1. On August 3, 1962, the first major civil rights march in Mississippi took place in McComb, led by activist Charles Evers. The march was met with hostility and violence from white residents and police, making national headlines and drawing attention to the struggle for equal rights in the state.

2. August 3, 1979 saw the release of the first cassette tape recordings of Elvis Presley's legendary concerts at the Mississippi Coliseum in 1975. The recordings were a significant moment in the history of music preservation and appreciation, showcasing the King of Rock and Roll at the height of his powers.

3. On August 3, 1999, Mississippi governor Kirk Fordice declared a state of emergency in response to a massive outbreak of West Nile virus that infected hundreds of people and killed several. The state mobilized resources and launched a public education campaign to curb the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

4. August 3 marks the birthday of Mississippi blues legend Tommy Johnson, born in 1896 in Terry, MS. Johnson was one of the most influential early blues musicians, known for his powerful voice and pioneering use of the bottleneck slide guitar technique.

5. In 1940, August 3 marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mississippi Highway Patrol Training Academy in Jackson. The facility has trained generations of highway patrol officers, and continues to serve as an important center for law enforcement education and training in the state.