1. In 1835, the Battle of Concepcion took place on October 28-29, with Texian troops led by James Bowie and James Fannin successfully driving off Mexican soldiers. This was one of the earliest victories for Texas in the war for independence.

2. On October 30, 1864, Confederate soldiers under General John Bell Hood attacked Fort Esperanza on Matagorda Island. The battle lasted for three days and resulted in a Confederate victory, but it would ultimately have no impact on the outcome of the Civil War.

3. In 1929, Texas oilman, philanthropist, and art collector Algur H. Meadows was born on October 30. Meadows established the Meadows Foundation, which has contributed millions of dollars to support education, the arts, and social services in Texas and beyond.

4. On October 30, 1975, the last remaining section of the Galveston-Sealy-Houston interurban electric railway was shut down. This railway once connected Houston to several other Texas cities and towns, but fell out of use with the rise of the automobile.

5. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman was born on October 30, 1966. Aikman led the team to three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.