June 29, 1852, Henry Clay died of tuberculosis in Washington, D.C., at 75, while serving as a U.S. Senator. Befitting Clay’s status as one of the most respected and influential political figures of his time, they placed his body in the Capitol Rotunda, making him the 1st person in American history to lie in state. Impressive ceremonies took place in D.C., New York, and other cities, and on July 10, Clay’s body traveled back to his Ashland Estate for the last time. Upon arriving home, Clay’s body remained overnight while Lucretia kept watch. The following day, the funeral procession left Ashland after a memorial service on the front lawn. Black draped the storefronts on Main Street along the way, and all businesses in Lexington closed. The traffic stood still, and a calm silence appeared as the procession passed through town and into the Lexington Cemetery. Locals erected the massive monument in 1857.
By CalstanhopeJune 29, 1910, Lieutenant Conrad Frank, Ashland Police Department, died from a gunshot while he and other officers raided an establishment selling illegal liquor at 15th Street and Front Street.
On June 29, 1923, as America celebrated its 147th birthday, 53 robed members of the Jefferson Realm of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), under the cover of darkness, burned a fiery cross before boarding a train to Kokomo, Indiana, for what turned out to be the biggest KKK rally ever. The Courier-Journal reporter mocked them as “Klownsmen” and wrote that if “they expected to create a furor, they were disappointed.” Three police officers who stood across the street yawned and then directed their attention to more important matters, the reporter observed.
On June 29, 1935, Lexington started negotiations to buy a hanger between $2,000 and $14,000 for the airport on Newton Pike. The privately-owned hanger came from an airfield outside Cincinnati. Meanwhile, UK bought a large tobacco warehouse boarding campus at the same time they announced a record enrollment for summer school with 1,716 for the 5-week 1st term.
On June 29, 1940, President Roosevelt, terming it a measure for mutual protection of this country and “loyal aliens” who are its guests, signed legislation requiring registration and fingerprinting of all foreigners in the U.S.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Keno Don Hugo Rosa, simply known as Don Rosa, born in 1951.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Owensboro native Jeff Jones, born in 1960.
June 29, 1968, Gamely, Princessnesian, and Desert Law, all owned by William Haggin Perry and trained by Jim Maloney, finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in Hollywood Park’s Vanity Handicap. The Perry powerhouse collected $72,150 for the sweep in the richest race ever run at Hollywood Park exclusively, for fillies and mares.
June 29, 1975, Jessamine County architect Sarah Tate discussed her plans to build a home with a solar heating system. She had issues to resolve, like installing a blower to move the heat and what to do on rainy days. Sarah also acknowledged the installation price tag, but she hoped to save money in the long run.
June 29, 1978, the Rolling Stones played Rupp Arena, the arena’s 1st concert with no reserved seating. Tickets cost $8, $9, and $10. On the day of the show, ticket scalpers, who had expected a windfall of fans, found out tickets were going for $3, $1, and even for free. The Stones arrived at Rupp at 8:20 p.m., went onstage at 10:10, jumped into their limousines at 11:45, and headed for the airport. There was no encore, but click for a pic.
June 29, 1987, Donald James, a 55-year-old executive at Brown-Foreman, received 20 year prison sentence for killing a man while driving drunk. Two friends asked if he would like a ride home; he declined both times. A Jefferson County courtroom handed down its stiffest penalty for an alcohol-related traffic fatality.
On June 29, 1996, capitalizing on his national championship run, Coach Pitino shared his dream of building “Pitino Arena” on campus when Rupp Arena’s lease expired. His goal was a 28,000-seat complex; Rupp has 20,545, and UT’s Thompson Boling Arena has 21,418. He wanted to cram in as many luxury corporate suites as possible and fund the project with private donations only. His proposed site next to Commonwealth Stadium never happened.
June 29, 2000, Louisville Slugger Field unveiled a statue of Pee Wee Reese. The bronze statue depicts the throw to 1st base that clinched victory for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955 World Championship game.
June 29, 2007, Governor E. Fletcher personally selected road projects to reward political allies according to the #2 official in the Kentucky Department of Highways. When #2 made the statement, he was negotiating a plea deal of a felony perjury charge.
June 29, 2008, Kenny Perry won his 2nd Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Michigan, by one stroke over Woody Austin and Bubba Watson to earn $900,000 and become the oldest winner at 47. He began the final round tied for 5th place, three shots back. Kenny won for the 1st time in 2001 and earned $558,000.
June 29, 2009, Bernie Madoff received 150 years for America’s largest Ponzi scheme.
June 29, 2012, Kentucky baked at 105 degrees, two degrees higher than the day before when Louisville set a record for the hottest day in June.
On Sunday, June 29, 2014, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of MA visited Louisville to campaign for Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes’s campaign against the corporatist. The McConnell staff released statements all week long gearing up for the visit, tying Alison to Barry. In 2019, the feds convicted Alison’s father of providing illegal corporate campaign contributions to the failed U.S. Senate race; Joe Biden pardoned him in 2025 by an autopen.
June 29, 2018, Governor M. Bevin’s effort to reshape Kentucky’s Medicaid program came to an end when a federal judge blocked his plan to require some people to meet strict new requirements, including working, volunteering, or paying to get health coverage. We ran the carpetbagger out of town and then his wife left him.
June 29, 2019, a record number of faith groups joined Lexington’s Pride Festival. The gathering had about 200 vendors, and a record 20 represented spiritual groups.
On Monday, June 29, 2020, Governor A. Beshear announced two new deaths, ages 67 and 83. A new positive case from Robertson County meant that all 120 counties had reported coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, along with an apple orchard featuring a children’s playground, sued Governor A. Beshear for his pandemic-related restrictions on businesses. Andy, “This disease is everywhere, and because of that, we need all Kentuckians to practice social distancing and wear masks to keep each other safe.”
June 29, 2021, more than 40 million Americans were in the crosshairs of a triple-digit heat wave, with some spots soaring over 120 degrees as records fall across the West. Seven states declared heat warnings for human health.
June 29, 2022, Lexington Ok’d a new professional soccer franchise and a stadium off Newton Pike. The club broke ground on a different site the following year off the I-75 Athens-Boonesboro exit. Meanwhile, Parkette Drive Inn, Lexington’s oldest and most nostalgic restaurant, closed.
On June 29, 2024, a Kentucky bred won the GI $1,000,000 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs in a not-so-fast 1:48.09. However, the winner paid $21.90, and for a $2 exacta $171.64. Spendthrift Farm, owned by Kentucky’s richest citizen, won the race. Todd Pletcher conditioned the winner.
