Tomorrow is Kansas Day, Kansas became the 34th State admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861, on the eve of the American Civil War. Kansas had produced a lot of amazing Americans in its glorious 158 year history. Kansas gave the world Dwight Eisenhower, the Five Star General and World War II Hero who served two terms as president. Kansas also produced the record setting aviator, Amelia Earhart, from Atchinson. Sure, you may have heard about those two famous Kansans, but what about the State’s astronauts. NASA’s Ron Evans grew up in St. Francis and Topeka; Joe Engle grew up in Abilene and Chapman. Astronaut Steve Hawley grew up right here in Ottawa and Salina. Edward J. Dwight, the first Aftican American named to the Astronaut program, grew up in Kansas City, Kansas.
So many amazing people. We will be highlighting some of those people and some of the incredible things Kansas led the Nation in. Here’s a tease… did you know the inventor of the micro-chip grew up in Kansas, or the Nations first female sheriff was in Kiowa county? We will have more in the next newscast.
