September 4, 1804, Christopher Greenup’s inauguration as Kentucky’s 3rd governor occurred under an elm tree on the south lawn of the Old Capitol. The 1st lawyer to be governor also held the 1st inaugural ball, which took place at Weisinger’s Tavern in Frankfort on August 28.
September 4, 1832, John Breathitt became Kentucky’s 11th governor. The 1st Democrat to hold the office became the 2nd to die in office. Shortly after he passed, Breathitt County came into existence.
September 4, 1844, William Owsley became the 16th governor, served his term and never ran for office again.
September 4, 1855, Charles Slaughter Morehead became the 20th governor of Kentucky and the only one from the “No Nothing Party” which arose in response to an influx of migrants. Candidates promised to “purify” American politics.
On September 4, 1864, the men in blue captured Henry Clay’s grandson Harry in a raid and forced him to identify General Morgan’s dead body for Union commanders.
On September 4, 1876, locals dedicated Centennial Park. Lexington later changed the name to Benjamin Gratz Park. For the next 25 years, it was the center of community gatherings. The activities included horse shows, band concerts, public meetings, and militia drills. Howard Gratz continued to care for this property owned by Transylvania until the turn of the century. In the 1890s, he planted many of the park’s tulip poplars after a great storm had ravaged the older trees.
September 4, 1916, President W. Wilson passed through Lexington on his way to and from Hodgenville to accept the Lincoln Memorial on behalf of the federal government. A small delegation saw him off at 3:00 a.m.; however, 4,000 to 6,000 greeted him on his 8:55 p.m. return.
September 4, 1920, a match race decided the 1 5/8-mile Lawrence Realization in Belmont Park. Man o’ War defeated Hoodwink by “100 lengths” to set a new American time of 2:40 4/5. His 18th race would leave three more.
On Tuesday, September 4, 1923, Governor E. Morrow held Pardon Day, where he read inmate petitions. Traditionally, the day occurred on the 1st Monday in September.
September 4, 1950, Army PFC Finley Grills from Harlan County, Army SGT Stanley W. Bear from Greenup County, Army PFC Charles W. Bragg from Jefferson County, Army SFC Hoe D. Carter from Allen County, Army SGT Orvel J. Johnson from Boyd County, Army SFC Ed F. Mercer from Wayne County, Army PFC William Spradlin from McCreary County, Army PFC Cleve R. Stevens from McCreary County, and Army CPL Mathew Tuttle from Knott County, all died in the Korean War.
September 4, 1951, Army PFC Felix G. Sharp from Breckinridge County, died in the Korean War.
September 4, 1956, Governor A. Chandler called out 900 guardsmen and several M47 Patton tanks to disperse a crowd at Sturgis High School in Union County. The group came when nine black students attempted to enter the all-white High School, and 500 opponents of integration blocked the doors. The confrontation lasted a total of 18 days.
September 4, 1959, Kelso ran his maiden race. Bohemia Stable of Mrs. Allaire du Pont, gelded the homebred son of Your Host before his 1st start, which resulted in a victory in an Atlantic City maiden race at 6-1 odds – the highest odds of his 63-race career.
September 4, 1967, Air Force CAPT Virgil K. Kelley, Jr. from Junction City in Boyle County and Army PFC Manford D. Stewart from Owensboro, both died in the Vietnam War.
At 9:00 a.m. on September 4, 1976, 118 trained pigeons raced from Somerset to their pens at 1110 Sparks Road in Lexington for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. A majority arrived at 10:30 a.m., but by 8:00 p.m., 18 pigeons remained in the wild blue yonder. Locals had a chance to sponsor a pigeon for $5, they had 49 takers. Contestant USA76-LKY-169, sponsored by Mr. Wiggs Dept. Store, won.
On September 4, 1980, while hippie Abby Hoffman surrendered to NY police after being on the run for six years, Governor John Y. Brown, Jr. named the state’s 1st black prison warden. Paul A. Kavanaugh took control of the Blackburn Correctional Complex in Lexington.
September 4, 1990, Louisville native Irene Dunne passed away. The actress and singer appeared in Hollywood films during the golden age. She is best known for her comedic roles, and being snubbed by the Academy Awards, possibly the most notorious one.
September 4, 1998, Margie Waugh, a former Sadieville city clerk who embezzled more than $55,000 and disappeared for 7 1/2 years, got the mercy she requested from a judge: a six-month jail sentence. Judge Robert Overstreet had her back in Glen Rose, Texas – the small town where she gave herself a new name and built a new life – in time for the holidays.
September 4, 1999, Kentucky opened the newly renovated and expanded Commonwealth Stadium and lost to Louisville 56-28 in front of a record crowd of 70,692. Uof Quarterback Dusty Bonner tied a school record with 74 offensive plays and passed for 446 yards in his 1st career start. Hal Mumme and John Smith were in the middle of their coaching stints. Tim Couch came home and presided over his #2 jersey retirement ceremony at halftime. The series stood at 9-3 in UK’s favor.
September 4, 2003, State Senator Dan Seum from Louisville filed a bill that would overturn Lexington’s smoking ban in workplaces, including bars and restaurants, and stop a similar ordinance from gaining traction in Louisville.
Sunday, September 4, 2005, Michael Bush rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns, and Elvis Dumervil added a school-record six sacks as #12 Louisville held off Kentucky 31-24 in Lexington. Louisville played its 1st season in the Big East, and the Cardinals moved within two games of tying the 10-8 series.
September 4, 2006, a short-tail stingray barbed Steve Irwin in the chest while filming in the Great Barrier Reef with Philippe Cousteau Jr. Irwin’s death is believed to be the only fatality from a stingray captured on video.
September 4, 2017, Justin Thomas cruised to a 5-under 66 to secure a three-shot victory in the Dell Technologies Championship over Jordan Spieth. The win came less than a month after he captured the PGA Championship for his 1st major title.
September 4, 2020, Kentucky endured the deadliest week for the coronavirus with 66 deaths; therefore, the governor issued another Executive Order to extend the mask mandate for another 30 days.
September 4, 2021, Kentucky opened with a 45-10 crushing of Louisiana-Monroe. The Cats would win on New Year’s Day in the Citrus Bowl against #17 Iowa 20-17, ending the season 10-3 ranked #18.
On September 4, 2022, the Kentucky State Treasurer confirmed they had $800 million in unclaimed property. Property could include settlement payouts, vendor payments, safe despot boxes, insurance policies, and stock earnings.