John Henry Faulk was a television and radio performer with a great deal of popularity. It was his legal fight that helped end the Hollywood Blacklist during the Red Scare. Resources: https://library.austintexas.gov/basic-page/john-henry-faulk-biography https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/faulk-john-henry https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269038/ https://spartacus-educational.com/USAfaulkJH.htm
The Cult Murder of Mark Kilroy
In 1980, University of Texas, Austin pre-med student Mark Kilroy was brutally murdered by a cult in Mexico. https://www.markkilroyfoundation.org/ Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Mark_Kilroy Sacrifice by Jim Kilroy and Bob Stewart (this one feels more personal, because it is from Kilroy’s dad). Hell Ranch by Clifford Linedecker (this one is extremely salacious) Borderland The Believers Podcast Casefile: Case…
The Book is Here!
I am thrilled to announce that Texas: Slang for Crazy is now a book that exists in the world. You can find it in both print and Kindle formats on Amazon.
The “Eyes of Texas” Controversy
Resources: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/eyes-of-texas-lyrics-racist-undertones-explained/285-d1929725-99a9-4013-8c4b-9c88e0c9312f https://utexas.app.box.com/s/5o2a1klri1htyhq3mziyxdjgxvegprjj https://www.hookem.com/story/sports/football/2021/03/09/eyes-of-texas-committee-report-determines-song-no-racist-intent/4634167001/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Robert_E._Lee_(Austin,_Texas) https://slate.com/culture/2021/03/eyes-of-texas-free-speech-controversy-ut-alma-mater-first-amendment.html https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/campus/2020/12/24/season-madness-how-university-texas-song-became-racial-flash-point/3954818001/
Joe Ball, The Alligator Man
Joe Ball was a serial killer. He may or may not have fed victims to his alligators. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Ball https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/two-barmaids-five-alligators-and-the-butcher-of-elmendorf/ https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/ball-joseph.htm
The Winter Tigers of San Antonio
This week we discuss a tiger named Elsa, in a place where there should never have been a tiger. Resources: https://www.fox7austin.com/video/904413 https://www.fox29.com/news/elsa-the-tiger-rescued-during-texas-winter-storm-gets-new-home
The Woman Buried in her Ferrari
Sandra West’s 1977 burial garnered national headlines, but not just because of her burial requests. Resources: https://sistersgrimmghosttourblog.weebly.com/blog/sandra-west-the-most-famous-burial-in-san-antonios-history https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/history-culture/article/This-week-in-in-1977-socialite-Sandra-West-was-7528939.php https://sistersgrimmghosttourblog.weebly.com/blog/sandra-west-the-most-famous-burial-in-san-antonios-history https://jalopnik.com/a-texas-woman-is-actually-buried-in-her-ferrari-250-gt-1687091845 https://www.cultofweird.com/death/sandra-west-buried-ferrari/
Alligator Hunting Season
For a brief period in September each year, certain counties in Texas have the opportunity to hunt alligators that may provide a danger to their property. https://www.insider.com/texan-grandmother-killed-a-12-foot-alligator-after-it-ate-her-horse-2018-9#:~:text=Livingston%20Mayor%20Judy%20Cochran%2C%2073%2C%20killed%20the%20alligator%20with%20a,capture%20it%20in%20the%20water. https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Hefty-gator-bagged-by-5-year-old-boy-1730371.php https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Livingston-Texas-mayor-grandmother-alligator-13239084.php
The Cursed Couch of Waco
Seemingly anything can be haunted, but there’s a couch in a Waco Consignment shop that isn’t considered a comfortable place to sit. Resources: https://www.consignmentfurniturewaco.com/home/3786241 Wacoghosts.com
Special Series: Sex Trafficking in Texas
January is National Human Trafficking awareness month. In that light, we have started a short series on the dangers of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in Texas. This page will feature many links and resources if you’d like to find out more. I’d like to thank RansomedLifeTexas.org for all of their hard work in Bexar County…
