Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) (Brazilian/Portuguese)
(23 October 1940 – 29 December 2022)

He was a Brazilian professional footballer (soccer) who played
as a forward. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time
and labelled "the greatest" by FIFA, he was among the most
successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century.

In 1999, he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100
most important people of the 20th century. In 2000, Pelé was
voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation
of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) and was one of the two
joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century. His 1,279 goals in
1,363 games, which includes friendlies, is recognized as a
Guinness World Record. He died in a Brazilian hospital from
multiple organ failure, a complication of colon cancer.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Texas joined the Union as the 28th state, after its war of
independence against Mexico and 10 years as a Lone
Star republic, on this day in history, Dec. 29, 1845.

The vast state, larger in area than the nation of France,
joined the union but never lost its sense of independence.

"For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical
appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions,
and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps
stronger than any other section of America," famed author
John Steinbeck wrote in his 1962 travelogue, "Travels with
Charley: In Search of America." (Fox News)