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.

March 23, 1906, the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act establishing 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 power to revoke such licenses.

March 23, 1920, the General Assembly approved an act “granting scholarships at the Kentucky State University and the State Normal Schools to all persons who were engaged in the military or naval service during the war with Germany, and who were citizens of this State at the time of their enlistment.”

March 23, 1930, a Freeport, Illinois high school coach named Adolph Rupp is named head basketball coach at UK from 71 applicants. He is paid $2,800 for his first season, $3,000 for his second.

March 23, 1948, Adolph Rupp coached the Fabulous Five to win UK’s first NCAA Basketball Championship. The Wildcats beat Baylor University 58-42 in New York City. Eight teams participated in the tournament, and Wildcat Alex Groza was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. When the team returned to Lexington they were greeted by 15,000 fans and given a parade on a fire truck.

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, 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 Wendell Ford signed the Wild Rivers Act. The Act conserves the unique scenic, wildlife, botanical, geological, cultural, and recreational values of the state’s most pristine rivers. The rivers included are: The Cumberland River – The Red River – The Green River – The Rockcastle River – The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River – The Little South Fork of the Cumberland River – Rock Creek – Bad Branch – 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. Thompson & Riley held an auction after Belle Brezing’s famous house of ill repute burned down. Belle died in 1940 and the home had seen many changes over the years.
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, died.