TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

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Localtonians wishes a Happy Birthday to John Jordan Crittenden, born in 1787.  John was our U.S. Senator, U.S. Attorney General, 17th governor, and 22nd secretary of state of Kentucky.

September 10, 1905, Pete Browning passed away.  A genuine pre-modern national baseball star, one of the major league game’s pioneers, and one of the sport’s most enduring and intriguing figures, Louis Rogers “Pete” Browning was born in Louisville.

On September 10, 1910, Knox County native James Black was named the 8th President of Union College.  The following year, his alma mater awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.  He served as president of Union College until 1912.  He would become Kentucky’s 39th governor in 1919.

September 10, 1950, Army PFC Ray L. Banks from Breathitt County, Army SGT Pearl G. Derossett from Floyd County and Army CPL Charles E. Jordan from Boyd County, died in the Korean War.

September 10, 1951, Army SFC Preston J. Proffitt from Montgomery County died in the Korean War.

September 10, 1955, the Louisville Conference representing more than 100,000 Methodist in 52 Western and Central Kentucky counties, went on record in favor of keeping a separate subdivision of the church for Negro Methodist.

September 10, 1956, the Louisville public schools were officially integrated.  With a student population of 45,000, the city had the highest percentage of black students (27%) to desegregate of any sizeable city.

September 10, 1960, Farmington native Adrian Howard “Odie” Smith won a gold medal in the Rome Olympics in basketball.  Touted as the greatest basketball team in Olympic history, the 1960 U.S. squad was so perfectly balanced that, unlike previous USA Olympic cage teams, no one player emerged as a dominant star.

September 10, 1965, the Kentucky State Fair opens.

September 10, 1966, Marine Corps CPL Thomas G. Richmond from Middlesboro died in the Vietnam War.

September 10, 1966, Muhammad Ali (26-0) fought Karl Mildenberger (49-2-3) in Wald Stadium, Frankfurt, West Germany.  Ali continued his European tour.  He was tired and stressed by a return to the USA to continue his fight against the military draft and was nowhere near his best.  He cut Mildenberger in the fourth and dropped him in the fifth, but the German rallied to cause Ali discomfort as the champion worked to finish off the fight.  In the 12th round, with Mildenberger on the ropes, referee Teddy Waltham stopped the fight.  Ali must have been grateful.  At the airport the next day, Waltham’s fee of 1,000 pounds was stolen.  When Ali heard, he gave Waltham the money from his own pocket.

September 10, 1968, Latonia Racetrack ushered in night racing for the first time in Kentucky.  A crowd of 7,680 was on hand in the pouring rain to support the new venue creating a handle of $400,258, setting two new records.  It was still difficult to see horses on the turn, especially for the chart caller.  However, the bright orange saddlecloths used instead of the traditional white cloths did seem to help.

September 10, 1972, Jim Mattingly of Somerset caught a state record Rainbow Trout weighing 14 lbs., 6 ozs. on Cumberland River at the Lake Cumberland Tailwaters.

rainbow trout

September 10, 1973, Muhammad Ali (42-2) fought Ken Norton (30-1) at The Forum, Inglewood, CA.  The fight was promoted as “The Revenge: Battle of Broken Jaw.”  Ali said of Norton: “I took a nobody and created a monster. Now I have to punish him bad.”  Ali, who never lost a rematch to someone who had beaten him, was able to overcome Norton’s awkward style and win the 12th and final round to take the decision.

September 10, 1985, a view from downtown Corbin, looking south down North Main Street.

September 10, 1988, Turfway Park introduced simulcast wagering to Kentucky when they sent their full card to Ellis Park.

September 10, 1997, Kentucky’s engineer-governor, who designed his inauguration platform and office suite, unveiled the state’s new license plate, which he took a direct role in creating.  Patton had rejected other designs before selecting the winner.

ky99

September 10, 2007, Army PFC Sammie E. Phillips, 19, of Cecilia, died in Iraq of injuries sustained in a vehicle rollover while fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

September 16, 2016, Da Big Hoss, a Kentucky bred, takes Kentucky Down’s GIII $594,180 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup for three-year-olds and upward.

September 10, 2019, the bourbon known for its specially waxed and colored bottles announced they would put out a limited edition bottle named “The Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019.”  Although the bourbon company has created special bottles for others, it is the first bottle they have done for themselves. 

Kentucky Trivia: Margie Samuels came up with the bottle’s iconic red wax cap, which melts at 350˚F.  The first Maker’s bourbon was baptized in a Kentucky kitchen, where the bottle took a dip into red wax melted in Margie’s own deep fryer.  The first wax-dipped bottle was essentially Kentucky-fried.