"""The Texan Who Conquered Russia,"" died at age 78.  Denied the Soviets a Cold War victory by winning the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 at age 24. His performance in the finale of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 earned him an eight minute standing ovation and ultimately the only New York City ticker-tape parade for a classical musician. Performed all over the world throughout his career; the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is held on a quadrennial basis at TCU in Ft. Worth."
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