaches 111 degrees – the hottest day in San Antonio history.

June 6 in San Antonio history…

1944
Seventy-eight years ago today, the long-anticipated Allied invasion of the European continent begins.  Today is D-Day!  The invasion force of 156,000 Allied troops, along with 5,000 ships and landing craft and 11,000 planes fight the German defenders along the beaches of Normandy, France.

1963
Plans to construct a heliport atop the Children’s Hospital of Santa Rosa Medical Center – reportedly the first hospital heliport in the Southwest – were announced today by Sister Mary Vincent, adminstrator.

2000
The Brackenridge Eagle derails for the second time this year. Owner Phil Sheridan spent $40,000 on repairs after the first derailment and hopes to have the train back in operation by July 4.

November 7 in San Antonio history…

1931
The present reduced price of bread in San Antonio is threatening the employment of 2000 persons and possible closing of 125 bakeries in the San Antonio trade area, it was declared by a group of bakers who visited Mayor C. M. Chambers. They sought his endorsement for a price increase.

1949
First live broadcast over WOAI-TV got underway this afternoon at Alamo Stadium gymnasium. Co-sponsored by the San Antonio Appliance Association, the shows will extend over a three-day period and will feature professional and amateur talent.

2000
After failed appearances on the ballot in 1966 and 1985, San Antonio votes yes to fluoridating the water supply.  The Presidential race, however, remains too close to call with George W. Bush holding a 636,881 popular vote lead.

September 26 in San Antonio history…

1935
The R.O.T.C. uniforms for Jefferson and Brackenridge high schools will no longer display a swastika because it is now the symbol of a foreign government.  The new logo will be the Alamo façade inside a double Lone Star (right).

1969
“The Brady Bunch” premieres on KSAT-12 at 7:00 p.m.

2000
Three weeks after the all-time high temperature of 111 degrees is reached in San Antonio, the low plunges to 48, missing by one degree the all-time low temperature for the date of 47 degrees set in 1975.

September 5 in San Antonio history…

1948
St. Gerard’s High School  (right) is dedicated.

1921
Harold Joske, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Joske, drowns in the Guadalupe River north of New Braunfels.  Joske was only 32 years old and vice president and general manager of Joske’s department store.

2000
The mercury reaches 111 degrees – the hottest day in San Antonio history.

March 29 in San Antonio history…

1954
Bexar County is one of 10 spots in Texas picked for the long-awaited polio vaccine trials that may wipe out Infantile Paralysis. Every second grader in town gets three shots over a five-week period to complete the vaccination.

1962
McCreless Shopping City holds its grand opening celebration.  The new mall contains the city’s second Montgomery Ward department store (right).

2000
Waterman Broadcasting announces the sale of radio station KTSA and KTFM radio to Infinity Broadcasting for $90 million.

September 8 in San Antonio history…

1900
The San Antonio Light prints a special report from New Orleans that says: “There are rumors early this morning of great damages and loss of life in last night’s storm on some of the Gulf islands, particularly Grand Island. It will be a day or two before authentic news can be accessed from there. In New Orleans during the afternoon and night the wind reached a velocity of 48 miles an hour. In this city the damage is restricted to the destruction of the Metairie bridge and the blowing down of many telephone wires. A child was killed, being blown, together with the entire front balcony, from a house on Front street.”  (This was the massive hurricane that hit and destroyed Galveston on this day in 1900.)

1960
Sears on Romana Plaza opens their new three-level “ultra-modern” parking garage. (The downtown Central Library still uses this garage.)

2000
“Cooler” temperatures prevailed today, ending seven-straight days of 100+ degree high temperatures – including record highs of 109 and 111 degrees.  Today’s high temperature was a chilly 97 degrees.

September 5 in San Antonio history…

1954
San Antonio telephone exchanges change to: CApitol, LEhigh, PErshing, TAylor & WAlnut followed by five numerals.

1993
George Strait holds his First Annual George Strait Country Music Festival in the Alamodome, featuring Brooks & Dunn, Lee Roy Parnell, Suzy Bogguss, McBride & the Ride, Delbert McClinton, Bobbie Cryner and, of course, George Strait.

2000 
The mercury reaches 111 degrees – the hottest day in San Antonio history (right).