TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to the Louisville native and poet Madison Julius Cawein, born in 1865. In 1913, a year before his death, Cawein published a poem called “Waste Land” in a Chicago magazine, which included Ezra Pound as an editor. Scholars have identified this poem as an inspiration to T. S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land, published in 1922 and considered the birth of modernism in poetry.

Kentucky County Map 1265x628 2 — ^{Kentucky Counties}

March 23, 1906, the General Assembly established the Kentucky State Racing Commission. This governor-appointed group was to regulate all thoroughbred racing in the state. They also licensed corporations, trainers, jockeys, and other track personnel wanting to participate in track meets. It also gave the power to revoke such licenses.

March 23, 1920, the General Assembly granted scholarships at the Kentucky State University and the State Normal Schools to all citizens of this state who were engaged in the military or naval service during the war with Germany.

On March 23, 1930, UK named a Freeport, Illinois high school coach Adolph Rupp as its head basketball coach from 71 applicants. The school paid him $2,800 for his 1^st season and $3,000 for his second.

March 23, 1948, more than 100 female protesters took their position in front of the General Electric Co. lamp plant in Lexington to participate in a strike for the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers Union.

March 23, 1948, Adolph Rupp’s Fabulous Five won UK’s 1^st NCAA Basketball Championship. The Wildcats defeated Baylor University 58-42 in New York City. Eight teams participated in the tournament, and Wildcat Alex Groza won the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. When the team returned to Lexington, 15,000 fans greeted them, and threw a parade.

March 23, 1950, All the King’s Men, based on Guthrie native Robert Penn Warren’s 1947 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, won the Academy Award. Todd County surrounds Guthrie on the TN border.

March 23, 1951, Army PFC Joseph E. Whiteside from Jefferson County died in the Korean War.

March 23, 1952, Marine Corps PFC James C. Carney from Convington in Kenton County died in the Korean War.

March 23, 1953, Army CPL James O. Charles from Pike County and Army CPL Charles J. Garnett from Bourbon County died in the Korean War.

March 23, 1966, Navy LCDR John B. Tapp from Harrodsburg died in the Vietnam War.

March 23, 1969, Army SP4 Robert A. Osborne from Jonesville in Grant County died in the Vietnam War.

March 23, 1972, Governor W. Ford signed the Wild Rivers Act. The Act conserved the unique scenic, wildlife, botanical, geological, cultural, and recreational values of the state’s most pristine rivers. The Act included the Cumberland River – Red River – Green River – Rockcastle River – Big South Fork of the Cumberland River – Little South Fork of the Cumberland River – Rock Creek – Bad Branch, and Martin’s Fork.

Kentucky Trivia: Kentucky has more miles of running water than any other state except Alaska. The numerous rivers provide over 1,100 commercially navigable miles (1,770 kilometers).

10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 1974, AUCTION: Of Memorabilia From The Most Orderly of Disorderly Houses. TERMS: (As Belle would say) are Cash; and inspection is at time of sale. A Lexington auctioneer held the auction. “It’s a spooky old house and we have nothing to sell but nostalgia. Madam Belle Brezing by Buddy Thompson; pg: 178

March 23, 1983, Millersburg native Blanton Collier, a former UK football coach whose career began at Paris High School and ended with the Cleveland Browns, including an NFL championship, passed over in Texas, his retirement home. He is laid to rest next to his wife in Paris, Bourbon County.