February 6, 1819, Kentucky created Owen County from Scott County, Franklin County, Gallatin County, and Pendleton County and named it in honor of Abraham Owen, killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe. The county seat is Owenton. Other cities and towns include Gratz, Monterey, Hesler, Long Ridge, Lusby’s Mill, New Columbus, New Liberty, Perry Park, Pleasant Home, Squiresville, and Wheatley. The 63rd county created, Owen County, covers 354 square miles.
By David Benbennick
February 6, 1850, Henry Clay gave his iconic 1850 Compromise speech on the Senate floor two years before he retired. “ Mr. President, what is a compromise ? It is a work of mutual concession – an agreement in which there are reciprocal stipulations – a work in which, for the sake of peace and concord, one party abates his extreme demands in consideration of an abatement of extreme demands by the other party: it is a measure of mutual concession – a measure of mutual sacrifice.
February 6, 1866, while living with another of Henry Clay’s sons, Aaron Dupuy, 78, passed. The Clay family slave came from Hanover, VA. The first documentation came in 1799 when Henry, 22, leased Aaron, 11. for 10 pounds. He later served as Henry’s personal valet and coach driver. Although married with two children, Aaron died enslave.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Covington native Haven Gillespie , born in 1888. Gillespie scored his most enduring hit with Santa Claus Is Coming to Town , written with composer J. Fred Coots in a 15-minute New York subway ride. The song debuted on Eddie Cantor’s Thanksgiving radio special at the insistence of Cantor’s wife, Ida. Within weeks, the sheet music sold more than 25,000 copies daily.
On February 6, 1903, the Wildcats played their 1st basketball game as the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Kentucky against Georgetown College . At halftime, Georgetown led 7-1, and they went on to win 15-6. Kentucky’s State College Gymnasium hosted.
February 6, 1904, Policeman John Burns, Middlesboro Police Department, died in the Princess Theater’s gallery by an ex-convict . The suspect produced a pistol and opened fire when Policeman Burns threatened to arrest him for vagrancy, killing him and an innocent bystander. The state acquitted the suspect in 1905 with a self-defense claim.
February 6, 1908, former County Judge James Hargis, a prominent figure in the feuds that disrupted Breathitt County for years, died instantly in his general store when his son Beach Hargis shot him . The state accused the judge of complicity in many great murders. Judge Hargis died as a result of the Hargis-Marcum-Cox-Callahan Feud.
On February 6, 1909, Central University (Centre) hosted and defeated State University, Lexington (UK) 35-20 in the Danville Rink . State played three times in the Rink, all in 1909, in UK’s 7th season, and lost all three contests.
February 6, 1914, Coroner Lyle G. Mathews, Taylor County Coroner’s Office , died as he, the deputy coroner, and county jailer evicted two brothers from a farm that had recently sold to pay off a debt. The brothers told the officers they would be shot if they came onto the farm. The officers ignored the threat.
Friday, February 6, 1925, new hope arose for Floyd Collins, who spent a seventh morning trapped in Sand Cave in Cave City; when rescuers heard radio chatter, the general public felt he had passed. Alma Clark also told the press that she and Floyd planned to elope on this day. President Coolidge followed the rescue closely, along with the nation.
Wednesday, February 6, 1935, Lt. Governor Happy Chandler, leader of the anti-administration wing of the Democratic Party, called a special session while Governor R. Laffoon visited Washington, D.C. Laffoon rushed back to the state, arriving in Ashland on February 7, and immediately issued a proclamation revoking Chandler’s call. Chandler wanted the legislators to select nominees for all state offices. Chandler’s followers met on Friday but lacked a quorum to do business. A week later, a Judge ruled Laffoon couldn’t stop the special session.
Governor E. Clements declared February 6-12, 1948, Boy Scout Week . In addition, he made a 2nd proclamation: February 6: the golden anniversary of the Fraternal Oder of the Eagles.
February 6, 1951, Army SGT Marion H. Todd from Christian County died in the Korean War.
February 6, 1967, Army PFC Chester P. Simpson from Jamestown in Russell County died in the Vietnam War.
February 6, 1967, Muhammad Ali (28-0) fought Ernie Terrell (39-4) in the Houston Astrodome. Before a record indoor fight crowd of 37,212, Terrell, who held the World Boxing Association belt, insisted on calling Ali by his old name, Cassius Clay. Big mistake, Ali broke a bone under Terrell’s left eye early on and damaged his retina. By the middle rounds, Terrell flinched every time Ali drew back his fist. Ali carried him through all 15 rounds, taunting him with every punch by saying, “What’s my name, Uncle Tom? What’s my name?” Sportswriter Tex Maule described the fight as “a wonderful demonstration of boxing skill and a barbarous display of cruelty.”
February 6, 1968, Navy PO3 Fred L. Sayler from Louisville died in the Vietnam War.
February 6, 1970, Army SP4 Darrell J. Smith from Pikeville died in the Vietnam War.
February 6, 1971, Mississippi scored more points in Memorial Coliseum than any other opponent when they defeated the Cats 121-85.
February 6, 1973, the National Register of Historic Places placed Lexington’s Loudon House on its list.
By Lester Jones
February 6, 2000, House Floor Leader Greg Stumbo proposed a bill that would place nickel and dime deposits on a variety of containers and would tax fast food cups and containers . The powerful bottle industry spent millions to stop this law and similar other bills.
February 6, 2005, Louisville Cardinal Dion Branch (WR) won the Super Bowl (SB) MVP Award after tying former Jerry Rice and former Bengals tight end Dan Ross for the SB reception record with 11 catches for 133 yards. He was the first receiver to win the award since 1989, when Jerry Rice had his 11-catch game. Dion is the only Cardinal to win an SB MVP. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21 in Jacksonville.
Saturday, February 6, 2010, the Louisville Zoo’s 20-year-old Western Lowland Gorilla Mia Moja gave birth to her 2nd baby . The female, Misha, was the 2nd gorilla ever born in the Zoo’s 41-year history.
February 6, 2011, Louisville Cardinal Jason Spitz won a Super Bowl ring when the Packers defeated the Steelers 31-25 in Cowboys Stadium. Spitz started center all four years at Louisville, where he was a first-team All-Big East.
On February 6, 2016, candidate Donald Trump told the Bush family something Americans had wanted to say for a long time. During a primary debate, he politely told Jeb to “shush” and, “Let me talk, quiet.” Some pundits say it won the conman the nominee, regardless, Jeb dropped out soon afterward.
Major flooding inundated Southeast Kentucky from February 6–7, 2020, as the result of an extremely heavy rain event. Twenty one counties in Eastern Kentucky sustained flood damage, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency on February 8, for Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry and Whitley Counties.
February 6, 2022, a top Biden aide acknowledged that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come any day . Meanwhile, a few elite U.S. troops landed in Poland with equipment on Ukraine’s southern border. America continued its addiction to war. Russia “invaded” 18 days later.
