TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

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Localtonians wishes a Happy Birthday to John Breathitt, Kentucky’s 11th governor.

Localtonians wishes a Happy Birthday to Bracken County native John Gregg Fee, born in 1816.  John was an abolitionist, minister and educator, and founder of Berea and Berea College (1855).

Localtonians wishes a Happy Birthday to Speed Smith Fry, born in 1817 in Mercer County (now Boyle County) near Danville.  Speed was a lawyer, judge, and Brigadier General (Union Army).

Localtonians wishes a Happy Birthday to Harland David Sanders, born in 1890.

On September 9, 1899, Shelbyville native James Franklin Bell fought near Porac on Luzon Island in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War.  For his actions on this day, he received the Medal of Honor.

September 9, 1913, Monroe County native Benton McMillin became the U.S. Minister to Peru during the Harding administration.

September 9, 1944, 19-year-old Venus Ramey from Ashland became Miss America.  Her mother picked the name Venus partly because it was a catchy stage name.  She guided her daughter through the pageant world, and they won Miss Kentucky at age 14.

Kentucky Trivia:  Ms. Ramey was the first red-haired contestant to win the Miss America title.

0622 Venus Ramey Miss America cropped 1

Friday, September 9, 1949, Cloverpoint native Wiley Rutledge spent his last day in the 5th seat of the U.S. Supreme Court.

September 9, 1950, Army PVT Howard Burkhart from Harlan County died in the Korean War.

September 9, 1951, Army PFC Fred Bargo, Jr. from Harlan County, Army PFC Jesse Barrett from Clay County, and Army SGT Floyd B. Sallee from Mercer County, all died in the Korean War.

September 9, 1960, 19-year-old Cassius Clay, Jr. returned home to Kentucky after winning gold in the light heavyweight division in Rome.  Ali tells the story of not being served food in an all-white restaurant and throwing his medal in the Ohio River soon after returning.  Ali later said he lost the gold medal in a house move.

Zbigniew Pietrzykowski and Muhammad Ali 1960

September 9, 1967, Marine Corps PFC Joseph B. Sumpter from McRoberts in Letcher County died in the Vietnam War.

September 9, 1975, Governor J. Carroll made his first visit to Louisville since the violent antischool busing demonstrations.  He met with the Kentucky National Guard and State Police who helped restore order.

Sunday, September 9, 1984, at approximately 11:20 p.m. Livingston County Deputy Sheriff Carnie Hopkins notified his dispatch he would be checking on a hitchhiker, three miles east of Smithland, known as “The Monument.”  A short time later Deputy Hopkins was found murdered, at this location.

On September 9, 1987, Turfway Park became the first track in Kentucky to offer Pick 3 wagering.

September 9, 1991, Utica native Belinda Mason, 33, who fought the AIDS battle nationally, died at Vanderbilt University.  In 1989, President Bush appointed her to the National Commission on AIDS; she was the only member with the disease. 

September 9, 1996, Rosine native William Smith Monroe died.

September 9, 2001, Covington native Brandon Berger made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals.

September 9, 2007, Jared Lorenzen’s first significant regular-season appearance with the Giants occurred when he took over for the injured Eli Manning in the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

On September 9, 1992, Governor B. Jones stated that it was his goal for every Kentuckian to have health insurance by the end of 1993.  He wanted businesses to provide coverage for all full-time and part-time workers.  He also requested the state pick up the cost for the poor.  It was a very aggressive goal, and there were future wars to fund in the Middle East.

September 9, 2000, about 200 invited guests attended a brief funeral service for Cawood Ledford in Harlan.  A former team Chaplin, Father Ed Bradley, reminded the congregation that the famous broadcaster disliked having a fuss made over him.

September 9, 2016, it took more than 100 years but on this day the Murray Fire Department swore in their first female firefighter.  Shae McKinney, 25, received her badge at the Robert O. Miller Conference Center.

September 9, 2017, Kentucky Downs ran their featured race of the meet, the GIII $600,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Kentucky for three-year-olds and upward.

September 9, 2020, Governor A. Beshear announced that 1,000 Kentuckians died from coronavirus.  Meanwhile the owners of American Pharoah file for bankruptcy.