Today in Houston history, March 24, 1950: Daily Cougar staffers keep watch for UFOs
March 24, 2022
Houston Chronicle front page for March 24, 1950.
Chronicle file
On this day in 1950, the staff of the Daily Cougar on the University of Houston campus set up a dawn-to-dusk observation post to keep an eye out for flying saucers.
It came after multiple reports earlier in the month that UFOs had been spotted over Harris County. Some of the witnesses said they were asked to detail their encounter by someone claiming to represent the Air Force, though the folks at Ellington Air Force Base denied its personnel were doing such interviews.
C.M. Floyd and Floyd Farris said they “had seen a bright, large wheel-like object in the sky, south of the Mellie Esperson Building.” It was stationary at first, but it then moved toward Buffalo Bayou.
The Chronicle said “the two men also noted a tail hanging down from the disk, which appeared to be as big as an auto wheel.”
The same week, flying saucers were also spotted in Bay City. In April, W.C. Easterling reported seeing a UFO just after 4 a.m. over Telephone Road and Old Spanish Trail.
By the end of March, the Daily Cougar reported that it had not managed to photograph a flying saucer.
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