EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a series of stories that will take a look back into the archives of the Odessa American through newspapers.com. The full archive contains more than 1.4 million pages of the Odessa American. Visit the OA website at oaoa.com to sign up for newspapers.com.
March 5, 1939, was a Sunday and the scarehead read “NAZIS BRAND ROOSEVELT LIAR!” just as another caption screamed “Tell President Not To Meddle In ‘Our Affairs.’” The German government was not pleased after President Roosevelt served notice on dictators of the world that the United States would not remain passive and silent while individuals were persecuted for their religious beliefs.
During that time, the comics page featured Abbie an’ Slats and Li’l Abner, and couples looking for housing could rent a furnished two-bedroom apartment on East Fifth Street for $6.50 a week.
On March 5, 1951, we find that the Senate was facing a tough decision on the politically touchy issue of drafting 18 year olds to help expand the nation’s fighting forces. Meanwhile, the United States denounced Russia for breaking off peace talks with Japan.
An ad for Snowhite Bakery boasted a dozen fresh Downy-Flake donuts for only $0.48.
The Odessa American on March 5, 1964, detailed that Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa was convicted on two counts of jury tampering. Hoffa vowed to appeal, declaring that the verdict was unfair because the government had illegally spied on the defense.
In Mississippi that week, a federal judge ordered integration in public schools in Jackson, Biloxi and Leake County. It was the last state in the Union to maintain total segregation.
Grocery ads that day showed a gallon of milk for $0.79 and bananas for $0.10 a pound at Frank’s Fruit Market on East Eighth Street.
“Super Eagles Soar To State Championship” was the big news story on March 5, 1972, after the Ector High School boys basketball team came from behind to beat Henderson 71-64 and claim the Class 3A crown.
In other local sports news, four Odessa boxers had battled their way to the top and were all set to compete in the final round of the 36th annual Texas State Golden Gloves Tournament the following night in Fort Worth.
The front page on March 5, 1988, carried news that the independent Postal Rate Commission had approved a U.S. postage hike, increasing the cost of first class letters to 25 cents.
Also that day, a Mississippi drifter was found guilty of murder in the strangulation death of an Odessa woman, and Ector County parents would soon be encouraging their children to call the new “homework” hotline for help with difficult assignments.
By March 5, 1994, programs to encourage the use of clean-burning fuels were beginning to take shape and the OA front-page headline revealed that natural gas production in the state of Texas was at its highest level in five years.
In Rome, Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain was recovering from a recent drug overdose, while actor and comedian John Candy had died of a heart attack in Mexico, where he was filming the Western parody “Wagons East!”
On March 5, 2004, a “Friday Night Lights” crew was wrapping up its first day of filming in Odessa. A front-page photo shows actor Derek Luke taking a break from shooting a scene on the corner of Tom Green Avenue and Eighth Street.
Nationally, there were several jury trials of interest currently taking place. Martha Stewart’s stock fraud trial was well underway in New York City, and, in California, jurors were being sorted for Scott Peterson’s double-murder trial following the death of his pregnant wife and unborn son.
Five years ago today, the March 5, 2014, edition informed readers that local attorney Brooks Landgraf had won the race to become the next State Representative for District 81.
