1. In 1901, the Spindletop Oil Field was discovered near Beaumont, Texas, sparking a major oil boom and establishing the state as a major player in the global oil industry.
2. On January 16, 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, officially prohibiting the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol. This led to the rise of bootlegging and organized crime in Texas and throughout the country.
3. On this day in 1957, Dallas residents witnessed a rare snowfall, with several inches of snow accumulating throughout the city. This event is still remembered as one of the most significant snowfalls in Dallas history.
4. In 1991, former Texas Governor Ann Richards was inaugurated, becoming the state's second female governor and the first woman to be elected to the position in her own right.
5. January 16 also marks the anniversary of the founding of Texas Tech University in 1923, which has since grown to become one of the largest universities in the state and a major center for research and innovation.