Kentucky Trivia
One has to remember that every failure can be a stepping stone to something better. Colonel Sanders
The Virginia Gazette of September 9, 1775, described an exhibition of Morgan’s Riflemen or Morgan’s Rifles, previously Morgan’s Sharpshooters. “A man held between his knees a board 5 inches wide and seven inches long, with a paper bulls-eye the size of a dollar. A rifleman at 60 yards without a rest, put eight bullets in succession through the bulls-eye.”
Localtonians wish a Happy birthday to John Breathitt, Kentucky’s 11th governor, born in 1786. Two of his younger brothers also became active in politics: George Breathitt served as a private secretary to President A. Jackson. James Breathitt became the Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Bracken County native John Gregg Fee, born in 1816. The abolitionist, minister, and educator founded Berea the City and Berea College in 1855, the 1st college in the South with interracial and coeducational admissions.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Speed Smith Fry, born in 1817 in Mercer County (now Boyle County) near Danville. The lawyer, judge, and Brigadier General (Union Army) had close ties to Abe Lincoln.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Harland David Sanders, born in 1890.
On September 9, 1899, Shelbyville native James Franklin Bell fought near Porac on Luzon Island in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War. For his actions on this day, he received the Medal of Honor.
September 9, 1913, Monroe County native Benton McMillin became the U.S. Minister to Peru during the Harding administration.
September 9, 1944, 19-year-old Venus Ramey from Ashland became Miss America, the 1st red-headed winner. Her mother picked the name Venus partly because it was a catchy stage name. She guided her daughter through the pageant world, and they won Miss Kentucky at age 14.
Friday, September 9, 1949, Cloverpoint native Wiley Rutledge spent his last day in the 5th seat of the U.S. Supreme Court.
September 9, 1950, Army PVT Howard Burkhart from Harlan County died in the Korean War.
September 9, 1951, Army PFC Fred Bargo, Jr. from Harlan County, Army PFC Jesse Barrett from Clay County, and Army SGT Floyd B. Sallee from Mercer County, all died in the Korean War.
September 9, 1960, 19-year-old Cassius Clay, Jr. returned home to Kentucky after winning gold in the light heavyweight division in Rome. Ali tells the story of not being served food in an all-white restaurant and throwing his medal in the Ohio River soon after returning. Ali later said he lost the gold medal in a house move.
September 9, 1967, Marine Corps PFC Joseph B. Sumpter from McRoberts in Letcher County died in the Vietnam War.
September 9, 1975, Governor J. Carroll made his 1st visit to Louisville since the violent antischool busing demonstrations. He met with the Kentucky National Guard and State Police who helped restore order.
Sunday, September 9, 1984, at approximately 11:20 p.m., Livingston County Deputy Sheriff Carnie Hopkins notified his dispatch he would be checking on a hitchhiker, three miles east of Smithland, known as “The Monument.” A short time later, locals found Deputy Hopkins murdered, at this location.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Shelbyville native Brandon Ashur, born in 1985.
On September 9, 1987, Turfway Park became the 1st track in Kentucky to offer Pick 3 wagering.
Sunday, September 9, 1990, at 6:00 a.m., WHAS 11 switched from being the CBS affiliate to the ABC affiliate.
September 9, 1991, Utica native Belinda Mason, 33, who fought the AIDS battle nationally, died at Vanderbilt University. In 1989, President Bush appointed her to the National Commission on AIDS; she was the only member with the disease.
On September 9, 1992, Governor B. Jones wanted every Kentuckian to have health insurance by the end of 1993. He wanted businesses to provide coverage for all full-time and part-time workers and requested the state pick up the cost for the poor. The endless wars in the Middle East got in his way.
September 9, 1996, Rosine native William Smith Monroe died.
September 9, 1999, Jose Carlos Gonzalez, the defending 1998 Fairplex riding champion, defending his title on opening day, died from a spill on the final turn of the 5th race. Wolfhunt, his mount, also suffered a fatal injury.
September 9, 2000, about 200 guests attended a brief funeral service for Cawood Ledford in Harlan. A former team Chaplin, Father Ed Bradley, reminded the congregation that the famous broadcaster was a private man who disliked having a fuss made over him.
September 9, 2001, Covington native Brandon Berger made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals.
September 9, 2007, Jared Lorenzen’s 1st significant regular-season appearance with the Giants occurred when he took over for the injured Eli Manning in the 4th quarter of the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
September 9, 2016, it took more than 100 years but the Murray Fire Department swore in their 1st female firefighter. Shae McKinney, 25, received her badge at the Robert O. Miller Conference Center.
September 9, 2016, Hillary Clinton used the phrase Basket of Deplorables at fundraising event. The presidential nominee used the phrase to describe “half” of the supporters of her opponent, nominee Donald Trump, saying, “They’re racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic.”
Political Trivia: Hillary, one of the most seasoned politicians, lost to a game show host who conned young people out of money. Instead of asking how the Donkeys could make themselves more attractive to voters, they deflected and started Russiagate.
September 9, 2017, Kentucky Downs ran their featured race of the meet, the GIII $600,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Kentucky for three-year-olds and upward.
On September 9, 2020, Governor A. Beshear announced that over 1,000 Kentuckians had died from coronavirus. Meanwhile, the owners of American Pharoah filed for bankruptcy, and President D. Trump put Kentucky’s AG and Elizabethtown native Daniel Cameron on the long list for the Supreme Court.
Positives: 667 / 53,997
Deaths: 16 / 1,013 – 1st death March 16, 2020
50&over: 985 / 49-30: 27 / 29&under: 1
September 9, 2021, while the General Assembly voted to end the school mask mandates, President J. Biden addressed the nation on the “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” He ordered all employers with 100 or more employees, which is 80 million workers, to get their workforces fully vaccinated or show a negative test at least once a week. Federal employees/contractors and healthcare workers also fell under the mandate.
September 9, 2022, King Charles III, 73, vowed in his 1st speech as monarch to carry on his mother’s work with his modernizing stamp. Charles is of the Windsor dynasty, and his father is a Mountbatten. Early in her reign, Queen Elizabeth II decreed that her descendants’ last name would be Mountbatten-Windsor.
Kentucky Trivia: The 10 most popular names given to boys born in Kentucky in 2022: Liam (260 births) Noah (235) Oliver (228) William (223) Asher (203) Waylon (201) Elijah (199) James (196) Levi (189) Hudson (183).
Kentucky Trivia: The 10 most popular names for Kentucky girls in 2022: Harper (202 births) Olivia (194) Amelia (188) Emma (179) Charlotte (165) Ava (160) Evelyn (151) Paisley (150) Isabella (141) Willow (133).