The verdict climaxed months of twists, turns, and legal wrangling that resulted in District Attorney Dan Sullivan of Andrews obtaining a new trial after a sanity hearing conducted in Kermit ended with Herring set free. Although fears of a U.S.-Soviet military confrontation rise, the issue is resolved peacefully within a month. The book is credited with launching the environmental movement in the United States. Scott Carpenter is the second to orbit, on May 24. On July 10, Telstar, the first commercial communications satellite, is launched, making possible live television coverage from Europe for the first time.
Information is drawn from news accounts, archives and other historical records.
20th Century Countdown. The Odessa American's daily countdown of the last 100 years, from 1900 through 1999, with a short summary of some news and newsmakers affecting residents of Odessa. Copyright 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved. Refer comments to Webmaster .