For those of you in your 40s or younger and/or those who have a short history in San Antonio, the Tower of the Americas has always been in the San Antonio skyline. However, in terms of the missions and other historical structures, the tower is a mere child. Construction started only 45 years ago and the tower opened with HemisFair in 1968.

It wasn’t always the Tower of the Americas, either.

As the Express reported May 11, 1966, Miss Rosa Gonzalez of Corpus Christi won the name contest. Of the 3,354 entries, 68 of them were for “Tower of the Americas.” However, Miss Gonzalez won because her entry was posted the earliest of the 68 (that number seems a bit coincidental, too).

It’s a good thing she was from out of town because she won a three-day stay at the Menger Hotel, as well as a $100 savings bond (equals about $665 today) and a season pass to the fair. Tickets for the day were $2 (about $13 in today’s dollars).

Rejected entries included Hemispire, Astrospire, Hemistower, and my favorite: Astroshaft (sorry, it just makes me giggle). Not mentioned: Hemishaft. Headline writers would have had a ball with that one.

Runners-up received $25 savings bonds.

The judges were Dr. James W. Laurie, President of Trinity University (and namesake of Laurie Auditorium); Harry Jersig, president of Lone Star Brewery; and David Straus, businessman and uncle of current Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus.

And no, that isn’t a photo. The reality seems to uncannily match the concept drawing that ran with the article.

–Julie Domel