Photos from the Lexington Herald-Leader archives updated daily

Kentucky wins SEC Tournament, 1992

From left, University of Kentucky players Travis Ford, Deron Feldhaus, Sean Woods, Richie Farmer, Dale Brown, Junior Braddy, Jamal Mashburn and Aminu Timberlake celebrated after the Cats beat Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Tournament title game on March 15, 1992. The 80-54 win gave Kentucky its 16th SEC tourney title and helped solidify the the Cats’ return to college basketball glory after a two-year post-season ban. Ninety minutes after the game, the team watched the NCAA Tournament bracket announcement on television from an O’Charley’s Restaurant in Birmingham, Ala. For winning 11 of its last 12 games, the Cats and their 26-6 record were awarded a No. 2 seed in the East Regional. Their season ended in the East Regional finals against Duke in what is considered by many analysts the greatest college basketball game ever played. Christian Laettner’s buzzer-beater deprived Kentucky of an upset and a trip to the Final Four. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

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Actor Lee Majors, 1978

Film and television actor Lee Majors on Sept. 24, 1978, in Lexington. Majors, known as the star of the TV show “The Six Million Dollar Man,” was visiting Caroline Treviranus at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Majors gave Treviranus the game ball from UK’s win over Baylor. The meeting of the two was spurred by a pair of accidents in Lexington that drew international publicity that week. Treviranus was seriously injured at the World Three-Day Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park when her horse failed to clear a three-rail jump and she was struck on the head by one of the falling rails. Lexington horse farm owner bought the ball for $7,700 at a charity auction and gave it to Majors because “he has had some sorrow in the past few days,” Gentry said. He was referring to the death of stunt man A.J. Bakunas days earlier during the filming of the motion picture “Steel.” Majors, who grew up in Middlesboro, starred in the film. Bakunas died when he attempted to regain his world free-fall record with a 315-foot leap from the top of Lexington’s Kincaid Tower onto a specially designed airbag. The outer section of the airbag ruptured when Bakunas landed on it, and he died the next day. Majors, who graduated from Eastern Kentucky in 1962 with a degree in history and physical education, said he read about Treviranus’ accident and decided to give the game ball to her in memory of the stunt man. “Knowing A.J. and knowing that as a stunt man — you know, stunt men don’t do stunts for the actors. They always are doing their stunts for the people,” Majors said in an emotional statement at the hospital. “I know that A.J. would want me to kind of pass the ball. Maybe that’s something we can do here. Let somebody else score this time.” Majors is returning to Lexington this weekend as one of the celebrity guests at Lexington Comic & Toy Convention. He is scheduled to be there all three days. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff

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Jamal Mashburn, SEC Tournament MVP, 1992

University of Kentucky’s Jamal Mashburn celebrated winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament title game on March 15, 1992, in Birmingham, Ala. Mashburn was named tournament MVP as UK stopped Alabama’s three-year championship run. Mashburn scored 10 of his game-high 28 points during a 30-6 second-half run by the Cats. Mashburn made 12 of 14 shots against Alabama and 26 of 31 in three tournament games (83.8 percent). His stay in Birmingham included four-of-five three-point shooting and 30 rebounds. Afterward, he thought of UK’s four seniors, Richie Farmer, Deron Feldhaus, Sean Woods and John Pelphrey. “I told them, ‘This is the only thing I can give you,'” Mashburn said. “‘I can’t give you any present.’ I can give them an SEC championship.” Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

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Melodeon Hall stage, 1977

The proscenium arch of the Melodeon Hall stage was visible on the third floor of the McAdams & Morford building in October 1977. The building, completed in 1849, once housed one of Lexington’s first large theaters on the second floor. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Recent restoration work on the exterior of the building began after a car wreck damaged the entrance to Harvey’s restaurant Main and Upper Streets, the space once occupied by McAdams & Morford Pharmacy. Click here for Tom Eblen’s story about the renovation. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff

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McDonald’s on East Main Street in Lexington, 1997

The McDonald’s restaurant at 473 East Main Street in Lexington, Oct. 21, 1997. The restaurant was built more than 33 years ago under heavy protest because McDonald’s wanted a drive-through. Neighbors in historical Bell Court and the owners of Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, next door to McDonald’s, vigorously opposed a drive-through. The restaurant took its case to the Kentucky Supreme Court, which declined to review the case in 1985. The restaurant chain tried again in 1987 and in 1997 for a drive-through. McDonald’s eventually moved to Winchester Road. Cielito Lindo, a Mexican restaurant took over the building, but it closed in 2011 and the building was demolished. Recently a coffee shop with a drive-through — possibly Starbucks — was proposed for the site. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

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Cawood Ledford’s final game at Rupp Arena, 1992

Cawood Ledford, the longtime “Voice of the Wildcats,” took his place in the spotlight at midcourt along with his wife, Frances, on March 7, 1992, during a tribute after he called his last game at Rupp Arena. Ledford called UK football and basketball games for 39 years. He spoke only briefly during the ceremony. “It’s a sad time for Frances and for me,” he said, “but you fans have made it really a special and short 39 years, and I’ll always love you, and God bless you.” The game also was Senior Day for “The Unforgettables.” Photo by Charles Bertam | Staff

Athletic Director C.M. Newton spoke March 7, 1992, during a postgame ceremony honoring the 39-year UK broadcasting career of Cawood Ledford. “This is a sad day for all Kentuckians, because Cawood Ledford is as much a part of the University of Kentucky athletics program as was Adolph Rupp, as is blue and white and “My Old Kentucky Home,” Newton said. Behind Newton from left is basketball coach Rick Pitino, Ledford’s wife, Frances, Ledford and football coach Bill Curry. Click here to see more images from our archives of Ledford. Photo by Charles Bertram

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I-75 Clays Ferry bridges, 1989

The former Clays Ferry bridges on Interstate 75, crossing the Kentucky River, Aug. 2, 1989. This view is looking north from Madison County into Fayette County. The bridge on the right was built in 1946 as a link over the Kentucky for U.S. 25. The bridge at left was added in 1963, and the two bridges became part of I-75. This photo was taken when it was announced that almost $70 million would be spent on major I-75 improvements in Fayette, Scott and Madison counties under the state’s six-year road plan. The plan called for widening 36 miles of I-75 around Lexington to six lanes, including a new I-75 bridge at Clays Ferry. Construction of the $32 million bridge, 245.5 feet above the Kentucky River, began in 1994. The bridge, which extends 713 feet across the Kentucky River, was converted into a a single six-lane structure with full shoulders. Completed in 1998, the northbound and southbound roads are each 60 feet wide, twice the width before the renovation. Bridge traffic increased from 30,000 vehicles a day in 1986 to about 40,000 when this picture was taken. In 2015, it was 75,000. Click here to see a picture from our archives of the bridge being built in 1944. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

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Vassar College president-elect, 1946

Sarah G. Blanding, president-elect of Vassar College, and her mother, Mrs. William D. Blanding, at their home on South Broadway in March 1946. Sarah Blanding, who became the first female president of Vassar, assumed her duties on Sept. 1. She was the former dean of women at the University of Kentucky and was dean of the College of Home Economics at Cornell. Herald-Leader Archive Photo

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Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie, 2007

Texas A&M head coach Billy Gillispie watched his team during practice on March 14, 2007, the day before their first-round game in the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. The third-seeded Aggies would go on to win their first round game over Penn and their second-round contest over Louisville, also in Rupp. They lost by one point in the Sweet Sixteen to Memphis and John Calipari. Less than a month later, Gillispie was named coach at Kentucky, where he lasted only two seasons before being fired. In December 2016, he retired from coaching. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff

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Red Cross safety class at Lexington’s Harrison school, 1950

Lexington Fire Chief Earl McDaniel showed Frances Skinner how to put on a gas mask during a Red Cross first aid, accident-prevention and safety class at Harrison School in April 1950. The Lexington school was the second city school to complete the training, which was open to students older than 12. Harrison and Johnson schools received Red Cross certificates for completing the course. Harrison School was at the site of the current Harrison Elementary on Bruce Street. City patrol officer Lloyd Lindsey assisted McDaniel in the class. The students, from left: Carole Lindsey, Louise Hendricks, Patricia Childers, Ermadene Bailey, Mary Jane Thomas, Frances Skinner and Lula Wallace. In the back are Patsy Brown and Wilma Cox. Click here to see a photo from our archives of officer Lindsey disposing of confiscated moonshine in 1951. And click here to see an image of Fire Chief McDaniel inspecting new equipment. Published in the Lexington Herald on April 26, 1950. Herald-Leader Archive Photo.

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