Paul "Bombshell" Boesch was a professional wrestler, promoter, and announcer, but he is most famous for running Houston wrestling from 1966 to 1987. He built a reputation as one of the most respected figures in the wrestling business. His wrestling career debuted on October 25, 1932, in Staten Island, New York. He is widely credited with creating modern mud wrestling (by accident) in 1937, in what was intended to be a “Hindu-style” match. After leaving the army, he continued wrestling until he suffered a broken leg in a car accident in 1947. He is also sometimes regarded as the most decorated wrestler who served in World War II.

He was honored with the Distinguished Citizens Award from the 121st Infantry Association for his outstanding community service with charitable groups, including the Boys Clubs of America.

His accolades in the wrestling community include receiving a PWI Editor’s Award from Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1987. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1996 and into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005 as a non-wrestling participant in the business. He was inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2012 and posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021 as part of the Legacy Wing.

I wanted to share this here besides Paul being known as "The Father of Houston Wrestling" is because I believe Paul Boesch wrote one of the best accounts by an American soldier in World War II and the best individual account of the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest, considered the worst battle the U.S. Army fought in Europe.

Interestingly, the only reason the book was published is that World War II Army veteran and historian Charles B. McDonald, author of a well-known and regarded World War II memoir called Company Commander, found the manuscript while researching the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest. He eventually reached out to Paul to see if he would be willing to publish it because "it was too human a document to be ignored.” He used Boesch’s account in the fifteenth chapter of his book, The Battle of the Huertgen Forest. (Huertgen being the anglicized version of Hürtgen). If any of you are interested Charles B. McDonald had his own Wikipedia page.

Just wondering if anybody here has been to this site in Brazoria County and had thoughts about it. Seems like a gem of Texas history.

After Stephen F. Austin was buried for 74 years, his body was exhumed and posthumously moved to Austin in 1910. This was the site of his former home and there still exists his above ground vault-like tomb made of bricks.

In the marble slab on his tomb is an inscription:

Genl. Stephen Fuller Austin

Eldest son of Moses and Mary Austin,born 3rd of November, 1793, in Austinville, State of Virginia. Departed this life on the 27th of December, A. D. 1836. at Columbia, Republic of Texas Aged 43 years, 1 month and 24 days.

Previously on the wall of a gay bar at 1018 westheimer in Houston.

Looking for a mainframe systems analyst who went by 'Skip' and worked in Downtown Houston around 1984–1986. He did work for Texas Commerce Bank (likely on the Hogan Systems implementation team) and would have been in his 30s or 40s at the time. A distinct memory is that he loved having lunch at Durty Nelly’s. Does anyone remember working with him or know his full name?" [1, 2]

Free public history talk this Saturday June 13th at 11am at the Houston History Research Center: "America at 250: Founding Frenemies and the Rivalries that Shaped the Nation"

In this lively and story-driven presentation, historian and podcaster Howard Dorre explores the rivalries, grudges, and political clashes that shaped the early United States—from the bitterness between Benjamin Franklin and both John Adams and Abigail Adams, to the political warfare between Adams and Alexander Hamilton, to the fallout between George Washington and James Madison. But these conflicts didn’t end with the founders. They carried into the next generation of American leadership—where figures like John Quincy Adams confronted an even more explosive disagreement: whether the United States should annex Texas.

For more info and to register for this free event visit: https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/event/16693436

This is the 1950-1951 HISD Alexander Hamilton PTA 1950 booklet. This middle school is still there today, at Heights Blvd and E. 20th street. One interesting thing in this booklet is the publication of the teachers' phone numbers and street addresses.

Drunk Black History - Austin (Brandon Collins)

Hi everyone,

Next month, I'm hosting this event where you’ll hear from comedians, writers, and experts who are skunked out of their mind trying to recap the biography of a historical Black figure or event that hasn’t gotten the mainstream love they deserved. It's the Daily Show meets Drunk History!

Joining me on stage will be KeAndre' Jordan (My Southern Brand), ReShonda Tate (Acclaimed Author), Jody Summers (Sharkfest Comedy Festival), and Crystal Danelle (Women Empowerment Speaker)! 

Wednesday, June 3rd

Punch Line Houston

1204 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77002

Doors open at 6:30pm

Show at 7:30pm

Advance tickets are available at https://www.ticketmaster.com/drunk-black-history-houston-texas-06-03-2026/event/3A0064551715DCCE

★★★★ “One of our favorite comedy shows out there” —TimeOut NY

★★★★ “Drink some cocktails while you get an education... at this popular show!” —The Infatuation

★★★★ “Keeping our food and drinks down was hard because of all the laughing...” —1202 Magazine

★★★★ “A hilariously high history lesson!” —AMNY