Ever wondered about the man behind the big statue off of I-45 coming into the city of Huntsville? That man is General Sam Houston, the man who changed the course of Texas history.
On March 2nd, 1793, Samuel (Sam) Houston was born in Virginia as the 5th child to Samuel and Elizabeth Houston. During his lifetime Sam Houston did many impactful things to spearhead his legacy. With Sam Houston sharing his birthday with Texas Independence Day, it is hard to not think about how the two go hand in hand.
During his lifetime Sam Houston served as a pivotal player in the Texas Revolution, he was appointed Commander in Chief of the Texan Army. As Commander in Chief, he led troops at the Battle of Gonzalez and the surprise attack at the Battle of San Jacinto where Texas Independence was won. On his birthday March 2nd of 1836 Houston attend the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos where the Texas Declaration of Independence was adopted. All of these victories set the precedent for Houston to be seen as a leader through and through, thus gaining him two terms as the President of the Republic of Texas in the years of 1836 to 1838 and in 1841 to 1844, as well as Governor in 1836 and held a seat in the U.S. Senate from 1846-1859. By turning into a leader for the people, Houston challenged the boundaries and expectations for the state of Texas and its future as a whole.
The father of our great state has truly left his mark on not only Texas but the legacy of Huntsville. On campus and around town, one can truly dive into the rich history of Sam Houston and the mark he left on the city of Huntsville. When the university was founded in 1879 as the Sam Houston Normal Institute to spearhead the legacy of a college that has evolved into the Sam Houston State University that is known today. On campus, a symbol that celebrates the journey of his life, is the Raven, after the nickname that was bestowed upon him when he lived with the Cherokee. In addition to the campus having Houston’s namesake at the forefront of the institution, there is the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library which is about 15 acres of museum grounds that are dedicated to Houston’s life in Huntsville.
After 140 years the institution that shares the namesake of a great historical figure continues to exemplify the rich history of Texas. By continuing to celebrate and remember the legacy that General Sam Houston left on Texas, we can say Happy Birthday to both!
