TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023

Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets

February 22, 1834, the General Assembly approved “an act authorizing the building of an Arsenal for the security and preservation of the public arms on the public square in Frankfort to hold all the state’s store of public arms.”

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Newport native Josephine Kirby Henry, born in 1846. The Progressive Era womens’ rights leader, suffragist, social reformer, and writer lived in Versailles. She successfully promoted legislation to grant married women property rights.

636px Josepine K Henry 1898 cropped — ^{This item is part of the Laura Clay papers, 1906-1920}

February 22, 1860, Kentucky created Magoffin County from Floyd County, Johnson County, and Morgan County and named it in honor of Beriah Magoffin, Kentucky’s 21^st governor. Salyersville is the county seat. Other localities include: Elsie, Falcon, Foraker, Fredville, Gunlock, Hendricks, Ivyton, Logville, Royalton, Sublett, Swampton, Wheelersburg, and Wonnie. The 106^th created, Magoffin County covers 309 square miles.

KY 1860

640px Map of Kentucky highlighting Magoffin County.svg — ^{By David Benbennick}

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to the University of Kentucky. On February 22, 1865; John Bryan Bowman founded the Agricultural and Mechanical College, a branch of Kentucky University (Transy) by way of the General Assembly’s Morrill Land-Grant Act provisions.

February 22, 1867, ex-Confederates dominated the Kentucky Democratic convention that met in Frankfort. They eventually picked John L. Helm, whose father was a Confederate General. Helm resigned his state senate seat to accept the nomination. Though his health was frail, he was determined to canvass the entire state. He won his 2^nd non-consecutive governorship in the general election later that year.

February 22, 1908, the Coliseum basketball team of Louisville defeated Agriculture and Mechanical College of Kentucky (UK) 30-18. The Louisville Coliseum hosted the game. The press referred to UK’s team as the Kentucky State College Five. In 1908, the school changed its name from A&M Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky to the State University, Lexington, Kentucky.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Garfield native David “Big Dave” DeJernett, born in 1912. In 1930, DeJernett became the 1^st African-American in U.S. history to lead an integrated basketball team to a major tournament championship.

Kentucky Trivia: In 1816, Abraham Lincoln stayed at an inn in Garfield as a child when the family moved to Indiana. According to tradition, the slaves at the inn refused to eat with the poor white trash Lincoln.

Feb 22 Dejernett 1929 yearbook — ^{By 1929 High School Yearbook, Fair Use}

February 22, 1916, State University, Lexington (UK) traveled to the YMCA Arena in Louisville to play UofL. Coach James Park’s traveling five won over Ed Bowman’s five players, 32-24. In 1916, the school changed names again, from State University, Lexington, Kentucky to the University of Kentucky.

February 22, 1925, Deputy Sheriff Joseph Talt Hall, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot in Martin, at the Beaver Valley Junction train depot, while attempting to arrest a man wanted for manufacturing moonshine.

February 22, 1932, Special Deputy Sheriff Fountain Pace Pendleton, Green County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot shot in a case of mistaken identity while serving a warrant. The sheriff had deputized him and another citizen to help.

On February 22, 1946, 39-year-old Rep. Kelse H. Risner from Lee City told the press he received a bribe. A utility lobbyist offered him $5,000 for his vote on a crucial bill just before the holiday recess. Mr. Risner called it an insult.

February 22, 1952, Louisville officials issued an ultimatum to striking garbage, street, and park workers to return to their jobs or lose them. Meanwhile, workers at the International Harvester Plant began their strike in Jefferson County.

February 22, 1966, Army SP4 James L. Fain from Ashland in Boyd County and Marine Corps LCPL George B. Givens, Jr. from Robards in Henderson County died in the Vietnam War.

February 22, 1969, Marine Corps LCPL Michael L. Cruse from Valley Station in Jefferson County and Marine Corps CPL Edward S. Gum from Louisville died in the Vietnam War.

February 22, 1969, Barbara Jo Rubin became the 1^st woman jockey to win a pari-mutuel (betting) race at a major American thoroughbred track. She rode Cohesion to a neck victory in the 9^th race at Charles Town. Thirty years later, Charles Town created the Barbara Jo Rubin Stakes in her honor.

February 22, 1971, Adolph Rupp chatted with Alabama coach and former Kentucky player C.M. Newton at Memorial Coliseum. Rupp, then 69, was sidelined for the game with a foot infection complicated by diabetes.

February 22, 1974, Kentucky received an additional allocation of 8.3 million gallons of gasoline for the rest of February, the federal government announced.

February 22, 1980, close to 7,000 people drove from all corners of the Commonwealth to Memorial Coliseum to watch the Wildcats 1^st open practice in Lexington, and it was free. Kentucky traditionally held an open session in Louisville before the annual game with Notre Dame, but people usually had to pay. Kyle Macy was the star attraction.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Rajon Pierre Rondo, born in 1986.

On February 212, 1990, former President Ronald Reagan testified via videotape at a Washington, D.C. federal courthouse. He testified about America illegally selling weapons to one part of the globe and, with that money, funding a war in another part of the world.

February 22, 1996, Floyd County Attorney Jim Hammond pleaded guilty to federal charges of defrauding the child-support program of $100,000 and writing $8 million in bad checks. His wife also pleaded guilty. Hammond, 51, resurrected his career after being disbarred 15 years ago. He got his license back in 1988.

February 22, 2003, Louisville native and screenwriter Daniel Taradash passed over. His credits include Golden Boy (1939), From Here to Eternity (1952), Rancho Notorious (1952), Don’t Bother to Knock (1952), Désirée (1954), Picnic (1955), Storm Center (1956), which he also directed, Bell, Book and Candle (1958), Morituri (1965), Hawaii (1966), Castle Keep (1969), Doctors’ Wives (1971), and Bogie (1980), a film biography of Humphrey Bogart.

Kentucky Trivia: The 1^st Hollywood movie filmed in Kentucky was The Kentuckian. Tinseltown followed up with April Love, Raintree County in 1957 and Some Come Running in 1958.

February 22, 2006, wearing a white robe emblazoned with the Kentucky seal, Governor E. Fletcher made his 1^st public appearance after being hospitalized since February 12 for gallbladder problems, pancreatitis, and bloodstream infections.

February 22, 2014, a Kentucky bred and Keeneland graduate won Gulfstream Park’s GII $415,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes by a head.

February 22, 2015, Mike Harmon, Kentucky’s top auditor, focused on the Kentucky Horse Park. The audit showed a lack of best practices with a disregard for structure.

February 22, 2018, Betsy Layne native Bette Joan Henritze passed over. The actress of stage, film, and television hailed from Floyd County.

February 22, 2019, President Donald Trump announced he wanted Kelly Craft from Lexington to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. At the time, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Meanwhile, Governor Matt Bevin ignored his low polling numbers.

On February 22, 2020, the House introduced a bill to aggressively tax houseboats for more revenue. For example, Green River housed approximately 200 houseboats; the state received taxes for only 50 in 2019. The tax man claimed these stats played out on all Kentucky lakes and rivers.

February 22, 2020, a Kentucky bred won Santa Anita’s GII $202,000 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares four-year-olds and upward.

February 22, 2020, St. Xavier High School won their 32^nd straight state swimming title. UK’s Lancaster Aquatic Center hosted the 2020 championships.

February 22, 2021, Fayette County students passed through thermal temperature scanners on their 1^st day back since the coronavirus shut the school doors in March 2020. Meanwhile, on the governor’s daily update, Kentucky announced the 6^th straight week of declining cases.

February 22, 2022, Mitch and Joe, who worked together for over 30 years, got tough on Russia together, calling for sanctions as the U.S. prepared for another war. Meanwhile, locals learned about the bizarre murder of Jordon Morgan at her father’s well-protected home in Madison County.