It’s not a sporting event the way we think of sporting events, but Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced yesterday that Stephen F. Austin has won the Top Texan Tournament for the 2nd year in a row.
The online tournament garnered thousands of Texans who ultimately voted Austin as the most important historical figure in the history of Texas. Created in 2004, the Save Texas History program is a statewide initiative to rally public support and private funding for the preservation and promotion of the historic maps and documents that are a great part of Texas History.
Stephen F. Austin came to what we now know as the state of Texas in 1821 and dedicated his life to making Texas a successful state. On land surrounded by native American Indians and governed by Mexico, he coaxed people from the east to settle on the rich farm land and the numbers grew quickly.
Austin served as general of the volunteer army at Gonzales and led the Texians efforts during the Siege of Bexar, now known as San Antonio. He later became the first Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas.
Stephen F. Austin died on December 27, 1836.
