In the Huddle: John Landwehr's Next Play

Former IBM President Grew Up in JCMO

John Opel passed away on November 3. He grew up in Jefferson City and attended Westminister. His family owned a hardware store. According to TechEye.net, Opel was at the helm when Big Blue entered the PC market. 

 

Civil War Lecture Thursday Will Include Current Issues

There are lots of events commemorating the Civil War lartely. But the presentation by Dennis Boman Thursday night at 7:00 at the State Archives (Secretary of State) Building will include some issues that are in the news today. The title is "Lincoln and Citizens' Rights in Civil War Missouri: Balancing Freedom and Security."

Lincoln stretched the consititution to its limits when he ordered troops into the state and approved war time policies he thought were necessary to subdue the insurgents. Boman will argue that the same issues are at stake today when we debate military tribunals and Guantanimo.

 

 

My little tribute to Tony LaRussa

A little known fact is that Anthony LaRussa, Jr. received a law degree from Florida State University in 1978. It's not likely that these three years of pressure and indigestion made Tony a better ball player, but I will wager that it helped him become a great manager. 

I've seen fine lawyers when the walls seem to be crashing down around them. It might be in a courtroom or a business negotiation or a political slugfest. They have a rare talent to rise above the immediate pressure, stay focused on the big picture, and move forward strategically. There is a resolve in their eyes and a firmness in their chin.

I saw that look recently in the dugouts in Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Texas and St. Louis.  

He probably would have made a fine lawyer. But he certainly put his education to good use elsewhere -- and the game of baseball is better for it.

 

Sonny Liston may appear @JCMO Wednesday 11-2

Ok, it's a long shot. But the folks at the SyFy Channel are not discounting any possibilities next Wednesday Night at 8:00 CST on national TV. This edition of the Ghost Hunters show is titled "The Bloodiest 47 Acres" and will explore the old Missouri State Penitentiary site, decommissioned in 2004. The film crew was on location this summer. The Jeff City CVB will host a mini-event on site to view the TV show.

In 1952 Charles "Sonny" Liston was sentenced to five years for robbery. Encouraged by a chaplain to try boxing, Liston was paroled on Halloween night 1952. Ten years later he knocked out Floyd Patterson in the first round to become the heavyweight champion of the world.There is a large mural on the south wall at MSP with his image. 

The CVB will be on site to view the TV show. KUDOs to the CVB and the state Office of Administration for understanding how visitors are excited to learn about the history behind the walls. 

"Do they have Starbucks down there?"

This map shows the mean (not in the angry sense) population of the United States, as it has evolved since the founding of the nation. 

My goodness, what will happen when the dot moves into Arkansas???

 

Lincoln's eyes are on @JCMO all weekend

Friday evening at 7:00 Lincoln University will open an exhibit from the National Consitution Center in Philadelphia titled "Lincoln: The Consitution and the Civil War" at Page Library. It will run through December 9th.

Meanwhile this Saturday the Missouri Catholic Conference will study Civil War themes at its Annual Assembly at the Capitol. At 10:00 a.m. keynote speaker Father Michael Witt will discuss "divided loyalties of Missourians" during the war. Lots of interesting workshops throughout the day.

We're told Lincoln never had the occasion to visit Jefferson City. It's good to have him here now. This is my favorite picture of Mr. Lincoln. Something about the eyes.

 

 

Very Old and Very New: Dead Sea Scrolls Online

The Dead Sea Scrolls were only discovered recently, but they are some of our earliest written texts, preceding even Bob Priddy.

It's noteworthy that the scrolls have now become available on line. The authors would be proud.  

Civil War Homes Tour Sunday @JCMO

The annual HCJ Homes Tour has been moved this year to the last Sunday in September. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the War Between the States, so this year the Homes Tour will focus on Civil War-era homes. This will be a driving tour, with participating homes spread throughout Jefferson City. Homes to be featured on the tour this year include the Dulle Home on St. Mary’s Boulevard, the Monaco Home on Moreau Drive, the Marmaduke House on East Capitol Avenue and the Female Seminary on State Street. Call 35-3265 for details, or check out the HCJ Web Site.

 

 

Thursday Night: General Order No. 11 @ Mo Sec State

In 1863 General Order No. 11 was intended to get rid of Confederates in four Missouri Counties. After just five months the strategy proved counterproductive.

Thursday at 7:00 Ann Raab will discuss her archeological investigation into this odd episode in Civil War history. 

George Caelb Bingham considered it important enough to discuss on canvas.

MO Germans' Role in Civil War Thurs PM / BYO Sauerkraut

We take lots of our ancestry and history for granted. The role of German immigrants in Missouri during the Civil War was critical to keeping the state in the Union amidst many rival pressures.

One this date 150 years ago former Governor Price threatened from the south with Confederate troops. Who knew what the Kingdom of Callaway to the north would do next? Several weeks ago the "Battle of Boonville" had ambiguous results.

Thursday evening a pretty smart Mizzou grad, Dr. Walter Kamphoefner, will present "Missouri Germans and the Cause of Union and Freedom" as part of the State Archives series on Missouri's role in the war.

Join us at 7:00 this Thursday in Room 490 at the Truman Building. Dr. K. is now a professor at Texas A&M  --   that's OK since football season has not started.