Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets

May 21, 1861, Bourbon County native Thomas Corwin became the U.S. Minister to Mexico, one of many positions in an illustrious career.

May 21, 1862, Newport native William H. Horsfall earned the Medal of Honor for saving the life of a wounded officer during the Siege of Corinth in Mississippi.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Shelbyville native and 38^th governor (1915-19) Augustus Owsley Stanley, born in 1867.  U.S. Congressman Stanley drove the U.S. Supreme Court to break up the American Tobacco Company’s monopoly in 1911.  Next, he tackled the steel monopolies, gaining national fame.

Tuesday, May 21, 1878, around 6,000 people watched Day Star win the 4^th Kentucky Derby against eight rivals going 1 ½ mile in 2:37 ¼, on a dusty track, to set a Derby record.  The winning connections included owner Thomas J. Nichols from Bourbon County, trainer Lee Paul and jockey Jimmy Carter to win $2,970.  John Clay, the son of statesman Henry Clay, bred Day Star.

May 21, 1897, Deputy Sheriff Joseph Patterson, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, died after arresting a man wanted as a witness during the current term of the circuit court.

May 21, 1900, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in favor of Governor Beckham, ending Kentucky’s greatest controversy.  Governor Beckham would later win a special election held the following November.  That Kentucky Campaign: Or, The Law, the Ballot and the People in the Goebel-Taylor Contest by R.E. Hughes, F.W. Schaefer and E.L. Williams

May 21, 1906, Special Deputy Sheriff Ward Pentz, Jessamine County Sheriff’s Department, died from an accidental gunshot when he dropped his revolver inside his buggy and it discharged, striking him in the stomach.

May 21, 1914, the gelding Holiday won the 39^th Preakness Stakes.  Six entered the 1 1/8 mile contest for the $1,500 purse.  The Derby ran 11 days earlier.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Paducah native Clarence Edward “Big House” Gaines Sr., born in 1923.

May 21, 1927, Deputy Sheriff Moss J. Metcalf, Harlan County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot while attempting to break up a disturbance in front of a store near the Wilson-Berger Mine.

May 21, 1966, Muhammad Ali (24-0) fought Henry Cooper (33-11-1) in the Arsenal Football Stadium, London.  After the controversial first fight, the 2^nd was for the world title, but it was fairly anticlimactic.  Cooper, who suffered from even minor cuts, succumbed again to his weakness, and a nasty cut over his left eye stopped the fight after six rounds.

May 21, 1967, Army SP5 William P. Centers Jr. from Lexington died in the Vietnam War.

May 21, 1969, Army PFC Harry D. Ashcroft from Richmond and Army SGT Clarence Sizemore from Manchester in Clay County died in the Vietnam War.

May 21, 1971, Army SP5 Billy J. Jones from Tateville in Pulaski County died in the Vietnam War.

May 21, 1977, watch the 102^nd Preakness Stakes.

May 21, 1992, H. Ross Perot, an undeclared, independent candidate for U.S. President, stumped in Frankfort days before Kentucky’s primary.

May 21, 2000, twenty-two years after winning the Triple Crown and as a retired jockey, Steve Cauthen rode in a High Hope Steeplechase race at the Kentucky Horse Park.  His daughter wanted to see him ride for the 1^st time.

May 21, 2002, Kentucky received failing grades for dealing with mentally disabled citizens.  We had the highest per person cost of an eight-state region.  The population also had a higher risk of abuse.  Meanwhile, three Louisville families accused a Lexington Catholic priest of sexual abuse while he worked in Louisville.

May 21, 2004, the state fired/retired/resigned 23 transportation employees for using state computers to look at pornography.

May 21, 2006, Barbaro underwent surgery on his rind right leg in Pennsylvania one day after the Preakness.  Dr. Richardson, the chief surgeon, gave the operation a 50-50 chance of success.  Barbaro died eight months and eight days later.

May 21, 2007, days before the Memorial Day weekend, state officials put on a tour of Lake Cumberland for reporters aboard a luxury houseboat that showcased abundant waters and refurbished boat ramps.  The state worried the public would stay away after the U.S. Corps of Engineers lowered water levels due to a leak in Wolfe Creek Dam.

On May 21, 2008, gas in Kentucky reached $4.00 a gallon.  In June 1979, gas cost $1 per gallon, and in May 2004, $2.00.  Meanwhile, UK students showed off their solar car they entered in the American Solar Challenge race.

May 21, 2013, Rhonda Monroe, Richie Farmer’s sister, resigned as an assistant executive director of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.  The state placed her on paid leave on March 19, a day after she and her brother received multiple ethics violations.

On May 21, 2014, the U.S. Census released information on U.S. city populations.  Louisville reported 612,780 locals, an increase of 15,515 since 2010; however, they dropped two spots to become the 30^th largest city.  Lexington’s population was 310,797, 15,000 more than the 2010 census.  Lexington jumped one place and became the 61^st largest U.S. city.  Blowing Green, the Commonwealth’s 3^rd largest city continued to grow with a 6.1% increase to 62,479.

May 21, 2015, Richmond’s emergency management director resigned because one of his employees stole 341,757 from the department.  Tamara Phelps, 55, received 32 months in prison the following year.

On May 21, 2019, AG Andy Beshear and Governor M. Bevin won their primaries, laying the groundwork for a bitter battle in the November general election, which had been festering for years.  The two rivals who had sniped at each other from their 1^st-floor offices in the Capitol settled their differences on election day.

May 21, 2021, Fayette County officials recommended 523 students from elementary to high school repeat their grade due to virus restrictions.  Meanwhile, Kentucky and California clashed over a Kentucky LGBTQ law.

Sunday, May 22, 2022, in a country music showdown Noah Thompson won the 20^th season of American Idol.  The soft-spoken 22-year-old unassuming construction worker from Louisa sang Stay by Rihanna as his finale song.