On November 21, 1783, the Kentucky territory created its 1^st tax.  The future Commonwealth taxed each 10 pounds of tobacco.  Also, during this year, Kentucky held its 1^st Supreme Court session, the 1^st official road opened from Lincoln County to Harrodsburg, and the 1^st jail opened in Danville.  Kentucky in Retrospect 1792-1967 by Lila Jones Kingston, pg: 19.

November 21, 1799, the Kentucky legislatures decreed John James Dufour of Vevey, Switzerland, the 1^st commercial vineyard and winery in the U.S., known as “First Vineyard.”  Dufour traveled up and down the Ohio, Mississippi, and Kentucky Rivers and then selected Jessamine County.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Lexington native James Hilary Mulligan, born in 1844.  The celebrated local orator/lawyer wrote poetry throughout his life, including “My Kentucky.”  Maxwell Place, the home he built and the location of his attempted murder by his son, is now the official residence of UK’s president.

November 21, 1861, Kentucky Confederate Governor G. Johnson wrote Confederate President J. Davis to request Kentucky’s admission to the Confederacy eight months after the war started.  Though Davis had reservations about the circumvention of the elected General Assembly in forming the Confederate government, he concluded that Johnson’s request had merit.  Davis officially admitted the Commonwealth less than a month later.

November 21, 1891, Deputy Sheriff John W. Altrip, Knott County Sheriff’s Department, died trying to take a pistol away from a man at a corn-husking party near Hindman.  Just before their trial started in June 1892, someone attempted to burn down the county courthouse to destroy the case records.

Localtonians wish a Happy Anniversary to Governor John Crepps Wickliffe Beckham, who wed Jean Raphael Fuqua in 1900.  Prominent Kentuckians coveted the invitation of the year to watch the new 35^th governor, at age 31, marry his 21-year-old bride in the First Presbyterian Church of Owensboro.

At noon, on November 21, 1923, Louisville became a U.S. Army Airway Station after the first plane landed in Bowman Field.  Planes began arriving each Wednesday and Friday carrying army mail, passengers, and VIPs.  The service was the forerunner of a commercial system for all U.S. mail and regular airline passengers.

November 21, 1950, Army PVT Earnest A. Taylor from Jefferson County died fighting in the Korean War.

On November 21, 1953, Coach Bear Bryant’s last year, the #13-ranked Wildcats defeated Tennessee 27-21 in Lexington.  The Bear finally beat the Vols. It had been 18 years, but the Beer Barrel came back to the Commonwealth.

November Saturday, 21, 1959, Blanton Collier’s Wildcats shut out the #20 Volunteers 21-0 in Lexington for the 3^rd win in a row over the Vols.  Standing on Stoll Field, Governor Chandler told the ecstatic crowd that state offices would be closed on Monday due to the win, UK officials told students they had to attend classes.  On Monday, UK students marched downtown, started a bonfire in the middle of Main Street, returned to campus, and continued their demonstrations till Tuesday.  Finally, UK told professors they didn’t have to take roll on Wednesday.  The “day-off tradition” after beating Tennessee had ended but not without a grand finale.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Paducah native Steven Curtis Chapman, born in 1962, a contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, five-time Grammy winner, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.  He and his wife started a charity organization called Show Hope (formerly called Shaohannah’s Hope), which mobilizes individuals and communities to care for orphans through its international orphan care work and offer adoption grants to help put orphans in families.  In 2009, Show Hope finished building Maria’s Big House of Hope, a medical center in China that provides care to orphans with special needs.

November 21, 1966, Army PFC Charles L. Hicks from Hazard died fighting in the Vietnam War.

November 21, 1972, Muhammad Ali (40-1) fought Bob Foster (49-5) in Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Stateline, Nevada.  Ali was more than 40 lbs. heavier than his opponent, who was really a light heavyweight.  This fight took place in a nightclub where fans sat around dinner tables.  Ali toyed with Foster until the 5^th round, the one in which he had predicted victory.  Foster survived four knockdowns and opened up the 1^st cut on Ali in the ring.  But Ali knocked down Foster two more times before getting an 8^th round stoppage.

On November 21, 1977, Lakeville (Magoffin County) native Larry Flint, 41, stated he had seen the light and would turn his girlie magazine away from nudity and sex and towards religion due to President Carter’s faith-healing sister.  Flynt said, “We won’t discriminate against women and will deal with different topics.  We’ve got to remember that Hustler isn’t a cause, only a symptom.  The 15 million readers really need help.”

November 21, 1981, in his final game as Kentucky’s coach, Fran Curci led the Wildcats to a 21–10 victory over Tennessee in Lexington.  Meanwhile, in Louisville, the unranked Cardinals beat the #9 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.

November 21, 1984, Governor Martha Layne Collins, America’s only female governor at the time, underwent emergency surgery in London to remove a sliver of glass lodged in her small intestine.  Collins visited England to study acid rain concerns with three other governors.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Amanda Ashlee Mertz, born in 1986.

November 21, 1987, the 4^th Breeders’ Cup returned to the site of its inaugural running, Hollywood Park.  In one of the most exciting Classics ever run, the winners of the past two Kentucky Derbys, Ferdinand and Alysheba, battled to the wire for the world’s richest horse race.  Judge Angelucci, named for long-serving Fayette County Judge, set the pace.  They also raced for Horse of the Year honors.

November 21, 1988, the UK Women’s Cross Country Team won the National Championship, their 1^st and only championship to date.

November 21, 1997, German photographer Peter Thomann received $35,000 from the Kentucky Horse Park so the popular tourist attraction could continue to use the same emblem it had used for years.  Thomann’s 1963 photo seemed remarkably similar to the park’s famous logo, and the two had been in negotiations for years.

November 21, 1998, Hal Mumme’s Cats lost to Tennessee 21-59 in Knoxville.  Six days before the game, tragedy hit as two of Kentucky’s players died in an alcohol-related car crash in Somerset.  Kentucky’s Athletic Director, Charles Newton, decided that the traditional beer barrel awarded to the winner was not appropriate considering the circumstances.  The two teams canceled the ceremony, and both schools later agreed to end the 72-year tradition permanently.

November 21, 2003, Army CPL Gary B. Coleman, 24, of Pikeville died in Iraq fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

November 21, 2009, Fort Knox native Randolph Bresnik performed his 1^st spacewalk as a Mission Specialist on the STS-129, an Atlantis shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS).  He spent six hours and eight minutes outside of the ISS installing a piece of equipment called the Grappling Adapter to On-Orbit Railing (GATOR).

November 21, 2015, President Barry Obama pardoned Loretto native Les Berry Jr., restoring his rights to vote and carry a firearm.  He gave no reason for granting the pardon.

November 21, 2016, the Fayette County School Board voted to name Lexington’s newest High School Frederick Douglass.  The name honors the abolitionist and the segregated high school that closed in 1963 in Lexington.  The old school served black Fayette County children living outside the city limits during the segregation era.  Although the high school closed in 1963, an elementary school stayed on sight till 1971.  The new school cost $81.4 million.

November 21, 2017, Governor M. Bevin called for the immediate resignation of any Kentucky legislator who settled a private sexual harassment settlement earlier in the year.

November 21, 2019, friends of Governor-elect A. Beshear formed a finance committee that hoped to raise between $600,000 and $700,000 for the December 10 inauguration.  The contributors were made public on January 8, 2020. 

November 21, 2020, Danville’s Christian Academy and AG D. Cameron sued Governor A. Beshear, claiming that his order closing Kentucky’s schools, including private institution schools, violated the 1^st Amendment.  Meanwhile, the FDA granted emergency authorization of Regeneron, the potent cocktail that President D. Trump received when he tested positive for coronavirus.

November 21, 2021, the corporate news and their bosses continued to divide the nation by phrasing headlines to pit individuals comfortable with natural immunity against those who favor the vaccine.  Meanwhile, pharmaceutical and insurance corporations paid their lobbyists to crush any chance of capping prescription drug prices as Washington legislators discussed the idea.

November 21, 2022, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, a 37-year-old executive, announced his bid for governor through the GOP pipeline by telling 300 supporters Kentucky needed a CEO.  Kentucky was one of three states to elect a governor in 2023.  Daniel Cameron, Kelly Craft, Ryan Quarles, Savannah Maddox, Mie Harmon, Eric Deters, David Cooper, Robert Devore, Robbie Smith, Johnny Rice, and Anthony Rice all tried to beat the sitting governor.

On November 21, 2023, Louisville Police concluded their investigation into the bank mass shooting on April 10.  Five people died, plus the shooter by police.  Some of the findings:  He bought the AR-15 and 120 rounds on April 4.  He shot 40 rounds.  Only one of the 13 people attacked in the conference room escaped unhurt.  It took eight minutes from the first death to the shooter’s demise.  The killer had planned the massacre while in therapy for mental health issues.