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TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY
Kentucky Trivia

February 22, 1834, the General Assembly approved “an act authorizing the building of an Arsenal for the security and preservation of the public arms on the public square in Frankfort to hold all the state’s store of public arms.”

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Newport native Josephine Kirby Henry, born in 1846.  The Progressive Era women’s rights leader, suffragist, social reformer, and writer lived in Versailles.  She successfully promoted legislation to grant married women property rights.

This item is part of the Laura Clay papers, 1906-1920

February 22, 1860, Kentucky created Magoffin County from Floyd County, Johnson County, and Morgan County and named it in honor of Beriah Magoffin, Kentucky’s 21st governor.  Salyersville is the county seat.  Other localities include: Elsie, Falcon, Foraker, Fredville, Gunlock, Hendricks, Ivyton, Logville, Royalton, Sublett, Swampton, Wheelersburg, and Wonnie.  The 106th created, Magoffin County covers 309 square miles.

By David Benbennick

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to the University of Kentucky.  On February 22, 1865, John Bryan Bowman founded the Agricultural and Mechanical College, a branch of Kentucky University (Transy), through the General Assembly’s Morrill Land-Grant Act provisions. 

February 22, 1867, ex-Confederates dominated the Kentucky Democratic convention that met in Frankfort.  They eventually picked John L. Helm, whose father was a Confederate General.  Helm resigned his state senate seat to accept the nomination.  Though his health was frail, he was determined to canvass the entire state.  He won his 2nd non-consecutive governorship in the general election later that year.

February 22, 1908, the Coliseum basketball team of Louisville defeated Agriculture & Mechanical College of Kentucky (UK) 30-18.  The Louisville Coliseum hosted the game.  The press referred to UK’s team as the Kentucky State College Five.  In 1908, the school changed its name from A&M Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky to the State University, Lexington, Kentucky. 

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Garfield native David “Big Dave” DeJernett, born in 1912.  In 1930, DeJernett became the 1st African-American in U.S. history to lead an integrated basketball team to a major tournament championship.

Kentucky Trivia:  In 1816, Abraham Lincoln stayed at an inn in Garfield as a child when the family was moving to Indiana.  According to tradition, the slaves who worked at the inn refused to eat with the poor white trash Lincoln.

By 1929 High School Yearbook, Fair Use

February 22, 1916, State University, Lexington (UK) traveled to the YMCA Arena in Louisville to play UofL.  Coach James Park’s traveling five won over Ed Bowman’s five players, 32-24.  In 1916, the school changed names again, from State University, Lexington, Kentucky to the University of Kentucky.

February 22, 1925, Deputy Sheriff Joseph Talt Hall, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot in Martin, at the Beaver Valley Junction train depot, while attempting to arrest a man wanted for manufacturing moonshine.

February 22, 1932, Special Deputy Sheriff Fountain Pace Pendleton, Green County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot shot in a case of mistaken identity while serving a warrant.  The sheriff had deputized him and another citizen to help.

On February 22, 1946, 39-year-old Rep. Kelse H. Risner from Lee City told the press he received a bribe.  A utility lobbyist offered him $5,000 for his vote on a crucial bill just before the holiday recess.  Mr. Risner called it an insult.

February 22, 1952, Louisville officials issued an ultimatum to striking garbage, street, and park workers to return to their jobs or lose them.  Meanwhile, workers at the International Harvester Plant began their strike in Jefferson County.

February 22, 1966, Army SP4 James L. Fain from Ashland in Boyd County and Marine Corps LCPL George B. Givens, Jr. from Robards in Henderson County died in the Vietnam War.

February 22, 1969, Marine Corps LCPL Michael L. Cruse from Valley Station in Jefferson County and Marine Corps CPL Edward S. Gum from Louisville died in the Vietnam War.

February 22, 1969, Barbara Jo Rubin became the 1st woman jockey to win a pari-mutuel (betting) race at a major American thoroughbred track.  She rode Cohesion to a neck victory in the 9th race at Charles Town.  Thirty years later, Charles Town created the Barbara Jo Rubin Stakes in her honor.

February 22, 1971, Adolph Rupp chatted with Alabama coach and former Kentucky player C.M. Newton at Memorial Coliseum.  Rupp, then 69, was sidelined for the game with a foot infection complicated by diabetes (click for pic).

On February 22, 1974, a V.P. of Knight Newspapers spoke in Lexington at the annual United Way of the Blue Grass awards luncheon at the Phoenix Hotel.  He heavily criticized President R. Nixon for not giving any money to charity after earning $200,000 with free rent and living expenses.   The executive claimed the selfishness showed his true character.

February 22, 1974, the federal government announced they would provide Kentucky an additional 8.3 million gallons of gasoline for the rest of February.

February 22, 1980, close to 7,000 people drove from all corners of the Commonwealth to Memorial Coliseum to watch the Wildcats 1st open practice in Lexington, and it was free.  Kentucky traditionally held an open session in Louisville before the annual game with Notre Dame, but people usually had to pay.  Kyle Macy was the star attraction.    

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Rajon Pierre Rondo, born in 1986.  

On February 212, 1990, former President Ronald Reagan testified via videotape at a Washington, D.C. federal courthouse.  He testified about America illegally selling weapons to one part of the globe and, with that money, funding a war in another part of the world.

February 22, 1996, Floyd County Attorney Jim Hammond pleaded guilty to federal charges of defrauding the child-support program of $100,000 and writing $8 million in bad checks.  His wife also pleaded guilty.  Hammond, 51, resurrected his career after being disbarred 15 years ago.  He got his license back in 1988.

February 22, 2003, Louisville native and screenwriter Daniel Taradash died.  His credits include Golden Boy (1939), From Here to Eternity (1952), Rancho Notorious (1952), Don’t Bother to Knock (1952), Désirée (1954), Picnic (1955), Storm Center (1956), which he also directed, Bell, Book and Candle (1958), Morituri (1965), Hawaii (1966), Castle Keep (1969), Doctors’ Wives (1971), and Bogie (1980), a film biography of Humphrey Bogart.

Kentucky Trivia:  The 1st Hollywood movie filmed in Kentucky was The Kentuckian.  Tinseltown followed up with April Love, Raintree County in 1957, and Some Come Running in 1958.

On February 22, 2006, Governor E. Fletcher made his first public appearance after being hospitalized since February 12 for gallbladder problems, pancreatitis, and bloodstream infections.  He wore a white robe emblazoned with the Kentucky seal.

On February 22, 2014, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Victoria Nuland orchestrated the “regime change” in Ukraine with the assistance of Pierre Omidyar.  The Obama administration wanted to overthrow the democratically elected President Viktor Yanukovych.  Meanwhile, the U.S. mainstream media presented the coup as a victory for “democracy.”

February 22, 2014, a Kentucky bred and Keeneland graduate won Gulfstream Park’s GII $415,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes by a head.

February 22, 2015, Mike Harmon, Kentucky’s top auditor focused on the Kentucky Horse Park.  The audit showed a lack of best practices with a disregard for structure.

February 22, 2018, Betsy Layne native Bette Joan Henritze passed over.  The actress of stage, film, and television hailed from Floyd County.

February 22, 2019, President D. Trump announced his intentions to nominate Lexington native Kelly Craft as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.  At the time, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Canada.  Meanwhile, Governor M. Bevin ignored his low polling numbers.

On February 22, 2020, the House introduced a bill to aggressively tax houseboats to generate more revenue.  For example, Green River houses approximately 200 houseboats, but the state received taxes on only 50 in 2019.  The state claimed these stats applied to all Kentucky lakes and rivers.

February 22, 2020, a Kentucky bred won Santa Anita’s GII $202,000 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares four-year-olds and upward.

February 22, 2020, St. Xavier High School won their 32nd straight state swimming title.  UK’s Lancaster Aquatic Center hosted the 2020 championships.

February 22, 2021, Fayette County students passed through thermal temperature scanners on their 1st day back since the coronavirus shut the school doors in March 2020.  Meanwhile, on the governor’s daily update, Kentucky announced the 6th straight week of declining cases.

On February 22, 2022, Uniparty leaders Mitch M. and Joe B. mongered for war against Russia by calling for sanctions as fighting seemed inevitable.  Meanwhile, locals learned of the strange murder of Jordon Morgan, the daughter of a Madison County businessman and politician, at her father’s well-guarded home/compound in Richmond.

On February 22, 2023, Thomas Massie called on his colleagues to audit the Federal Reserve to increase transparency in the central bank’s operations.  This would allow the public to better understand how monetary policy decisions are made and potentially reveal any potential conflicts of interest or mismanagement, especially regarding concerns about the impact of those decisions on the economy and everyday people.

On February 22, 2023, Governor A. Beshear gave props to the Future Farmers America during their week to shine.

On February 22, 2024, Kentucky touted Theodore Roosevelt Augustus Major Poston (July 4, 1906 – January 11, 1974), the American journalist and author.  The first African-American journalist to work on a mainstream white-owned newspaper, the New York Post, many say Poston is the “Dean of Black Journalists.”

Kentucky Headlines

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