I
n 1962, a gallon of gasoline was 27 cents — five cents cheaper than a dozen eggs — and one could mail a letter anywhere in the U.S. for less than a nickel. While the Cuban missile crisis wreaked havoc on everyone's nerves that year, Houston enjoyed a couple of distractions: the state’s first Major League Baseball team, the Colt .45s and the Houston Oilers' third straight AFL title game. Dallas motorists had a distraction of their own when the waterfall billboard was unveiled along Harry Hines Boulevard. (It’s still there today!)
by Adam J. Holland Director, Communications and Community Relations La Porte ISD
Meanwhile, the public education sector in 1962 became engulfed in a whirlwind of controversy, confusion and outrage when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that statesponsored prayer in public schools was unconstitutional. Coincidentally, the Texas School Public Relations Association was also founded that year and has served as a valuable resource for school PR practitioners ever since. Steve Knagg, who is currently TSPRA’s longest-serving member, and Roger White, who recently retired after 33 years as the managing editor at Texas Lone Star magazine (and the second longest-serving member), graciously agreed to answer a few questions as we celebrate 60 years as an organization.
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Winter 2021 | www.TSPRA.org
