Today in History for Oct. 19, 2014

J.E.B. Stuart

Oct. 19–22, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Williamsburg and the College of William & Mary.

Oct. 19, 1859 - Soldiers under Col. Robert E. Lee and Lt. J.E.B. Stuart captured abolitionist John Brown after his raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

Oct. 19, 1864 – At the Battle of Cedar Creek, Union Calvary General Philip H. Sheridan defeated Confederate General Jubal Early's troops at Cedar Creek in Shenandoah Valley.

Oct. 19, 1864 – In what is known as the St. Albans Raid, Confederates entered Vermont from Canada and raided the town of St. Albans.

Oct. 19, 1882 – Flames destroyed the two-story house belonging to Dr. J.T. Russell in Monroeville.

Oct. 19, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. William Hopkins of Monroeville died from wounds. Army Pvt. Robert E. Thames of Roy (Frisco City), Army Pvt. Percy W. Johnston of Monroeville, Army Pvt. William R. Hart of Andalusia and Army Pvt. Thomas J. Bell of Opp “died from disease.” Thames is buried at Polar Bridge Cemetery at Manistee.

Oct. 19, 1924 – H.P. Lovecraft completed “The Shunned House,” which was originally published in 1928’s “The Shunned House.”

Oct. 19, 1928 – Dr. Milton Monroe McPherson Sr., professor emeritus of history at Troy State University, was born in Pineville near Beatrice. He would go on to write “The 90-Day Wonders – OCS and the Modern American Army.”

Oct. 19, 1928 – Excel played McKenzie in football, but little is known about the game, including where it was played, who won and the final score.

Oct. 19, 1931 - Spy novelist David Cornwell who writes under the name John le Carre was born in Poole, England.

Oct. 19, 1934 – Excel beat Wallace, 19-0.

Oct. 19, 1939 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Mrs. J.W. Grace “who lives in the northern part of the county on Evergreen, Route 2,” killed a rattlesnake near her home that was five feet, two inches long and had 16 rattles.

Oct. 19, 1949 – NFL quarterback Lynn Dickey was born in Osawatomie, Kansas. He would go on to play for the Houston Oilers and the Green Bay Packers.

Oct. 19, 1951 – Under head coach Walter Allen, Excel improved to 4-1-1 on the season with a 39-0 win over Millry in Frisco City.

Oct. 19, 1954 – The Evergreen City Council considered a proposal to keep the Evergreen Airport partially lighted at night after the federal government notified them that they would withdraw the service of keeping the runways lighted and the beacon operating. The concil considered paying the cost of operating the beacon and maintaining the lights on a standby basis, so that the field could be used in emergencies at night by aircraft in trouble.

Oct. 19, 1954 – Evergreen High School head football coach Wendell Hart was named The Montgomery Advertiser’s “Coach of the Week” after his team’s 6-0 win over undefeated Greenville on Oct. 15. Hart, Assistant Coach Bill Parsons, Capt. Richard Taylor and Co-Capt. Ward Alexander attended a luncheon on this day at the Montgomery Quarterback Club and their picture appeared in the Oct. 20, 1954 edition of The Montgomery Advertiser.

Oct. 19, 1956 – Under head coach W.C. Majors, Excel improved to 2-3 on the season with a 26-13 win over Beatrice High School in Beatrice.

Oct. 19, 1963 – Under head coach Reed Hughes, Wilcox County High School beat Excel, 27-13, in Excel. Ed Comer was Excel’s head coach.

Oct. 19, 1967 - The 100th episode of "Batman" aired on ABC.

Oct. 19, 1968 – Under head coach Carvel Rowell, Excel improved to 5-1 with a 33-0 win over J.U. Blacksher in Excel.

Oct. 19, 1973 – Under head coach Lee Holladay, Excel improved to 8-0 on the season with a 42-6 win over Lowndes County in Excel.

Oct. 19, 1974 – Under head coach Lee Holladay, Excel improved to 7-0 on the season with a 38-14 win over J.U. Blacksher in Excel.

Oct. 19, 1975 – As of this date, Evergreen had received 94.2 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 1975.

Oct. 19, 1978 – In an unusual game in which Excel’s football stadium hosted a regular season football game between two teams from outside Monroe County, Millry played Dozier. Because of the distance between the two schools, they decided to play in Excel, which is roughly halfway between Millry and Dozier.

Oct. 19, 1979 – Evergreen High School upset T.R. Miller, the No. 1-ranked team in 3A, 16-14, at Brooks Memorial Stadium.

Oct. 19, 1984 – Under head coach Roland Pettie, Georgiana High School improved to 5-3 with a 34-6 win over Excel in Excel. Larry Allen was Excel’s head coach.

Oct. 19, 1990 – Under head coach Bo Bishop, Excel improved to 6-1 on the season with a 33-0 win over Frisco City in Frisco City.

Oct. 19, 1991 – Under head coach Bo Bishop, Excel improved to 6-1 on the season with a 43-12 win over Frisco City in Excel.

Oct. 19, 2001 – Under head coach Al Bowen, Excel dropped to 5-3 on the season after a 22-14 loss to Greene County in Excel.

Oct. 19, 2002 – Under head coach Al Bowen, Excel improved to 5-3 on the season with a 21-14 win over Georgiana in Excel.

Oct. 19, 2007 – Under head coach Andy Lambert, Excel improved to 6-2 on the season with a 24-7 win over Flomaton in Excel.

Oct. 19, 2012 – Under head coach Richard Anderson, Excel improved to 2-6 on the season with a 41-14 win over Southside-Selma in Excel.