For 50 years and counting, April 4 has been an important day in the life of Memphis.

To some Memphians, it is a holy day; to others, it’s a day of reflection, or perhaps one of action and service.

2. November 10-16, 2017: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, November 11, 2017

1927: Watkins Overton upsets incumbent Mayor Rowlett Paine in city runoff elections. Overton is backed by former Memphis Mayor E.H. Crump, who had backed Paine’s 1923 re-election bid at the last minute. But Crump and Paine parted company after Paine endorsed Austin Peay for governor. Meanwhile, City Court Judge Cliff Davis is elected city police and fire commissioner. Davis had been a Crump foe four years earlier, running on a ticket of Ku Klux Klan candidates. “Supporters and followers of the ticket put on a wild celebration, parading Watkins Overton, Cliff Davis and E.H. Crump down Main Street on the shoulders of enthusiastic supporters,” The Daily News reported.

3. Summer in the City - Saturday, July 15, 2017

Saturday night on Beale Street is more than a catch phrase for businesses there.

It is chapters in old, out-of-print books like Lt. George W. Lee’s “Where The Blues Began” that you can only see in the Memphis-Shelby County Room of the Central Library. You can’t check the book out because of its rarity and age. But you can also find references to the lore of Saturday nights on Beale Street on plaques in the entertainment district that current patrons walk past without even noticing.

4. Bridge Protest Anniversary Draws More Action, Reflection - Tuesday, July 11, 2017

A year after the spontaneous protest march that ended with more than 1,000 people shutting down the Hernando DeSoto Bridge for several hours, the leader of that effort was again moving north along B.B. King Boulevard on Sunday, July 9.

5. Kyles' Services May 6 At Mason Temple - Saturday, May 7, 2016

Retired Monumental Baptist Church pastor and Memphis civil rights leader Samuel Billy Kyles will be remembered Friday, May 6, with a community celebration of his life at Mason Temple Church of God In Christ, 930 Mason St.

6. Kyles Services Friday At Mason Temple - Friday, May 6, 2016

Retired Monumental Baptist Church pastor and Memphis civil rights leader Samuel Billy Kyles will be remembered Friday, May 6, with a community celebration of his life at Mason Temple Church of God In Christ, 930 Mason St.

7. Last Word: TNReady Termination, NFL Draft Day and What Drove The Bible Bill - Thursday, April 28, 2016

When students in public schools take tests these days, it is about more than how they are doing and whether they know what is being taught them.

The scores play a significant role in how teachers are evaluated and rated. And both play a role in their careers and how much they will be paid. They play a role in whether the state decides to take over a school or the school system they remain in decides to essentially start over with an Innovation School model.

8. Reaction to the Death of Civil Rights Leader Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles - Thursday, April 28, 2016

Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles died Tuesday in Memphis after a long illness. Here's a roundup of reaction from local leaders, Kyles' associates and the National Civil Rights Museum...

9. Kyles Played Big Role in Civil Rights Movement - Thursday, April 28, 2016

The world knows him through his story of standing near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in 1968 just seconds before King was assassinated.

10. Last Word: The Friendly Church on the Parkway and Paxton Lynch's Mom - Wednesday, April 27, 2016

He came to Memphis in the late 1950s from Chicago as the first pastor of Monumental Baptist Church, the “friendly church on the parkway” in a city that was anything but friendly to the causes of Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles.

11. Civil Rights Veteran Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles Dies At Age 81 - Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Civil rights movement icon Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles died Tuesday, April 26, after a long illness at the age of 81.

12. Democratic Presidential Campaigns Battle for Memphis Voters - Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Former local Democratic Party chairman and Shelby County Commissioner Matt Kuhn got right to the point Saturday, Feb. 13, as the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign opened its Memphis headquarters in the Chickasaw Crossing shopping center.

13. Hinds Joins Martin Tate Law Firm - Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Rebecca Hinds has joined Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston P.C. as an associate attorney in the firm’s litigation section. In this role, Hinds represents clients in civil and commercial litigation matters, including business law, transportation liability, construction disputes, breach-of-contract matters and employment law. She also helps commercial clients obtain tax incentives and advises individuals and businesses in the drafting and negotiation of contracts. 

14. Four Beale Street Proposals Feature Different Backgrounds - Monday, January 18, 2016

Jeff Sanford fielded inquiries from 17 or 18 companies, local and out of town, expressing some level of interest in the contract to manage the Beale Street entertainment district.

15. 4 Applicants Up for Beale Street Gig - Friday, January 15, 2016

A Fortune 500 corporation, the Memphis-based company behind the Delta Fair, a Memphis real estate management firm with office experience, and a newly formed group of Memphians with experience in real estate, entertainment and restaurants as well as commercial development and financing. Those are the four companies that have applied to manage the Beale Street entertainment district.

16. Past, Present, Future - Saturday, April 5, 2014

The weekend before the formal reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s voice could be heard in the museum plaza.

17. March 29-April 4: This Week in Memphis History - Saturday, March 30, 2013

2012: Pinnacle Airlines Corp. filed for federal bankruptcy reorganization after months of trying to reorganize the Memphis-based regional air carrier to compensate for a shift in the airline industry and a move away from the smaller capacity jets used by Pinnacle. It was a dramatic reversal for a company that in October 2010 became the anchor tenant of One Commerce Square. The reorganization plan was later scrapped for another reorganization plan that included Pinnacle moving out of Memphis effective May 2013.

18. Freedom Awards Expand for NCRM’s Anniversary - Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The National Civil Rights Museum will honor 14 people and two civil rights organizations at its annual Freedom Awards in November.

The group of recipients is more than the usual three each year to mark the 20th anniversary of the museum opening on the site of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.

19. Freedom Awards Expand for NCRM’s Anniversary - Thursday, August 11, 2011

The National Civil Rights Museum will honor 14 people and two civil rights organizations at its 20th annual Freedom Awards in November.

The group of recipients is more than the usual three each year to mark the 20th anniversary of the museum opening on the site of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.

20. Events - Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence will hold a workshop today from 8:30 a.m. to noon at its office, 5100 Poplar Ave., Suite 502. Ken Kimble, director of development and marketing for Boy Scouts of America Chickasaw Council, will speak. Cost is $65 for members and $125 for nonmembers. For more information, call 684-6605 or visit www.npexcellence.org.

21. Youth Villages Names Rutschman Director of Communications - Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Echelle Lane Rutschman has been named director of communications at Youth Villages. Rutschman joins Youth Villages after 10 years serving as senior communications officer and system director of corporate communications at Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp.

22. 40 Years Later: Remembering a Tragedy in Memphis - Friday, April 4, 2008

Editor's Note: Senior reporter Bill Dries remembers where he was 40 years ago today, the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis.

The first time I saw Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he was an image on a television screen. My brothers, my sister and I had been playing in our backyard one April afternoon when I heard the phone ring through the kitchen window screen. It was a brief phone call and when it was over we all hurried inside and turned on the television.

23. PBS' Smiley, Others Converge On Memphis to Honor MLK - Tuesday, April 1, 2008

The eyes of the city and the nation are turning to Memphis this week to mark what will be the 40th anniversary Friday of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The city is doing its part to promote the historic moment - and so are other people from around the country.

24. Democrats Heat up Primary Race - Wednesday, January 30, 2008

There was a telling moment Sunday at Monumental Baptist Church. It came as Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton swayed in her chair to the melody of the church choir.

Laquita Jackson strode purposefully down the center aisle of the South Memphis church, a bundle of Barack Obama signs under one arm and holding another bundle of Obama fans. It caused a brief uproar in the crowd of 300 as she took her seat in the fourth row behind two women with larger home-made Clinton signs. A sign truce was quickly negotiated as the choir continued and something that happens occasionally among competing presidential campaigns blew over quickly.

25. With Clinton Back on Trail, McCain Visit Up Next - Tuesday, January 29, 2008

When New York Sen. Hillary Clinton told her husband a day or so ago that she'd be making a campaign stop in Memphis this week, the former president and Arkansas governor said he was jealous about being unable to come along.

26. Memphians Honored Tonight At Legacy of Leadership Gala - Friday, December 1, 2006
     Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton Jr. is among the honorees who will be recognized at 100 Black Men of Memphis Inc.'s awards dinner tonight at 7 p.m. at Woodland Hills, 10000 Woodland Hills Drive.
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27. Zoccola Reflects on MBA Presidency As She Prepares to Pass Torch - Thursday, November 30, 2006

Barbara Zoccola soon will pass on the presidential gavel of the Memphis Bar Association to her successor, David M. Cook, the current vice-president of the MBA. Cook will become president of the MBA Dec. 7 during the final installment of its "Law Inspires" series at The Peabody Hotel. The event is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m.

28. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Area Fire Fighters, Police Awarded for Bravery

Firefighters, Officers Awarded for Bravery The 100 Club of Memphis presented Valor Awards, the highest honor for bravery in Memphis and Shelby County, to Collierville police officer Michael Riley and...

29. Archived Article: Benchmark - Thursday, February 20, 2003
Building in deadly Chicago

Building in deadly Chicago

club stampede ordered closed

The building housing a Chicago nightclub where 21 people died in a panicked rush for the exit was ordered closed Tuesday as city lawyers sought to jail the o...

30. Archived Article: Calvary P - Tuesday, March 19, 2002
Calvary Lenten series hits stride Calvary Lenten series wraps up The Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. takes the pulpit today as the 79th annual Calvary Lenten preaching series reaches an end Friday. Guest speakers from congregations across the nation will l...

31. Archived Article: Calvary P - Friday, March 8, 2002
Calvary Lenten series hits stride Calvary Lenten series nears end Dr. Stephen R. Montgomery, Idlewild Presbyterian Church senior pastor, takes the Calvary pulpit for two sermons as the 79th annual Calvary Lenten preaching series enters the home stre...

32. Archived Article: Calvary P - Monday, February 18, 2002
Calvary Lenten series hits stride Calvary Lenten series hits stride Dr. Kenneth A. Corr kicks off the first full week of Calvary Episcopal Churchs 79th annual Noonday Lenten Preaching series. Guest speakers from congregations across the nation will ...

33. Archived Article: Comm Focus - Friday, February 8, 2002
By JENNIFER MURLEY Calvary Lenten series takes center stage beginning Wednesday "Since times ancient, the Church has set aside a period of deep reflection and personal growth known to Christians throughout the world as the season of Lent. Calva...

34. Archived Article: Comm Focus - Friday, February 13, 1998
By SUZANNE THOMPSON Retracing the steps of history A pilgrimage to Memphis is planned to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. By SUZANNE THOMPSON The Daily News Listening to Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles talk about t...