1. In 1842, a Mexican force led by Rafael Vasquez invaded San Antonio. However, the Texans successfully defended the city, driving Vasquez and his troops back across the Rio Grande.

2. On January 4, 1929, Harold Simmons was born in Golden, Texas. He went on to become a billionaire businessman and philanthropist, donating millions to various causes and founding the Harold Simmons Foundation.

3. In 1953, the Cotton Bowl football game was played on January 4, featuring the University of Texas Longhorns against the University of Tennessee Volunteers. The Longhorns won the game 16-0.

4. On January 4, 1985, Houston, Texas, was hit by a major air disaster when Delta Air Lines Flight 191 crashed while attempting to land during a storm. 137 people were killed, including all 11 crew members and 126 passengers.

5. In 2014, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Detroit Lions 24-20 in a playoff game on January 4 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game is notable for a controversial non-call by the referees, who did not penalize Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens for pass interference on a Detroit receiver.