This Day in Walter O’Malley History: January 12

Dr. Laurence C. Jones, principal of the Piney Woods School in Mississippi, writes a thank you letter to Walter O’Malley for his generous contribution. The Piney Woods School received national attention when Dr. Jones appeared on Ralph Edwards’ television show “This Is Your Life” to spotlight Dr. Jones’ contribution to education and the school, a prominent African-American boarding school. The school wanted to establish an endowment fund and Dr. Jones made a plea to the TV audience to send just $1 to help the efforts. The result was nearly a million persons sent in their $1 contributions. O’Malley made one of the largest contributions to the endowment fund.

Along with his family, Walter O’Malley attends the East-West Pro Football Game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It is the first time they had attended an event at the 100,000-seat stadium. Five days later, O’Malley concludes his search for a place for the Dodgers to play beginning in April 1958, as he reaches a two-year lease agreement with the Coliseum Commission.