This week in Indiana’s history . . .
1920 – The 19th Amendment was ratified by the United States Congress. The measure gave women across the country the right to vote. On the previous Jan. 10, Indiana had been the 26th state to approve the amendment. It was passed by Congress on Aug. 16 and became effective Aug. 26, which has become known as “Women’s Equality Day.”
1935 – In College Corner, Ind., FBI agents closed in on George W. Barrett. He was wanted on charges of operating a large interstate car theft ring. Barrett opened fire on the officers, mortally wounding Special Agent Nelson B. Klein. Barrett, convicted of murder, was the first person to receive the death penalty under a new law which made it a capital offense to kill an FBI agent. He was executed the next year.
1940 – On the biggest day in the history of Elwood, Ind., hometown hero Wendell Willkie accepted the Republican nomination for President. Over 250,000 people came to see him make his acceptance speech. The Pennsylvania Railroad ran 29 extra trains into town for the occasion. Willkie’s speech was carried on all radio networks and filmed by newsreel cameras.
1957 – 14-year-old Terry Townsend of Anderson, Ind., won the Soap Box Derby National Championship in Derby Downs, Ohio. Driving his bullet-shaped car #6, he raced to the finish in front of a crowd of over 70,000. His prize included a $5,000 college scholarship and an air trip to Europe. Over a dozen Hoosiers have won the Soap Box Crown over the years, with several of them coming from Anderson. That includes Terry Townsend’s brother, Barney, who won the national title in 1959.
1971 – Federal Judge S. Hugh Dillin ruled that the Indianapolis Public School system was guilty of the practice of racial segregation. A series of subsequent decisions led to the one-way busing of African-American students from IPS to schools in the suburban townships of Marion County.
2006 – The “Indianapolis Prize” was awarded for the first time. The biennial award from the Indianapolis Zoo is bestowed upon individuals for extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts affecting one or more animal species. The first recipient was George W. Archibald, honored for his work with the International Crane Foundation.