Bookish Frog – who lives at TCU Press – answers your questions about Texas and the Southwest. Write him at tcupress@tcu.edu, and he’ll add your name to his pad-to-pad e-mail list.

Hello, B-Frog: Do you know when professional football first came to Texas? – Curious

     It’s been 60 years since pro football arrived in this state. Several people bought a National Football League franchise known as the New York Yanks.

     The team didn’t do well, and the league bought back the franchise at the end of the year.

Dear B-Frog: I keep hearing about the elections coming up in November, and how certain states are famous for being first caucus or primary states in the nation or region. Is Texas known for something during election years? – Big Texas Fan

     Yes we are! Texas hosted the first ever Vice-Presidential debates on October 15, 1976. They were held at Houston’s Alley Theater between then-senators Bob Dole of Kansas and Walter Mondale of Minnesota.

     The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters, and was broadcast to an audience of 43 million viewers.

     You can find out about other bragging rights in the book Braggin’ on Texasby Sherrie S. McLeRoy published by TCU Press.

We want to hear from you! Send your questions to tcupress@tcu.edu. Find the books discussed in this column at your local bookstore or call 1-800-826-8911 to order.