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TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets

February 25, 1779, the British flag did not rise above Fort Sackville.  At 10 a.m., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark.  His American army, aided by French residents of the Illinois country, had marched through freezing floodwaters to gain this victory.  The fort’s capture assured U.S. claims to the frontier, an area nearly as large as the original 13 states.

February 25, 1917, a quarter-million bushels of grain caught fire in the largest elevator in the south, in downtown Louisville at the Kentucky Elevator Company.  Property for blocks around had sparks thrown on them, including one a mile away that caught fire.

On February 25, 1920, Louisville club women started a concerted effort to stop downtown shops from carrying tight skirts, pointed toes, and French heels.  They became frustrated when they couldn’t find appropriate clothes for their daughters.

February 25, 1921, UK played Tulane in the 1st game of the 1921 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) Tournament in Atlanta, GA.  Cats won 50-28.  Williamsburg native Paul Adkins scored 18.  Kentucky won the tournament in four games under Coach George C. Buchheit.  The SIAA was one of the 1st conference post-season basketball tournaments ever held in the U.S. from 1921 to 1932.

February 25, 1938, William Whitley State Historic Site in Stanford became a Kentucky State Park.  William and Esther Whitley moved to the Kentucky frontier in 1775 and constructed one of Kentucky’s 1st brick homes, completed around 1794.  Sportsman’s Hill included the 1st circular racetrack to run counter-clockwise in the U.S.  Dubbed the “Guardian of Wilderness Road,” pioneers used the home as a fortress against Native American attacks.  Visitors included George Rogers Clark and Daniel Boone.

February 25, 1940, after a five-day home visit in Versailles, Senator Chandler returned to Washington after a cheerful sendoff from supporters at the Union Station when he boarded the eastern bound C&O Train.  He came home to file for reelection.

February 25, 1945, the USS Admiral Hugh Rodman (AP-126) launched.  Frankfort native Admiral Hugh Rodman (1859 –1940), an officer in the U.S. Navy served during the Spanish–American War and World War I.  He later served as the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1919 to 1921.

25 feb 640px USS Admiral Hugh Rodman AP 126
By US Navy photo # 98760

On February 25, 1946, more than 100 UK students and faculty crowded the lt. governor’s office to ask their state government some questions.  Four law students wanted an investigation into construction finances and the petty cash funds for a campus project.

February 25, 1950, Kentucky played its last game in Alumni Gymnasium, beating Vandy 70-66 in a regular-season game.  From 1924, the Cats dominated at home with a 249-24 record.  Alumni held 2,800 and was the 4th Kentucky basketball home.  Coach Rupp led the transition from Alumni Gym to Memorial Coliseum.

February 25, 1951, Chief of Police Pryor Martin, Eminence Police Department, died as he attempted to arrest a suspect.  Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire and kill the suspect.

February 25, 1955, Patrolman William D. Porter, LaGrange Police Department, died as he and the police chief attempted to arrest a suspect who had robbed a supermarket in Louisville.  

February 25, 1957, Minerva native Stanley Forman Reed, 73, retired from the U.S. Supreme Court citing old age.  He served 19 years and 29 days. 

February 25, 1964, Muhammad Ali (19-0) fought Sonny Liston (35-1) in Miami Beach Convention Hall.  Finally, Clay was fighting for the world heavyweight title in one of the most anticipated bouts of that era.  Liston had won his title by knocking out champion Floyd Patterson in the 1st round.  Clay came in as a 7-1 underdog yet taunted Liston before the fight, repeatedly calling the ex-convict, who had alleged ties to organized crime, a “big, ugly bear.”  I’m king of the world! I’m pretty! I’m a bad man! I shook up the world! I shook up the world! I shook up the world!

February 25, 1968, Army SGT Nathan L. Robinson from Harrodsburg died in the Vietnam War.

February 25, 1969, Marine Corps PFC Robert A. Coffey from Greensburg in Green County, Marine Corps LCPL Kenneth R. Gilliam from Lexington, Marine Corps LCPL Donald R. Lewis from Maysville and Marine Corps Allen M. Sharp from Covington, all died in the Vietnam War.

February 25, 1970, the Kentucky Education Association’s desperate late gamble for more teacher pay money, by way of a cigarette tax increase, was axed by the legislative mill.

February 25, 1971, a court denied the request of two women to force the Jefferson County clerk to issue them a marriage license.

February 25, 1974, the Tree Farmer of the Year Award went to Mrs. Mary Chandler at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Forest Industry Association.  She received recognition for her outstanding work on her 176 wooded acres in Anderson County.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Dublin native Patrick Kevin Skinner, born in 1974.  He won the 4th season of America’s Got Talent.

February 25, 1980, Governor John Y. Brown, Jr. met with President Jimmy Carter at the Whitehouse to endorse the president for re-election over Edward Kennedy in the Democratic primary.

February 25, 1991, American aircraft slaughtered retreating Iraqi military personnel attempting to leave Kuwait.  The Highway of Death scenes became the most recognizable images of the Persian Gulf War.  President George H. W. Bush’s declared a cessation of hostilities the next day.

February 25, 1994, Governor B. Jones signed a bill to return the Tulip Poplar as Kentucky’s official tree.

February 25, 2000, seventy-five Kentucky residents representing a wide range of ages and 30 ethnicities became U.S. citizens in Frankfort during two separate naturalization ceremonies.  These ceremonies happen every 45 to 60 days.

February 25, 2000, the 1st individuals to be prosecuted for poaching Elk since the reintroduction in 1997 got off easy.  State Wildlife officials were disappointed the criminals only received a $3,000 fine and no jail.

On February 25, 2005, UPS announced an $82.5 million expansion in Louisville after the state handed over $20 million in incentives.  They said the expansion would create over 400 full-time jobs in ten years.

February 25, 2010, thrill seekers take to the Red River Gorge to ice climb.  Pikeville’s Josh Justice is spotlighted as he climbed an ice covered rock wall near Burning Fork.  The ice climbers prefer the rock cuts made from the construction of U.S. 119.

February 25, 2012, Air Force Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, 44, of Paducah, died fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom.

February 25, 2012, Fairgrounds hosted the GII $300,000 Risen Star Stakes.  Keeneland graduates finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.

On February 25, 2018, Justin Thomas won his 8th PGA event in a playoff against Luke List.  Justin earned $1.224 million of the $6.8 million Honda Classic pursed played in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

February 25, 2020, Kentucky convicted Lexington real estate agent Timothy Wayne Wellman on 11 charges relating to obstructing a federal investigation into alleged illegal contributions to Lexington Council members in the May 2018 elections.

February 25, 2020, the CDC told Americans get ready for the coronavirus, the new virus would appear, the only question was when.

February 25, 2020, Senator C.B. Embry Jr. from Morgantown in Butler County introduced a bill that would let veterinarians report clients’ animal abuse.  Every year since 2007, Kentucky has finished last in a ranking of state animal-protection laws.  The bill became law in July 2020.

On February 25, 2021, less than a year from the 1st death, Kentucky reported 4,570 died with coronavirus with 401,750 positive cases.  Also, 646,836 people received a vaccination at 119 sites.  Already in 2023, an estimated 10,000 Kentuckians have died from cancer.

February 25, 2021, President J. Biden bombed Syria buildings, hiding Iranians, in retaliation for bombings in Iraq.  It gets difficult to follow.

February 25, 2022, Kentucky reported that 13,758 individuals died with coronavirus with 1,274,681 positive cases.

On February 25, 2022, the General Assembly stated they wanted the coronavirus emergency orders canceled; the governor disagreed and vetoed a bill he got in March.