1. On August 8, 1860, Abilene, Texas was founded. The city grew as a cattle town and later became an important trade hub. Today, Abilene is home to three universities and numerous cultural attractions.

2. In 1911, on this day, Governor Oscar Branch Colquitt signed a bill establishing the Texas State Highway Department. This agency was responsible for building and maintaining the state's rapidly growing network of highways and bridges.

3. On August 8, 1945, just days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Texas Governor Coke Stevenson called for a statewide day of prayer for peace. Stevenson issued a proclamation urging Texans to "join in prayer that the God of all Nations will keep us in His care and guidance."

4. In 1950, on August 8, Howard Hughes made his only flight of the XF-11 reconnaissance aircraft. The plane, which he had developed with his own funds, crashed shortly after takeoff, injuring Hughes and damaging several homes in Beverly Hills, California.

5. On August 8, 1966, the University of Texas at Austin suffered one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history when sniper Charles Whitman killed 14 people and injured 31 others from a tower on campus. The incident sparked a national conversation about gun violence and mental health.