Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets

July 18, 1826, Kentucky’s 1^st governor, Isaac Shelby, died at his home in Lincoln County.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Hartford native U.S. Marshal Virgil Walter Earp, born in 1843.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Georgetown native Tom L. Johnson, born in 1854.  An industrialist, Tom became an important figure of the Progressive Era for urban political/social reform and one of Kentucky’s most interesting sons.

July 18, 1882, the Louisville Eclipse’s dashing young pitcher, Tony Mullane, became the 1^st pitcher to pitch with his left and right hand in a major league game.  The Eclispe were down by six runs against the likes of the lowly Baltimores, so he decided to change arms.  It was Tony’s first full year in the majors.

July 18, 1883, Belle Brezing purchased from Alice and J.R. Jackson a house on North Upper Street, near the corner of Fourth Street.
Madam Belle Brezing by Buddy Thompson pg: 51

July 18, 1922, Kentucky took the great leap into radio broadcasting, when Credo Fitch Harris announced to all, who might have been able to hear, “This is WHAS, the radiotelephone broadcasting station of the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times in Louisville.  WHAS is an acronym for: We Have A Signal.

July 18, 1923, Sergeant George Griffths Pfeifer, Louisville Police Department, succumbed to injuries sustained almost eight months earlier while investigating a car accident on River Road near the Cutoff Bridge.  He was directing traffic around a car accident when a vehicle struck him.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Hunter S. Simpson, born in 1923.  Founder of the Gonzo journalist movement whose legacy includes Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.  He became a counter culture icon for his drug use, patriotism, and resounding literary voice.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Hazard native Baddie Winkle, born in 1928.  She became an internet sensation at 85.  Her social media tag line—”Stealing Your Man Since 1928″—has become a popular saying for teens and young adults.

July 18, 1948, Assistant Chief Clyde Gulley, Middlesboro Police Department, succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three weeks earlier while attempting an arrest an escaped convict from Tennessee, and two of his companions.

July 18, 1952, Army PVT William A. Cox from Harlan County and Army PVT James W. Hardy from Estill County, died in the Vietnam War.

July 18, 1953, Army PVT Ernest H. Henson from Harlan County, Army SFC Douglas F. Kelly from Bourbon County, Army CPL George A. Duff from Harlan County, and Marine Corps 1STLT Wilson A. Frease from Paducah, died in the Vietnam War.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Cordell native Ricky Skaggs, born in 1954 in Lawrence County.

July 18, 1956, Lieutenant Owen Davenport, Kentucky Department of Corrections, died in the Kentucky State Penitentiary prison yards from stab wounds.

July 18, 1962, a circuit judge ruled Lexington’s city and county police could not arrest violators of the Closing Law.  The drug store coalition led the charge against the rule.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Paintsville native John Pelphrey, born in 1968.

July 18, 1969, Army 1LT Henry O. Wilhoite from Georgetown died in the Vietnam War.

July 18, 1970, Army SP4 William A. Norrenbrock from Louisville died in the Vietnam War.

July 18, 1972, against the San Diego Padres, Glasgow native Denny Doyle broke up Steve Arlin’s bid for a no-hitter by singling with two out in the ninth inning.

July 18, 1981, 29-year-old Helen Alexander of King Ranch Farm sold her yearling colt by Nijinsky II for $1.7 million at the Keeneland select sales.  The Brits outbid the Arabs to set a new yearling record at Keeneland.

July 18, 1985, the public gets to see underwater video of the Titanic’s chandelier, while Wal-Mart refused to sell certain rock “n” roll albums.

Kentucky Trivia:  In 1985, Wal-Mart had 900 stores in 22 states including 44 in Kentucky.  Today there are 5,342 in America and 106 in Kentucky.

July 18, 1990, the $6 million airport on the Scott/Bourbon Counties line was cleared for take-off by the federal government.

On July 18, 1995, JoAnne Hauser sued Coach Pitino after he gave her job to his old friend Edward “Fast Eddie” Jamiel.  She trained the men’s basketball team until Pitino moved her to the women’s team.  Pitino offered her old job back, but it was too late.

July 18, 2000, Satish Sanan’s Padua Stables paid $3.6 million for a Mr. Prospector filly.  At the time, it was the 2^nd highest price paid for a filly at Keeneland.  The highest price paid was $3.75 million in Keeneland’s 1984 sale, a Seattle Slew filly.

July 18, 2017, Kentucky Tourism officials suspended the $18 million incentive package to Noah’s Ark until land details got resolved, while a state ethics panel dismissed charges against Governor M. Bevin concerning his house in Anchorage.  In addition, a federal judge told Kentucky citizens they must pay over $250,000 in lawyers’ fees for Kim Davis’s executive decisions.

July 18, 2019, a freak accident occurred on the second day of racing at Delmar.  Charge A Bunch, trained by Carla Gaines, threw his rider and ran head first into Carson Valley, trained by Baffert.  Both horses died instantly.

July 18, 2020, a Kentucky bred and Keeneland graduate won Monmouth Park’s GI $1,005,000 Haskell Stakes.

July 18, 2020, Eddie Young from Versailles caught a state record Bighead Carp in the Kentucky River that weighed 65 lbs. 1 oz.