Kentucky Trivia
If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it–then I can achieve it. Muhammad Ali
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.
September 5, 1981, Henry Clay graduate Greg Long put on a defensive clinic, tying a UK record with three interceptions and setting a school record with 155 interception return yards. Kentucky won their season opener in a 28-6 victory over North Texas.
September 5, 1981, singer Chubby Checker performed at the breeding-season auction charity in Lexington’s Hyatt Regency. They auctioned of 14 breeding seasons for selective stallions for the Ephraim McDowell Cancer Research Foundation.
September 5, 1998, the Wildcats put on quite possibly their greatest offensive performance in school history when they traveled to Louisville to take on the Cardinals in their 1st game ever played at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The Cats won 68-34. 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). Kentucky won 68-34. 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 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, Lionel Gates ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns for Coach Petrino and Louisville earned its 1st shutout in four years with a 28-0 victory over Kentucky. The Cardinals won the traditional opener for the 5th time in six years and enjoyed their most lopsided win over the Wildcats since a 56-28 victory in 1999. The record stood at 10-7, advantage Kentucky.
September 5, 2009, Rachel Alexandra ended her three-year-old season, 8 for 8, undefeated, by winning the Woodward (GI). For the 1st time all year a few of the boys came close, but she put them away to be the 1st female of any age to win the historic Woodward Stakes. The race call was also one for the books.
On September 5, 2009, the Wildcats traveled to Cincinnati to play in Paul Brown Stadium to open their season. They shut out the Warhawks of Miami (Ohio) 42-0, their 1st shutout since 1996 and their largest shutout since 1984. Coach Brooks ended the season 7-6 and lost in the Music City Bowl.
September 5, 2013, Richie Farmer, 44, pleaded guilty to charges that he misused state resources as Agriculture Commissioner; Richie’s sister avoided charges by resigning. Meanwhile, in Richie’s hometown, three of eight persons admitted to a wide-ranging scheme to buy Clay County votes.
Kentucky Trivia: The 42 ethics charges against the former basketball star are the most Kentucky has ever levied against one individual. They included misuse of state employees, misuse of state resources, improper use of grants, and misuse of Kentucky proud marketing funds.
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 them with MIC puppets. NATO eventually broke the “Agreements,” and America got their proxy war in 2021; 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.
Positives: 790 / 52,464
Deaths: 6 / 993 – 1st death March 16, 2020
50&over: 965 / 49-30: 27 / 29&under: 1
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.