August 29, 1864

1864 While advancing around Atlanta’s western perimeter, Sherman’s Army had reached the tracks of the Western & West Point Railroad on the previous evening. Sherman ordered his men to spend the entire day of August 29 pulling up over 12 miles of track between Red Oak and Fairburn to the west. In Sherman’s words: "The track was heaved up in sections the length of a regiment, then separated rail by rail; bonfires were made of the ties and of fence-rails on which the rolls were heated, carried to trees or telegraph poles, wrapped around and left to cool." Thus were the instructions for what Union soldiers called "Sherman’s neckties".

August 29, 1945

1945 American track star Wyomia Tyus was born in Griffin, Georgia. Tyus held the world record in the 100 meters (1964-65, 1968-72) and was the first athlete to win two Olympic gold medals in the event.

August 29, 1961

1961 Cobb County’s Lockheed Corp. received the go ahead from the FAA to begin production of the JetStar. Designed to fly at speeds of 550 miles per hour, the JetStar was the fastest passenger plane of the day.

August 29, 1961

1961 Atlanta Mayor William Hartsfield expressed "faith and confidence" that the imminent desegregation of four Atlanta public schools would be carried out "with peace and good order."

August 29, 1964

1964 Tropical storm Cleo, just downgraded from a hurricane after devastating Florida, hit the southeast Georgia coast with with wind gusts up to 65 MPH and sustained winds of 50 MPH. Seven inches of rain fell on Savannah in five hours, causing flash flooding.

August 29, 1971

1971 Atlanta Brave great Hank Aaron knocked in his 100th run of the season, giving him 11 seasons with 100 or more RBIs--a National League record.

August 29, 1991

1991 The U.S. Postal Service issued a 29-cent stamp commemorating the famous movie comedy duo of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, with first-day-of-issue ceremonies in Hollywood, California. Hardy (1892-1957) was born in Harlem, Georgia.