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TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets

March 28, 1775, a proclamation for the arrest of Richard Henderson and his Transylvania associates was issued by Virginia’s governor, emphasizing the danger resulting from Henderson’s enterprise if not stopped.

March 28, 1777, Shawnee Chief Blackfish attacks 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 among Native Americans and colonists in Kentucky occurred at the salt works and Cherokee burial grounds on Goose Creek in Clay County.

March 28, 1871, the first execution in Louisville in three years, took place 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.  Ms. Didlake was the UK’s first female valedictorian in 1895.  She worked in the Department of Entomology 1891 until her retirement in 1957.

March 28, 1923, Deputy Sheriff Kelly Walker, Leslie County Sheriff’s Office, died as he and other prohibitions officers served warrants at a home to search for illegal stills.  As the officers approached, the suspects opened fire, killing Deputy Walker.  Over 70 bullets fired by the deputies hit the suspect’s house.  Miraculously seven children who were in the home were not injured.

March 28, 1928, Charles Lindbergh landed in a Lexington airport near what is now Meadowthorpe neighborhood.  When the secret got out that he was visiting 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, T-Bar-V Ranch Time showed for the first time on WHAS.  Randy Atcher was the beloved singing cowboy who entertained children on television for two decades.

March 28, 1951, UK basketball players were surrounded by 1,500 rain-soaked fans and the UK band on their return to Blue Grass Field after winning the NCAA title.  The Cats beat Kansas State 68-58 the day before in Minneapolis, claiming their third basketball title in four years.

March 28, 1951, Army PFC Damon W. Hickerson from Taylor County died in the Korean War.

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 fifth round.  But he sent a bloodied Warner through the ropes in Round 4.  Asked why he had taken Warner in the fourth when he had predicted the fifth, Clay said he had to deduct around 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.

March 28, 1978, about 7,000 Kentucky basketball fans packed into the terminal of Blue Grass Airport to welcome the Wildcats home after winning the 1978 NCAA National Championship in St. Louis a few hours earlier.

March 28, 1979, the Dinsmore Homestead was placed on the U.S. Register of Historic Places.  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 reach 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 tougher penalties for possession and sale of marijuana.  Among other details, they made eight ounces the maximum amount that can be possessed and still be a misdemeanor.

March 28, 1986, Rupp Arena hosted the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament.  The final four contenders were Texas, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and USC.  Texas came out on top on March 30.  This was WKU’s 2nd final four appearance.

March 28, 1987, Clay County defeated Ballard for the State High School Basketball Championship in Rupp Arena 76-73.  Ritchie Farmer had a game high 27 points for the 19,000 fans who attended. 

Sweet 16 Trivia:  Richie Farmer holds the record for most points scored in the Sweet 16 Tournaments with 317 and the most tournaments played with five.

March 28, 1992, Hopkinsville’s University Heights defeated Lexington Catholic 59-57 at Freedom Hall in Louisville for the State High School Sweet 16 Boys’ Basketball Championship.

March 28, 1992, Kentucky lost in overtime, in one of the most famous college basketball games ever played.  The next day, President Bush asked the press corps on his morning walk if they had caught the end of the game the night before.  Basketball fans across the globe were asking the same question.  Harlan native Cawood Ledford provided the play-by-play call for UK for the last time.

March 28, 2002, a former Kentucky bridge inspector, Kevin L. Earls, accused of soliciting bribes from companies painting the Kennedy Bridge, pleaded guilty to violating a federal anti-corruption statute.

Kentucky Trivia: Kentucky boasts 12 restored working covered bridges.

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.  It was discovered in Brooklyn 2.5 years later by Jessica Reed, a graphic designer, and coin collector.  “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.”  Jack is a Seattle-based American artist who works with assisted readymades, mixed media sculpture, and photography.  His work addresses a range of socio-political and cultural issues.

March 28, 2015, Tyrone Booker, Jr., was shot in the back and died on the streets of Louisville.  In 2014, Tyrone and three others received a $1.5 million settlement from the city after the “Misidentified 4” lawsuit.     

March 28, 2020, nine go to post in the GI $750,000 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park with the goal of collecting Kentucky Derby points.

March 28, 2020, Kentucky announced 92 positive coronavirus cases, bringing the statewide total to 394.  The day incurred one death for a total of nine, all being persons over 60.

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