Mizzou

January 20, 1935, is the birthday of pro basketball player and Mizzou coach “Stormin’ Norman” Stewart from near Shelbyville.  

On January 9, 1892, a fire engulfed Academic Hall on the campus of Mizzou. The massive blaze destroyed the original building on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia, leaving behind the six iconic columns as the only things standing.

On January 6, 1963, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom debuts. Marlin Perkins became a household name across America thanks to the popularity of his wildlife show. Perkins was born in Carthage, educated at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, and later studied at Mizzou.

On December 10, 1980, the first Braggin’ Rights basketball game is held in St. Louis between the Mizzou Tigers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. Although the teams have a rivalry dating back to 1932, things escalated a notch when the annual matchup between the two squads moved to a neutral site midway between the two campuses.

On November 27, 2007 Mizzou beats undefeated Kansas 36-28 at Arrowhead Stadium, elevating the Tigers to the No. 1 ranking in the polls. Chase Daniel threw for 361 yards in the win.

See this incredible collection of photographs of a segregated town and sharecroppers protesting in 1939. Photos also show Cropperville, a cooperative created to provide homes and farmland to tenant farmers who participated in the protest.

Columbia native Sam Walton is presented with the Medal of Freedom from President George H.W. Bush. The Hickman High School and Mizzou alum founded Walmart in 1962 and had become the richest man in America by 1985.

The cornerstone was laid for the Memorial Union Tower at the University of Missouri. It is the last gothic structure that was erected in the United States.

This is the birthday of "The Coach," Don Faurot, the namesake of Mizzou's Faurot field.

Enjoy the labors of area gardeners.