1. On May 31, 1870, the first African American senator in Texas history, Matthew Gaines, was elected to the state senate. He represented the Brazos Valley district and fought for education and civil rights for all Texans.

2. May 31, 1935 saw the completion of the Texas Centennial Exposition, held in Dallas to celebrate Texas' 100th anniversary of independence from Mexico. The exposition featured exhibits, concerts, and other entertainment, and attracted over six million visitors to the city.

3. In 1961, on May 31, Lt. Col. Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American to enter space as part of the Mercury-Redstone 4 mission. The spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and reached a height of over 118 miles before returning to Earth.

4. May 31, 1981 is memorable as the day that a deadly flood struck the city of Austin, Texas. The flood, caused by heavy rains, killed 13 people and caused widespread damage to property and infrastructure throughout the city.

5. On May 31, 2007, a tornado outbreak swept through several parts of Texas, causing significant damage and claiming the lives of several people. The storms produced multiple tornadoes, one of which hit the town of Saragosa, Texas, killing 10 residents and injuring dozens more.