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TODAY IN KENTUCKY HISTORY

Kentucky Trivia

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Lexington native Gideon Shryock, born in 1802.  At 25, he designed the Old State Capitol on his professional debut, built from 1827-30.

Kentucky Trivia:  Other Shryock works include the Old State House in Little Rock, Transy’s Old Morrison built from 1831-34, Franklin County (1832-35), and Jefferson County (1837-60) courthouses.  The Orlando Bloom House in Frankfort is the only known residence Gideon designed.  In 1832, Gideon’s father, Matthias, designed the family home of Mary Todd Lincoln.

November 15, 1843, the Campbell-Rice Debate took place in Lexington.  This healthy community discussion centered around the differences between Christian and Presbyterian views.  Participants included Alexander Campbell, president of Bethany College in West Virginia, who represented Christians, and Reverend Nathan Rice of Paris speaking for the Presbyterian Church.  Henry Clay, in between U.S. Senate, agreed to be a moderator.  J.M. Sandusky, a prominent Missouri lawyer formerly of Lexington, commented at one point, “I should have thought Clay could have made a much better judge of a horse race or good whiskey than a religious debate.”

November 15, 1860, Louisville native Henry Massie Rector became the 6th governor of Arkansas.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Covington native Harry Bartow Hawes, born in 1869.  A lawyer, conservationist, and politician who served in the U.S. House and Senate from Missouri.  He played a major part in securing land for America from the Philippines and the Republic of Hawaii.

November 15, 1900, Officer John Horan of the Louisville Police Department died instantly when his horse bucked him at the intersection of 30th and Walnut Streets.

November 15, 1907, Patrolman Theodore C. Bossung, Louisville Police Department, died after contracting tetanus due to being dragged by a horse ten days earlier.

November 15, 1911, Deputy Sheriff Samuel Henry Bailey, Harlan County Sheriff’s Office, died from a gunshot while serving a warrant on his own son-in-law in the Wallins Creek area.

November 15, 1911, Special Patrolman Francis M. Blair, Whitesburg Police Department, died as he and a deputy sheriff attempted to arrest a wanted man for shooting a policeman in Wise County, Virginia, several days earlier.  The suspect opened fire as the two officers approached his house.

November 15, 1926, City Marshal Charlie Wright, Burnside Police Department, died from a gunshot while making a public drunkenness arrest.  He received a life sentence, however, Acting Governor A. B. Chandler pardoned him on March 4, 1933.

Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native David Russell “Gus” Bell, Jr., born in 1928.  Bell played MLB from 1950 through 1964 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Braves.  He batted left-handed and threw right-handed; in a 15-year career, he hit .281 with 206 home runs, and 942 RBIs in 1,741 games.  He played nine of his 15 seasons with Cincinnati and was the oldest member of a rare three-generation major league family.  His son, Buddy, coached baseball, and both his grandsons, David and Mike, played infielder.

November 15, 1952, Air Force 1STLT Robert M. Giltner from Eminence in Henry County died fighting in the Korean War.

November 15, 1956, a Kentucky circuit court jury awarded $175,000 in damages to Charles Mann, 7, after a free-rolling railway car cut-off his right arm and right leg in 1952; the largest settlement ever returned in a Jefferson Circuit Court.

November 15, 1962, Muhammad Ali (16-0) fought Archie Moore (184-22-11) in Los Angeles Arena.  Moore was among the greatest light heavyweights and prolific fighters of all time (219 professional fights), however he was 45 when he fought Clay, and in the 4th round, Clay knocked him down three times and won with a TKO.  Moore’s next fight was his last, against wrestler Mike DiBiase in Phoenix.  Moore beat up DiBiase and won by TKO in the 3rd round, ending his 27-year career with a victory.

November 15, 1965, Army SGT Paris D. Dusch from Carroll County died fighting in the Vietnam War.

November 15, 1967, Army SP4 Orville Caudill from Laurel County and Army SP4 Jimmy E. Flynn from Pulaski County died fighting in the Vietnam War.

November 15, 1968, the Callihan’s had their first experience of “another world”, when glass began to break in picture frames around their home on Henderson Branch.  One of the first items to break, according to Ora C.allihan was a picture of Jesus.  The Callihans didn’t stay in the home much longer.  They moved to Zimmerman Hill, hoping to escape the unnerving activity.  But on December 7, with a house full of witnesses, the trouble returned. 

On November 15, 1969, Peter, Paul, and Mary were among 500,000 people who gathered in Washington, D.C. as part of the “Vietnam Moratorium.”

November 15, 1970, former Governor B. Combs told a conservation group that the Kentucky General Assembly’s next session should enact a severance tax on coal.  The gubernatorial candidate predicted the coal industry would go along with such a levy if allowed to plan.

On November 15, 1980, bolstered by a tight economy, Kentucky’s colleges and universities registered their largest enrollment increase since 1975.  Figures showed 135,265 full and part-time students enrolled, a 4.7% increase over the previous year.

On November 15, 1986, Senior Day, Kentucky beat Florida 10-3 in Commonwealth Stadium, and Marc Logan got a ride off the field on the shoulders of running backs coach Greg Nord.  The win snapped a six-game losing streak against the Gators.  Logan played for ten years in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with San Francisco in 1995.

November 15, 1990, Pineville dedicated a fortress dam against the Cumberland River.  Over one hundred residents from Pineville and Wallsend, many of whom had been victims of past floods, gathered together for the big day.  The new dam is supposed to guard against the 100-year flood.  The Federal Government paid 74% of the $76 million price tag, and Kentucky paid the remainder.  Rep. Hal Rogers secured funding for three similar projects in Kentucky, Pineville being the first. 

November 15, 1991, former UK basketball coach Joe B. Hall laughed with ex-UCLA basketball coach John Wooden in Lexington.  Wooden was in town for dinner held by the UK’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Foundation.

November 15, 1999, Attorney General Ben Chandler told Kentuckians the electorate would decide if gambling (VLTs) would expand in Kentucky.

November 15, 2001, displaying toughness and single-minded determination, Western Kentucky stunned #4 Kentucky 64-52 in Rupp Arena.  The unranked Hilltoppers held the Wildcats to 33% shooting from the field, forcing 20 turnovers and winning the battle of the boards 40-38.

November 15, 2003, Army Sgt. Michael D. Acklin II, 25, of Louisville, died fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On November 15, 2004, tobacco farmers, buyers, agriculture officials, and warehouse men gathered in Lexington to open the last traditional burley auction.  President Bush’s $10.14 billion buyout ended the federal government providing guaranteed pricing. 

November 15, 2013, L’Oreal USA welcomed Governor S. Beshear at its Florence Manufacturing Plant for the expansion ceremony.

November 15, 2017, Secretary of State A. Grimes and Rep. J. Sims of Flemingsburg held a press conference to urge Kentuckians to legalize medical marijuana. Grimes stated, “The research is done.  The studies have been conducted.  It works and it’s time we end our idling and start having conversations to bring medical marijuana to the Commonwealth.”

November 15, 2019, six months after the Kentucky Derby ended, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Caldwell upheld the stewards’ disqualification of the horse that crossed the finish line first.

Sunday, November 15, 2020, the state again broke the weekly record for positive coronavirus reported.  The governor reported three new deaths, ages 93, 85, and 84.  Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Steven Stack, “Unless Kentuckians come together, we will continue on this dangerous trajectory with disastrous consequences.”

Positives:  1,449 / 137,586
Deaths:  3 / 1,661 – 1st Death 3/16/20
50&over: 1,620 / 49-30: 39 / 29&under: 2

November 15, 2021, a Connecticut judge found Infowars host Alex Jones liable for damages in lawsuits brought by parents of children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

November 15, 2022, Governor A. Beshear signed Executive Order 2022-798 to “provide relief to Kentuckians and allow those suffering from chronic pain and other medical conditions to use medical cannabis.”

November 15, 2022, President J. Biden vetoed a Senate resolution that would have terminated the COVID-19 pandemic.  U.S. Senator R. Marshall called for a vote after Biden told CBS News the pandemic was “over.”  The White House later walked back Biden’s “pandemic over” comment.