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TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Dr. Frederick Ridgely, born in 1757.  Frederick became one of the most celebrated of the early physicians of the West.  In 1799 he moved back to Lexington to become the 2nd faculty member of the Medical Department of Transylvania as professor of materia medica, midwifery, and practice of physic, delivering the 1st medical lectures in the West.  In 1794 he built the Ridgely House, the oldest house in Gratz Park.

Localtonians wish a Happy Anniversary to Mercer County native Matthew Harris Jouett and Fayette County native Margaret (Peggy) Henderson Allen, who wed in 1812 in Fayette County.  They met accidentally in a field as she rode a spirited Indian pony bareback as the young Transy student scouted for turkey nest.  They had nine children.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Nicholasville (Jessamine County) native Bennett Henderson Young, born in 1843.  As a lieutenant of the Confederate States Army, he entered Vermont from Canada and occupied the town of St. Albans.

May 25, 1900, Deputy Sheriff Felix Davidson, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained one week earlier while attempting to arrest a man who had been in town with his gun.

Wednesday, May 25, 1904, Morris Park hosted their last Belmont Stakes when Mr. Keene’s homebred, Delhi, took the 38th edition and earned $13,685.  The field of eight went 1 ¼ mile in 2:05 3/5.  They arrived at post four minutes before the 4:00 p.m. start.

May 25, 1910, Milton Oliver, an enemy of the Knight Riders, got shot in the left hip while standing in his Hopkinsville (Christian County) front yard.  Governor A. Willson sent Kentucky State Guards to keep watch over Oliver’s farm and protect the surrounding neighborhood, all part of the Black Patch Tobacco War.  The Kentucky guard’s presence angered local Lyon County residents.

On May 25, 1921, three prisoners, “hardened characters” by description, stole an automobile within the walls of the Frankfort state penitentiary and sped through the gates, during a rainstorm.  They almost ran down a trusty who had opened the gate for them.  All three hatched the escape while working in the prison shirt factory.

May 25, 1926, Deputy Sheriff Louis Casebolt, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier by a man who was attempting to free a prisoner.

President Calvin Coolidge signed the bill authorizing the establishment of Mammoth Cave National Park into law on May 25, 1926.  The park’s creation was dependent on the land being donated to the federal government.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Olive Hill (Carter County) native Tom T. Hall, born in 1936.  He wrote 12 #1 hit songs, and 26 more reached the Top 10, including the #1 international pop crossover smash Harper Valley PTA.

Kentucky Trivia:  Tom T. Hall’s 1st band was The Kentucky Travelers.  Also known as “The Story Teller,” his smash hit, The Year Clayton Delaney Died, told a story about his neighbor and childhood hero, named Easterly.

May 25, 1951, Army CPL Edward Hyatt from Laurel County died in the Korean War.

May 25, 1965, Muhammad Ali (21-0) fought Sonny Liston (35-2) in St. Dominic’s Hall, Lewiston, Maine.  Because of the way the 1st fight ended, boxing authorities order a rematch in remote Lewiston.  Only 2,434 fans were present, the lowest attendances ever for a heavyweight title fight.  The end of the battle remains one of the most controversial in boxing history.  Halfway through the 1st round, Liston fell to the canvas in what many have argued was not a legitimate knockdown.  Ali did not retreat to his corner but stood over Liston, yelling at him, “Get up and fight, sucker!”  The photo that captured that moment became one of the most famous in all sports.  Referee Jersey Joe Walcott, a former heavyweight champion, appeared confused, and 20 seconds passed.  By then, Liston had gotten up and resumed boxing.  But Nat Fleischer, publisher of The Ring, alerted Walcott that Liston had been down more than the requisite 10 seconds, and Walcott stopped the fight, giving Ali a 1st-round knockout.  Some claimed that Liston had bet against himself and took a dive because he owed money to the Mafia.  Liston said years later in an interview that he feared for his safety from Nation of Islam extremists who supported Ali.

May 25, 1967, Army PFC Robert G. Staton from Salt Lick in Bath County died in the Vietnam War.

May 25, 1968, Army PFC Kelly Fields from Pikeville died in the Vietnam War.

May 25, 1970, Army CPL Harold R. Burton and Army CPL Charles R. Stevenson both from Louisville died in the Vietnam War.

May 25, 1973, the Catlett House, also known as Beechmoor Place in Catlettsburg (Boyd County) received admission on the National Register of Historic Places.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Murray (Calloway County) native Molly Simms, born in 1973.  Sports Illustrated frequently hired Molly as a swimsuit model in the early 2000s.  She also walked the runway for the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2001.

May 25, 1983, six hundred and fifty-eight moviegoers attended a midnight showing of Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi, at South Park Cinemas in Lexington.

May 25, 1991, U.S. Larry Hopkins, Lt. Governor B. Jones, Mayor Scotty Baesler, Dr. Floyd Poore, and other primary candidates worked the stump at the Mountain Laurel Festival.  As Jones worked the crowd in the Pineville (Bell County) parade, Governor W. Wilkinson passed him up in a convertible Corvette; they didn’t acknowledge each other.  Wally later crowned and kissed the 60th Festival Queen, an NKU senior from Fort Thomas, Meredith Paige Slawter.

On May 25, 1991, the Cave Research Foundation (CRF) returned to Edmonson County to continue a job they would never finish: mapping Mammoth Cave.  About 10 times a year, 30-50 spelunkers return to map the world’s longest cave, a title given by the organization.  In 1991, CRF had 320 miles mapped; in 2025, the number is 426.

On May 25, 1999, the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville (Lyon County), under Governor P. Patton’s administration, electrocuted a murderer.

On May 25, 2003, Kenny Perry won his 5th PGA event when he defeated Justin Leonard by six strokes at the Colonial in Texas.  The Elizabethtown (Hardin County) native earned 900,000 for his 1st Colonial.  He won it again two years later by seven strokes.

May 25, 2005, Marine SGT David N. Wimberg, 24, of Louisville, died from a gunshot, in Iraq, fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

May 25, 2010, London (Laurel County) native Darrell Scott released his album, Crooked Road.  He collaborated with Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and many others.

May 25, 2013, Police Officer Jason Scott Ellis, Bardstown (Nelson County) Police Department, died in an ambush on an exit ramp off the Bluegrass Parkway shortly before 2:50 a.m.

May 25, 2013, Seth Goodin from Smith caught a state record Coosa Bass weighing 1.21 pounds in Martin’s Fork of the Cumberland River.  Martins Fork is a 32-mile river in Bell and Harlan Counties.

May 25, 2014, in reaction to the attack on smokers’ rights in Paris, Judge-Executive Donnie Foley said, “Burley put me through school, Burley built this courthouse, burley built the schools, and burley put food on the table.”  At the time, Kentucky ranked #1 in the number of smokers per capita.

On May 25, 2018, after less than a year on the job, the 1st director of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Charter School division resigned unexpectedly.  He returned home for his wife’s career.  He said he didn’t leave because Governor M. Bevin made new appointments with the state school board.

On May 25, 2019, Boyle County High School graduated ten sets of twins.  It is rare to have ten sets of twins in a whole school, much less one class.  “It’s surreal,” said Samuel Johnson’s twin.

On Saturday, May 25, 2019, the gorgeous Lauren Bohl of Union College became the 89th Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival (KMLF) Queen, announced as all 22 beauties stood around The Cove.  Later, hundreds gathered at the Laurel Cove Amphitheater for the Queen Coronation.  Governor M. Bevin had the honors.

Kentucky Trivia:  Knox County native Lauren Bohl is the longest-serving queen of the KMLF since World War II.  Ms. Bohl, “I could’ve never predicted I would remain KMLF queen for two years.  A lot of plans have changed in the past year for many people and situations.  This has taught me that you never know what the future holds.  I’m a firm believer that God places circumstances and people in your life for specific reasons.  We may not understand at the time, but we must have faith He knows what is best for us.”

On Memorial Day, May 25, 2020, Hal Rogers, in his 21st term, made an FB post condemning the governor’s effigy.  The Kentucky State Police could not comment on whether or not there was an investigation.  Meanwhile, Andy allowed nail and hair salons to reopen after a two-month shutdown which made many people ecstatic.

Kentucky Trivia:  Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer expressed dissatisfaction that police didn’t act quicker at the state Capitol on May 24 during the rally.  The man who hoisted the effigy, Terry Bush, lost his job at an auto dealership, but the state declined to bring charges.

On May 25, 2021, The Courier-Journal wrote a story that seemed to scare Black people into getting the experimental vaccine, claiming they accounted for half of all new cases, which the mayor called “alarming.”  Dr. Sarah Moyer, a Louisville doctor, took it further, stating that “younger people, particularly Black Louisville residents,” are accounting for more positive cases because they had lower vaccination rates.

On May 25, 2021, Governor A. Beshear also did his part to push the new vaccine stating, “The incidence rate, in the newer cases, is much higher among younger Kentuckians than older ones.” But, he added, “It is directly associated with whether you are vaccinated.”  Stressing the importance of vaccinations, Beshear claimed 97.5% of Kentucky’s virus cases in March and April, and 94% of virus-related deaths, were among unvaccinated people.

On May 25, 2021, Kentucky hit a vaccination milestone with more than 2 million residents receiving at least their first shot.  The governor called it a “miracle.”  Vaccinations rose significantly last week as youngsters 12 to 15 joined other Kentuckians in rolling up their sleeves for the shots.  So far, more than 23,000 Kentuckians ages 12 to 15 have received the vaccine.

On May 25, 2023, UK received the largest donation in the university’s history from the Bill Gatton Foundation: $100 million for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment on what would have been Gatton’s 91st birthday.  Gatton, a 1954 UK graduate and former trustee for the university, died in April 2022.  The gift is believed to be the largest single donation to a college of agriculture in the U.S.

On May 25, 2023, a U.S. judge gave a 3-year sentence to a 22-year-old Covington (Kenton County) man for his activity on January 6, 2021, at the Capitol.  Nicholas Brockoff, known on X as the “green horn hoodlum,” also got 3-years of supervised release. He plead guilty to a single count of assaulting an officer.  He also sprayed many senators’ offices with a fire extinguisher.

On May 25, 2024, the governor gave a shout-out to his main man and Senior Advisor, Rocky who hails from Sandy Hook, the county seat of Elliott County.

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