On September 5, 1816, George Madison became the 6th governor of Kentucky and the 1st to die in office. Immediately after the election, Madison traveled to Blue Lick Springs for his health but was too weak to return to Frankfort for the inauguration. Instead, a Bourbon County justice of the peace administered the oath of office. In his only official act, the governor appointed Colonel Charles S. Todd as Secretary of State.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to John G. Carlisle, born in Campbell County, now Kenton County, in 1834. Locals elected him to the U.S. House of Representatives seven times, his peers to Speaker for six years. He subsequently served as Kentucky’s Senator. The influential Kentucky son, then served as Secretary of the Treasury from 1893 to 1897.
September 5, 1836, Louisville laid the cornerstone for a bridge to cross the Ohio River. Kentucky in Retrospect 1792-1967 by Lila Jones Kington pg: 65
September 5, 1862, Confederate forces under the command of General Braxton Bragg entered Kentucky.
September 5, 1878, the mayor of Hickman telegraphed the state board of health to inform Frankfort that yellow fever had reached epidemic levels and requested that Governor L. Blackburn, a doctor, arrive ASAP. The governor came in two days and found that 20% of the town’s population had contracted yellow fever, so he organized cleanup crews and disinfected the city.
September 5, 1883, Raywick native James Proctor Knott became Kentucky’s 29th governor.
September 5, 1931, the historic Paramount Theatre opened with the Paramount ‘talkie’ documentary movie “The Silent Enemy.” The grand theatre in Ashland boasted 1,309 seats.
September 5, 1950, Army SGT James T. Preece from Lawrence County, Army CPL Kenneth Ralph from Daviess County, and Army PVT Clarence H. Thompson from Lincoln County, all died in the Korean War.
September 5, 1958, WKPC TV (PBS) channel 15 in Louisville began broadcasting.
September 5, 1960, Muhammad Ali won his Olympic light-heavyweight gold medal in Rome. Despite being only 18, he won all four of his fights easily.
September 5, 1965, Marine Corps GYSGT Lee R. James from Louisville died in the Vietnam War.
September 5, 1967, Marine Corps LCPL Martin W. Prather from Louisville and Air Force A1C David G. Woodruff from Cynthiana, died in the Vietnam War.
September 5, 1969, Army CPL Michael L. Litsey from Muldraugh in Meade County died in the Vietnam War.
September 5, 1970, Marine Corps LCPL Thomas M. Crisp from Hopkinsville in Christian County died in the Vietnam War.
September 5, 1974, President Ford announced that the 1st ambassador to East Germany would be Somerset native John Sherman Cooper.
On Saturday, September 5, 1998, the Wildcats put on their greatest offensive performance in school history in Louisville for the Cardinal’s 1st game ever in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The Cats won 68-34, the only Governor’s Cup with over 100 total points. Junior quarterback Tim Couch set or tied then-school records for most total offense (498 yards), most passing yards (498), and most touchdown passes (7). Kentucky set then-school records for most total offense (801 yards), most first downs (37), and most passing yards (571). Louisville’s Coach John L. Smith lost his debut but won the remainder of his home games for the season. The rivalry after this game stood at 9-2 and 3-2 in Kentucky’s favor.
September 5, 2001, after a long illness, Harlan County native Cawood Ledford passed at home in Harlan. UK had to cancel a tribute at Rupp Arena due to the “9/11” terrorists attacks.
Sunday, September 5, 2004, the Cardinals posted the first shutout since the Governor’s Cup restarted in 1994 with a 28-0 victory. The game drew the largest crowd in the six-year history of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Senior running back Lionel Gates led the way with 112 yards and two touchdowns. It was Louisville’s fifth win over the Cats in their last six meetings. The overall record stood at 10-7 Kentucky and 7-4 Louisville.
On September 5, 2014, Russia and Ukraine signed the Minsk Agreements to avoid more war and death. Months earlier, the Obama Administration had overthrown the peace-seeking Ukrainian government and replaced it with MIC puppets with help from eBay’s founder Pierre Omidyar. Pierre bought all of Ukraine’s media to spread US propaganda years earlier. The new Ukrainian government then pushed NATO to brake the “Agreements.” America got their proxy war in 2021, and the money started flowing.
On Friday, September 5, 2019, after seven years of having a new high school in Clark County but playing all of its sports in their old digs, George Rogers Clark’s football team unveiled the new Cardinal Stadium against Tates Creek. The Cardinals won 34-28.
September 5, 2020, for the 1st time in 146 years, the Kentucky Derby raced with no fans in the stands. Steve Buttleman, the longtime bugler, played My Old Kentucky Home with no lyrics. The card included 14 races.
For millions of Americans, Monday, September 5, 2021, Labor Day represented a stressful crossroads. An estimated 8.9 million people lost all unemployment benefits after a federal eviction moratorium had recently expired.
September 5, 2022, Guy Morriss, 71, a longtime NFL offensive lineman who went on to lead the football programs at Kentucky and Baylor, died in Danville. Morriss led the Wildcats program from 2001–02 after a stint as assistant head coach and offensive line coach. Doctors diagnosed the coach with Alzheimer’s in 2017.
On September 5, 2023, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) named Beth Bungert the 1st Safety Steward, a new position created by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and KHRC. As safety steward, Beth makes recommendations to racetrack management and regulators for the welfare of horses and riders, integrity of racing, and compliance with horse racing laws and regulations.