Corky McCorquodale b. in Texas as Felton D. McCorquodale (d. 11/23/1968) Texas road gambler who was an expert at Five-Card Stud and introduced Texas Hold 'Em to Las Vegas at the downtown California Club in 1963. Poker Hall of Fame 1979. Wikipedia
November 20
Benny Binion b. in Pilot Grove, Texas as Lester Benjamin Binion (d. 12/25/1989) Founder of Binion's Horseshoe Casino and the World Series of Poker. Poker Hall of Fame 1990 & Seniors Poker Hall of Fame 1995. Wikipedia
1905
May 15
Las Vegas, Nevada Founded Los Angeles, Salt Lake and San Pedro Railroad auctions off 110 acres to create Las Vegas.
1906
January 24
Blondie Forbes b. in Pibrun, Louisiana as Tracy Newton Forbes (d. 3/27/1986) Credited as the inventor of Texas Hold 'Em but was best at Five-Card Stud. Road gambler on the Southern Circuit before heading to Las Vegas in the 1960s. Poker Hall of Fame 1980. Wikipedia
January 27
Bill Boyd b. in McNeil, Arkansas as William Walter Boyd (d. 11/21/1997) Won every WSOP Five-Card Stud event from 1971 to 1974, leading to the discontinuation of the event. Poker Hall of Fame 1981 & Seniors Poker Hall of Fame 1995. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
1907
May 14
Johnny Moss b. in Marshall, Texas as John Hardie Moss (d. 12/16/1995) Three-time WSOP champion: 1970 (by vote), 1971 ($30,000) & 1974 ($160,000). Five other WSOP Main Event Top 9 finishes: 1972 6th, 1973 2nd, 1979 5th ($27,000), 1980 4th ($73,000), & 1985 7th ($42,000). Oldest Main Event winner at 66 years, 11 months, and 27 days (1974) and oldest bracelet winner at 80 years, 11 months, and 17 days (1988 $1,500 Limit Ace-to-Five Draw for then-record ninth bracelet). Led 1970-79 decade with seven bracelets. Poker Hall of Fame 1979 & Seniors Poker Hall of Fame 1994 (first member). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon