1960 :: Galveston Accident

Walter Davenport, a Galveston ambulance driver, answered an accident call and recognized one of the dying victims as his own daughter. While pulling the two victims from the wreckage of their automobile, Davenport suddenly cried, "Good Lord, that's my daughter." 

The girl, Elizabeth Sue Davenport, 17, and her escort, Edgar Lee Henry, 20, both died at a hospital several hours after the two-car collision at an intersection. Henry's family lives in Rockdale, Texas, but he had been living in Galveston for some time. 

Driver of the other car involved in the wreck was indentified as J.... T P.... of Houston. Police said skid marks indicated Price ran a stop sign. He was charged with two counts of neglicent homicide and one of failure to yield right-of-way. 

Davenport, after finding his daughter and her companion in their wrecked car, continued with his work, placing them in his ambulance and taking them to the hospital. El Paso Herald-Post, Courier Gazette, Pampa Daily News, June 6, 1960

1960 :: Death of Johnny Horton

Dallas Morning News. November 6, 1960. Singer Dies In 2-Car Collision. Milano, Texas. (AP) -- Singer Johnny Horton, 30, who became famous for his recording of "The Battle of New Orleans," died as two cars collided head-on here Saturday.

The accident on an overpass here in Central Texas also injured guitarist Gerald D. Tomlinson, 30, of Shreveport, La., reported in serious condition; Tilman Franks, 46, also of Shreveport, who was Horton's manager, and James E. Davis, 19, of Brady, a Texas A&M student who was alone in the other car.

The injured were taken to a Cameron hospital. Franks and Davis were believed to have escaped serious injury. A doctor said Tomlinson suffered compound fractures of both legs and might lose one of them.

Horton was at the wheel as he and his companions left Austin, where he filled an engagement Friday night. He was en route to Shreveport to discuss plans for a movie.

The singer, a former star of the national radio program "Louisiana Hayride," originating in Shreveport, had made his home in the Louisiana city the past eight years. He was born in Hollywood, but spent most of his early life in Rusk.

Horton was the husband of Mrs. Billie Jean Horton, who was the wife of Western singer Hank Williams until his death from a heart attack in 1953.

Other survivors are the couple's two small daughters, Zanina and Melody; his step-daughter, Jerry Lynn, and his mother, Mrs. John L. Horton of Rusk.

The funeral service will be held in Shreveport. Arrangements were incomplete.

• His Find-A-Grave Memorial Page
  
• His bio page at tshaonline.org
  
• The eerie demise of Johnny Horton by Clay Coppedge
  
• Honky Tonk Man by Archie P. McDonald

1960 :: Lucy Hill Patterson

Los Angeles Times
March 18, 1960

PATTERSON, Lucy Hill, beloved mother of Dr. George Hill Patterson. Services at 1 p.m. Saturday, Faith Chapel, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Forest Lawn Mortuary in charge. 

• findagrave 
• Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library