March 15, 2025
Cawood Ledford broadcast a race at Keeneland Race Course in April 1964. Ledford was better known as “the voice of the Wildcats” for 39 years as the play-by-play announcer for the University of Kentucky basketball and football teams from 1953 to 1992. His last UK basketball game was “the Christian Laettner” game in the NCAA Tournament regional final on March 28, 1992, when Kentucky fell to Duke 104-103 in overtime. Ledford, who died in 2001, would have turned 89 on April 24. Herald-Leader file photo
Susan Zabenco, chief scorekeeper for the Rolex Three Day Event, had already been working for three hours, putting the competitors and their horses in order, before the day’s competition began on June 4, 1983. The first Three Day Event was held at the Kentucky Horse Park in 1978 and has been held there each year since. Photo by Christy Porter | Staff
An unidentified Cincinnati Reds player signed autographs before an exhibition game with Boston Red Sox on April 9, 1946, at the University of Kentucky’s Stoll Field. It was the first game ever played at UK by two major league teams. Cincinnati won the game, 4-2. The crowd was estimated at 7,000 to 8,000.
Steve Black, left, of Frankfort presented a ribbon to Colonel Carl W. Raguse, riding El Foxo, who received a blue ribbon in the open jumping class during the Iroquois Hunt Club horse show Oct. 12, 1946 at W. Fauntleroy Pursley’s farm on Athens-Boonesboro Road. The club’s horse show included a horse pulling contest and a beef barbecue. Published in the Herald-Leader on Oct. 14, 1946.
Downtown Nicholasville, looking down Main Street (U.S. 27), in March 1979. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff Use the slider below to see the same view of the street today.
Michael Watson, an evangelist from Buhl, Ala., held up a Black Sabbath album on Jan. 10, 1986, during a revival billed as “Rock of the ’80s — A Christian Perspective on Rock Music” at the Winchester Church of God Cathedral. The revival featured the burning of rock records and tapes. Photo by David Perry | Staff
Downtown Wheelwright in Floyd County, Aug. 7, 1979. At the time of this photo, slightly more than 800 people lived in the Eastern Kentucky town. Today it is about the same. The town was founded by the Elk Horn Coal Co. in 1916 and was named for the company’s president at that time, Jere H. Wheelwright. The building with the Wheelwright Clinic sign has since been torn down. Photo by Byran Lutz
Jerry Lovett, director of operations with the Kentucky State Police, introduced “Abby Airbag” during an airbag safety awareness news conference on Feb. 11, 1997, in Frankfort. Kentucky State Police – along with the Chrysler Corp., the American Automobile Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics – launched the public-education campaign that children should sit buckled up in the back seat when they ride in vehicles equipped with air bags. Abby Airbag, dressed in a Kentucky blue and white cheerleader skirt and saddle shoes, helped spread the message at schools and day care centers. Tina Cox, program manager with the Kentucky State Police Highway Safety Standards Branch, came up with the idea for “Abby Airbag” one morning before work. Cox’s husband, Rusty, a firefighter, put his wife’s thoughts on paper, and the sketch was sent to a West Virginia company that makes mascots for colleges and universities. One month and $1,600 later, Kentucky had its spokesperson to spread the word about air bag safety. Photo by Mary Annette Pember | Staff
Home plate was staked out on Nov. 29, 2000, as construction continued on the Lexington Legends’ minor league baseball field and stadium next to Northland Shopping Center. At the time of this picture, the Legends were less than five months from opening day. The stadium was named Applebee’s Park for the team’s first nine seasons. Since 2011, it has been called Whitaker Bank Ballpark. This Thursday is opening day for the Legends’ 2015 season. Photo by David Perry | Staff
An undated photo of the Ades-Lexington Dry Goods Co. building, 249 East Main Street. In 1977, the Ades family discontinued the dry goods business, and the building became a warehouse. The site is now home to Portofino restaurant on the first floor and other businesses, including Thomas & King Inc. Herald-Leader Archive Photo