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TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY
Kentucky Trivia

March 28, 1777, Shawnee Chief Blackfish attacked Fort Boonesborough again, killing two men.  Blackfish kept his forces around the fort to harass the settlers until at least May 6.

March 28, 1795, one of the last recorded skirmishes between Native Americans and colonists in Kentucky occurred at the salt works and Cherokee burial grounds on Goose Creek in Clay County.

On March 28, 1861, Cassius M. Clay declined President Lincoln’s appointment as Minister to Spain; however, Abe persuaded him to accept the post of Minister to Russia.

March 28, 1871, the 1st execution in Louisville in three years, occurred when Thomas Smith (colored) hanged in front of 7,000 people for killing a white male.  He prayed incoherently and begged for a little more time before he died.  The body stayed in view for 20 minutes.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Lexington native Mary LeGrand Didlake, born in 1878.  UK’s 1st female valedictorian in 1895, worked in the Department of Entomology from 1891 until her retirement in 1957.

On March 28, 1928, Charles Lindbergh landed in the original Lexington airport near the Meadowthorpe neighborhood.  When the public discovered the secret that he had visited a friend, 3,000 people showed up to watch him take off the next day.

March 28, 1934, Lexington native Marion Miley came close but lost the Augusta Invitational Golf Tournament in Georgia while 2,000 fans followed the players.

March 28, 1949, Woodvale Farm’s lightly regarded Halt came from far back to nip Johns Joy at the wire to win the $20,000-added Blue Grass Stakes.  Halt, trained by Kentuckian Woody Stephens, placed 5th in the Kentucky Derby ten days later.

March 28, 1950, WHAS aired T-Bar-V Ranch Time for the 1st time.  Randy Atcher, the beloved singing cowboy, entertained children on television for two decades.

March 28, 1953, Army PFC Clyde Branham from Pike County died in the Korean War.

March 28, 1962, Muhammad Ali (12-0) fought Don Warner (12-6-2) in Miami Beach Convention Hall. Warner was a two-handed puncher who had a good record of wins inside the distance. “He was a tough left hooker from Philadelphia,” said Dundee, Ali’s trainer. Clay said Warner, 22, would go down in the 5th round. But Ali sent a bloodied Warner through the ropes in Round 4. Clay asked why he had taken Warner in the 4th when he had predicted the 5th because Warner neglected to shake hands at the weigh-in.

March 28, 1967, Marine Corps LCPL Larry C. Dye from Bowling Green died in the Vietnam War.

March 28, 1968, Army PFC Douglas F. Loudenback from Ashland died in the Vietnam War.

March 28, 1969, Army 1LT Alvin C. Schulte from Louisville died in the Vietnam War.

March 28, 1970, Army PFC Darrell Smith from Manchester in Clay County died in the Vietnam War.

On March 28, 1974, the Senate passed, and later President Nixon signed, a .25-cent hike in the minimum wage to $2.00 an hour.  One sitting congressman said it was three years too late.

Tuesday, March 28, 1978, click to see 7,000 Kentucky basketball fans packed into the Blue Grass Airport terminal to welcome home the Wildcats after they had won the 1978 NCAA National Championship in St. Louis’s Checker Dome Monday night.

March 28, 1979, the U.S. Register of Historic Places accepted the Dinsmore Homestead.  In 1839, James Dinsmore purchased approximately 700 acres in Boone County, growing grapes, raising sheep, and growing willows for a basket-making business.  Construction ended in 1842.  The Dinsmore family’s connections reached people like George Washington, James Bowie, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, Benjamin F. Goodrich, Henry Cabot Lodge, John Jacob Astor IV, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

March 28, 1980, the Kentucky Senate overwhelmingly passed House Bill 141, placing stricter penalties for the possession and sale of marijuana.  Among other details, they made eight ounces or less a misdemeanor.

On March 28, 1986, Rupp Arena hosted the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament.  The Final Four contenders included Texas, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and USC.  Texas came out on top on March 30.  This would be WKU’s 2nd Final Four appearance.

On March 28, 2007, Pulaski County native Jack Daws intentionally put his “Counterfeit Penny Sculpture,” made of gold, in circulation at Los Angeles International Airport.  Jessica Reed, a graphic designer and coin collector, discovered it in Brooklyn 2.5 years later by.  “Most counterfeiting takes something that is nearly worthless and turns it into something perceived to have value.  Mr. Daws did just the opposite.  He took value and turned it into one cent.”

On March 28, 2018, President Trump went to the EPA with coal miners and signed an executive order to roll back President Obama’s Clean Power Plan that cut carbon emissions from power plants.  Unfortunately, the order did little to help the fledgling industry.

On March 28, 2019, as Ivanka Trump toured the Georgetown Toyota plant with Governor M. Bevin, Frankfort lawmakers pushed through a batch of new corporate tax breaks on their last day of work.

March 28, 2021, the General Assembly continued to pass bills limiting Governor A. Beshear’s power, the governor continued to veto them, and the Assembly continued to override his vetoes.  The bills targeted his alleged “abuse of emergency powers,” however, many said the powers went far beyond the pandemic.

On March 28, 2022, Ukraine’s President Zelensky declared its neutrality, wanted to compromise contested areas, and have a face-to-face meeting with President Putin to end the war.  Unfortunately, America would not have it, gave Zelensky billions and continued to push its proxy war.  Over 70,000 Ukrainians have died, so American soldiers don’t have to.

On March 28, 2023, sports gambling came to a head in Frankfort, and Matt Jones kept a close eye.  He tweeted, “I am told the Sports Gambling Bill is literally down to one vote.”  In another tweet, “For people asking me, I think if the Sports Gambling Bill passes, it won’t actually be available to the public until January 1, 2024.  Down to one person’s decision.”

Kentucky Headlines

March 28, 1924

Boone Family To Have Reunion In Lexington

Shriners Circus To Be Annual Event After Successful 1924 Run

March 28, 1974

President Nixon Will Sign Wage Bill; Raises Minimum age to $2 per Hour from $1.75

Coal Firms To Boost Production

March 28, 1999

Government To Take Over Coal-Dust Testing After Private Sector Cheats

President Clinton Continues To Bomb Yugoslavia

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