Kentucky Trivia
I should be a postage stamp. That’s the only way I’ll ever get licked. Muhammad Ali
September 1, 1792, Kentucky created Logan County from Lincoln County and named in honor of Benjamin Logan (1742–1802), Revolutionary War General. The 13th county was one of seven new counties created the same year Kentucky became a state.
September 1, 1808, Charles Scott, soldier and a Democratic-Republican, became Kentucky’s 4th governor. Months later, Governor C. Scott slipped on the icy steps of the governor’s mansion, which left him confined to crutches for the rest of his life. He turned to Jesse Bledsoe as Secretary of State to act on his behalf.
On September 1, 1813, the Sinking Springs Farm saga ended for Thomas Lincoln. The Kentucky courts ruled that Thomas got conned out of his money. One of the several reasons he left the Commonwealth.
September 1, 1846, Governor W. Owsley removed Secretary of State, Ben Hardin from his cabinet, charging him with abandonment of duties because he did not reside in Frankfort. Hardin challenged this premise for his removal, and when Owsley nominated George B. Kinkead to replace Hardin, the state senate voted 30—8 that no vacancy existed. The Kentucky Court of Appeals upheld the Senate’s decision. Vindicated, Hardin then resigned, charging Owsley with practicing nepotism. The 1850 Constitution stated the governor could no longer remove the Secretary of State from office.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Athens native Elizabeth Harrison, born in 1849. Harrison pioneered professional standards for early childhood teachers and promoted early childhood education.
September 1, 1863, Thomas Elliott Bramlette became Kentucky’s 23rd governor. Among his accomplishments not related to the war and its aftermath were the reduction of the state’s debt and the creation of the Kentucky Agricultural and Mechanical College (now UK).
September 1, 1866, Cynthiana native Orville Hickman Browning became the 9th U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
September 1, 1870, Kentucky created Martin County from Lawrence, Floyd, Pike, and Johnson. Named for John P. Martin, U.S. Kentucky Congressman (1845–1847), Inez is the county seat of the 116th county. Other towns include Beauty, Job, Lovely, Laura, Pilgrim, Tomahawk, and Warfield.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Stanford native Lt. Richard Caswell Saufley, born in 1885. Saufley’s groundbreaking military career as a pilot proved bright but short. In 1915, he set an altitude record, in 1916, he took off from a ship, the 1st man to do so. A plane crash killed him in 1916.
September 1, 1905, Johannes Peter “Honus” Wagner became the 1st athlete to endorse a commercial product when he signed a contract with Hillerich & Bradsby, maker of the then-yet-to-be-famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat.
September 1, 1911, the L & N Railroad extended a spur from Pineville to Benham, enabling coal to be shipped directly from Benham to Chicago.
September 1, 1921, Patrolman James Elder, Louisville Police Department, died from blood poisoning while recovering from an accident while on duty.
September 1, 1926, Corporal James Milton England, Louisville Police Department, died in a motorcycle accident.
On September 1, 1927, as jockey Earl “Sandy” Graham rode in Winnipeg, Canada, an oncoming horse trampled him after he fell off his mount. Sandy died three weeks later.
September 1, 1928, the Loew’s and United Artists State Theatre opened in downtown Louisville. The Courier-Journal called the theatre, an architectural marvel.
On September 1, 1931, rail service ended at Mammoth Cave. The new owners assumed correctly that cars were all the rage; now visitors came when they wanted.
September 1, 1939, World War II began.
September 1, 1946, Lexington native Sarah G. Blanding assumed her duties at Vassar College as the 1st female president of the prestigious college.
September 1, 1950, Army PFC Daniel T. Brumagen from Nicholas County, Army PFC Odes I. Cantrell from Johnson County, Army CPL Thomas S. Clarkson from Whitley County, Army CPL Caleb W. Hazel from Union County, Army SGT Vernon S. Ledford from Jefferson County, Army SGT James D. Lee from Bell County, Army PVT Joseph M. Sanders from Hancock County, Army PFC David M. Smith from Livingston, Army PFC Charlie C. Stone from Barren County, and Army PFC Bobby J. Thornton from Calloway County, all died in the Korean War.
September 1, 1951, Army PVT Virgil J. Smith from Warren County died in the Korean War.
September 1, 1952, Army PFC Leonard E. Mineer from Harrison County died in the Korean War.
September 1, 1960, Clay County native Aunt Molly Jackson, an influential American folk singer and a union activist died. Her full name was Mary Magdalene Garland Stewart Jackson Stamos.
September 1, 1967, Patrolman William Frederick Meyer, Louisville Police Department, died in a shootout with five men who had just robbed a grocery store and were making their escape.
September 1, 1968, Robert Franklin Riggle from Faltwoods in Greenup County died in the Vietnam War.
September 1, 1975, Trooper Bobby Allen Mccoun, Jr., Kentucky State Police, died when accidentally shot by a fellow officer.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Beauty native Angaleena Loletta McCoy Presley, born in 1976.
September 1, 1977, the Commonwealth returned with quarter horse racing at the old Miles Park in Louisville.
On September 1, 1984, Louisville native and Silicon Valley professor, Rudy Rucker, published The Fourth Dimension: Toward a Geometry of Higher Reality, a mathematics and computer science book. It provided a popular presentation of set theory and four-dimensional geometry, with mystical implications.
September 1, 1990, Bill Curry debuted as UK’s head football coach in an ugly 20-17 win against Central Michigan in Lexington. Doug Pelfrey’s 2nd field goal of the 2nd half, from 32 yards secured the comeback.
September 1, 1993, two Kentucky lawmakers admitted to taking $3,000 in cash from Humana, Inc. in 1990. They cooperated with the FBI investigation into the healthcare giant’s questionable lobbying activities.
September 1, 1997, Tim King from Stearns, caught a state record Redbreast Sunfish weighing .88 pounds in Marsh Creek in McCreary County.
September 1, 2001, Guy Morriss began his career as UK’s head coach in Commonwealth. Smith’s Cards pounded the Cats 36-10. The Cup series now stood at 9-5 after Uof L won its 3rd straight. During pregame ceremonies, the school named the field after C.M. Newton.
September 1, 2002, Kentucky defeated #17 Louisville 22-17 in the Governor’s Bowl for both teams season opener. Coach Guy Morriss secured his biggest win during his brief tenure, and AD Mitch Barnhart embraced him on the field after the game. The Wildcats went 2-9 in 2001, 7-5 in 2002, and in 2003, Mitch hired Rich Brooks. The series stood at 10-5, Kentucky’s favor.
September 1, 2003, America appointed 24 new puppets in Iraq to operate day-to-day operations when the American military left. The war machine would leave two decades later. In Ohio, President G. Bush kicked off his reelection campaign, telling a rally he would elect a manufacturing czar and turn things around after losing 2.4 million jobs in the manufacturing sector since his term started.
September 1, 2007, Kentucky beat Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) 50-10. In 2006, the Cats went to their 1st bowl game in 22 years, so excitement filled the air. Rich Brooks won in front of 66,512. Louisville dominated in their season opener as well. Both UK and UofL scored on the 1st plays of their games.
On September 1, 2011, instant racing debuted at Kentucky Downs while Kentucky beat WKU 14-3, in Nashville, in their season openers.
Sunday, September 1, 2013, #9Louisville football played their 1st game as a member of the American Conference in Charlie Strong’s last season as head coach. They finished in the top 15 with a 12-1 record, losing only to UCF.
Monday, September 1, 2014, Bobby Petrino coached his 1st game on his 2nd stint as Louisville’s head coach. His ACC team finished the season ranked 24th with a 9-4 record.
September 1, 2020, in a tightening of state guidance, Kentucky students had to wear masks inside schools all day even when they are six feet apart. Previous guidance said masks did not have to be worn if students and staff were six feet apart.
Positives: 807 / 49,185
Deaths: 15 / 948 – 1st death March 16, 2020
50&over: 921 / 49-30: 26 / 29&under: 1
September 1, 2021, UofL required their employees to receive the coronavirus vaccine. This after 30% opted out before the mandate.
September 1, 2022, the CDC found that Kentucky ranked 6th in the country for C-sections in 2020, with 34.3%; the nation’s average stood at 26%. Two reasons included obesity and cultural issues, some localities had a 50% rate. Meanwhile, leaders in Mitch’s party criticized him for bad mouthing President D. Trump during an election year.
