TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

May 16, 2023May 16, 2023

Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets

May 16, 1799, John Bradford, the Kentucky Gazette proprietor, announced that he would take payment for subscriptions: “corn, wheat, country made linen, linsey, sugar, whiskey, ash flooring and cured hams.” The Squire’s Sketches of Lexington by J. Winston Coleman, Jr.; pg: 24

On May 16, 1825, during the construction of the Grand Masonic Hall, General Lafayette, the last surviving major-general of the Revolutionary War, visited Lexington. Lafayette, the namesake of Fayette County and a member of the Order, was royally entertained with supper and ball in the partially-completed building on West Main Street. He stayed the night in Major John Keene’s mansion to complete his brief stay.

May 16, 1861, Kentucky declared Civil War neutrality through a resolution passed by the Kentucky Legislature (69-29), the only state to do so.

Tuesday, May 16, 1882, Apollo won the 8^th Kentucky Derby over 13 other starters, the largest field to date. An unnamed colt ran in the Derby, so he ran with his sire’s name, Pat Malloy. Green B. Morris trained, and B. Hurd guided Apollo home in 2:40 1/4 over a good track. The winning owners, Green B. Morris and James D. Patton received $4,560 for winning the 1 ½ mile test.

Friday, May 16, 1884, Buchanan won the 10^th Kentucky Derby. Nine went to post on a “good” track, finishing the mile and half in 2:40 1/4, including Bob Miles, who beat the flag and jumped into a two-length lead at the start. Isaac Burns Murphy won his 1^st of three Derbies on his 4^th try. Owners Samuel S. Brown and William Cottrill hired trainer William Bird to complete the winning connections who earned $3,990.

Kentucky Trivia: Samuel S. Brown owned Senorita Stock Farm near Lexington. Named for his favorite mare, the breeding farm’s land is today occupied by the Kentucky Horse Park. He also invested in the Kentucky Association horse racetrack in Lexington. From a wealthy family, he inherited coal mining operations founded by his father. He would grow and expand the business, operating six coal mines supported by a fleet of barges and a controlling interest in a railroad.

May 16, 1916, Chief of Police Edward H. Powell, Jefferson County Police Department, died by gunshot by the former police chief during an argument about an officer.

May 16, 1925, Flying Ebony won the 51^st Kentucky Derby in 2:07 3/5, over a sloppy track in the 1^st live broadcast by WHAS and also WGN in Chicago. Jockey Earl Sande won his 2^nd of three Derbies. Owner Gifford A. Cochran and trainer William B. Duke won their only one. The duo also won their only Preakness, which ran two weeks earlier, with another horse, Coventry.

Kentucky Trivia: Bill Corum 1^stcoined Run for the Roses at the 1925 Kentucky Derby. He succeeded Matt Winn as President of Churchill Downs for nine years.

May 16, 1929, Policeman Alonzo “Lon” Robinson, Pikeville Police Department, died by gunshot as he and a U.S. Deputy Marshal attempted to serve a search warrant on a man for possessing liquor at his home in the Happy Hollow area.

May 16, 1931, Chief of Police Thomas D. Martin, Stanford Police Department, died by a gunshot while he assisted the Lincoln County Sheriff while serving an arrest warrant in Logantown. The man named on the warrant was charged with stealing chickens from a farmer in Garrard County.

May 16, 1931, Twenty Grand won the 57^th Kentucky Derby for Mrs. Payne Whitney’s Greentree Stable in a new track record of 2:01 4/5. Trainer James Rowe, Jr. and jockey Charles Kurtsinger completed the winning connections and earned $52,350. Twenty Grand would race as a seven year old.

May 16, 1946, Police Officer Fred Pack, Louisa Police Department, died by a gunshot by the Police Chief as the result of a disagreement over an arrest.

May 16, 1951, Army PVT Archie J. Bowling from Hardin County died in the Korean War.

May 16, 1956, MGM announced that Clifford Montgomery’s car wreck would delay the filming of Raintree County in Danville by weeks. The actor who stared with Elizabeth Taylor received injuries from a car wreck that took place in Hollywood.

May 16, 1968, Marine Corps CPL Charles R. Hendrix and Army PFC Henry J. Kirchner, both of Louisville died in the Vietnam War.

May 16, 1970, Army SGT David B. Magruder from Utica in Daviess County died in the Vietnam War.

May 16, 1970, Personality won the 95^th Preakness Stakes by a neck. The Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 42,474. This was one of the highest attended races in 1970. Mrs. Ethel D. Jacobs, who had two entries, won her 1^st Preakness on her 5^th and last try.

May 16, 1975, Muhammad Ali (47-2) fought Ron Lyle (30-2-1) in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Lyle was a powerful opponent who had learned to box in prison. Ali fell behind early but finished strongly, nailing Lyle with a straight right in the 11^th round, dazing the big challenger. Ali then punished Lyle until the referee stopped the fight.

May 16, 1977, Patrolman Gwendolyn Ann Downs, Louisville Police Department, died by gunshot after she and her partner responded to a call at a parking lot of a fast food restaurant.

May 16, 1980, Elvis Presley’s physician received an indictment on criminal charges of overprescribing drugs for the King, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other patients.

On May 16, 1987, Alysheba won the 112^th Preakness Stakes for his father Alydar to complete two-thirds of the Triple Crown; however, Ferdinand won HOY. The breeders attended the race, including Preston, Anita, and Patrick.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Greenville native and Hollywood actor Miles Heizer, born in 1994.

May 16, 1998, several Kentucky farmers and agriculture organizations filed a lawsuit to force the legalization of industrial hemp as a crop in the U.S.

May 16, 2000, the National Historic Landmarks added the Labrot and Graham’s Old Oscar Pepper Distillery in Versailles.

May 16, 2006, Army SGT Santiago M. Halsel, 32, of Bowling Green, died of injuries from a bomb in Baghdad fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

May 16, 2007, Pikeville native Mark Reynolds made his MLB debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

May 16, 2009, Rachel Alexandra became the 1^st filly to win the Preakness in 85 years and the 1^st to win from the outside position.

On May 16, 2015, UK’s Spindletop Farm planted hemp for the 2^nd year as part of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. Last year’s test plots involved varieties used for fiber production. This year, UK agronomists tried out types of fiber, grains, and cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol, used for food and dietary supplements.

May 16, 2015, the Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky Center held an open house to celebrate its 25^th anniversary of rescuing and nursing injured hawks, owls, falcons, and vultures back to health.

On May 16, 2018, UK officials tried to fire a tenured professor because he made students buy his book, kept all the proceeds, and neglected to tell the administration. The move against the journalism professor, sanctioned in 2016 for inappropriate behavior, is nearly unprecedented in the last 50 years. In 2019, he stopped teaching and sued the University and a student.

On May 16, 2019, Secretary of State Allison Grimes stated that only 12.5% of Kentucky’s 3.4 million registered voters would vote for their party nominees for governor and other state constitutional offices. However, it turned out that 20% of Kentuckians voted, a surprisingly high number.

On May 16, 2020, Governor A. Beshear announced two new deaths in Kentucky, bringing the state’s total to 334. At the time, 58% of the deaths in Kentucky were residents of long-term facilities. The governor also announced the Kentucky State Park Systems would reopen on June 1, including Nationals Parks.

May 16, 2021, Fayette County held all their proms outdoors with masks “highly recommended” but not required. UK’s commencement ceremony included graduates for 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, the CDC announced that any vaccine mandates would come from local jurisdictions.

On May 16, 2022, Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Wayne Cash, Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot in front of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office at 52 Judicial Drive in Benton. The prisoner asked for a smoke break, and the deputies escorted him outside with a 3^rd deputy. While smoking, the prisoner pulled out a concealed handgun.