May 19, 2024
Tornado aftermath in West Liberty, March 2, 2012
The scene in downtown West Liberty on the night of March 2, 2012, after an EF-3 tornado damaged or destroyed multiple businesses and homes. Six people were killed and at least 75 were injured. The National Weather Service said the tornado traveled 85 miles from Menifee County to Lincoln County, W.Va., making it the longest track of any tornado in the United States in 2012. Photo by John Flavell
WKYT’s Bill Bryant, 1990
WKYT-TV broadcaster and anchor Bill Bryant on May 31, 1990. Bryant, a Kentucky native, has been at WKYT for more than 30 years. He currently co-anchors morning and noon news programs for WKYT and their partner station WDKY-56. He also is managing editor for the CBS affiliate station and is the longest-serving male news anchor in Lexington television history. Since 2015, Bryant has been the host of “Comment on Kentucky,” the longest-running public affairs show on the Kentucky Educational Television network. Bryant attended Cumberland College before earning his degree in broadcasting and political science from Eastern Kentucky University in 1985. EKU has honored him by inducting him into the school’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni. Bryant was recently among 18 regional reporters selected for dinner with President Donald Trump at the White House. Photo by Clay Owen | Staff
Kentucky basketball’s “Unforgettables,” 1992
The University of Kentucky 1991-92 basketball team’s senior class, also known as “The Unforgettables,” in March 1992 in downtown Lexington. From left, Richie Farmer, Deron Feldhaus, Sean Woods and John Pelphrey. The four UK seniors, three of whom are Kentucky natives, went through tough times when UK was on probation but hung around long enough to see the program resurrected. On March 7, 1992, these players guided the Cats to a 99-88 win over Tennessee, giving UK its 28th straight senior day victory. The game also marked the last call by longtime radio play-by-play announcer Cawood Ledford in Rupp Arena. The Unforgettables’ jerseys are retired, and banners hang in Rupp Arena honoring them. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Silvestri’s market set to close, 1961
Three generations of Silvestris prepared to close the fruit store that the family had operated for many years at the entrance to the Lafayette-Phoenix parking garage on East Main Street. Joe, left, his son, David, and his father, Harry, closed the market after business hours the day after this photo was taken, Aug. 10, 1961. The store was formerly known as Marcellino’s and was first opened in 1896 by Italian-born Anthony Marcellino. After Anthony’s death in 1940, his son-in-law, Harry Silvestri, took over operation of the store. Shelves were stocked with foods packed in countries from Israel to Japan. Silvestri’s carried a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, plus exotic foods, such as chocolate-covered ants and grasshoppers, and rattlesnake meat. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Turner brothers with 29-pound catfish, 1946
Brothers Pat Turner, left, of Boyle County and Hugh Turner of Lexington displayed a 29-pound “yellow cat” caught on a trot line near the Chenault bridge on Herrington Lake in July 1946. Along with another brother, Bill Turner, the three caught about 35 fish. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Kentucky-Florida game at Rupp Arena, 1992
Kentucky’s Jamal Mashburn and Florida’s Stacey Poole went after a rebound on Jan. 11, 1992, during the Cats’ 81-60 win over the Gators at Rupp Arena. Poole finished with 21 points. Mashburn had 18, 14 of which came in the second half, helping the 15th-ranked Cats pull away after a one-point lead at halftime. UK went on to finish the year winning the SEC East regular season title and the SEC Tournament. They lost in the NCAA East Regional Finals to Duke. Photo by Janet Worne | Staff
Mitch McConnell, 1978
Then-Jefferson County Judge-Executive Mitch McConnell, at the Kentucky Federation of Republican Women’s meeting on Jan. 11, 1978, at Lexington’s Hilton Inn. McConnell, then 35, had defeated Democrat Todd Hollenbach two months earlier, becoming the highest-ranking Republican officeholder in the state. He told board members of the group that the way for Republicans to get elected in Kentucky was to start early, work hard and not emphasize party labels. A trend away from voting along party lines is good for the minority Republicans, he said, because “if they vote the party line, we lose.” … “The way to win … while maintaining the party base, is to have a good strong candidate who isn’t too strongly identified with the party.” McConnell offered to help other Republicans who wanted to run for office in the state. “A one-party state is not healthy,” he said. “We are not strong enough in Frankfort right now to be taken seriously, and that’s bad for the people.” Click here to see other photos from our archives of McConnell, now the U.S. Senate majority leader, who was recently back in Kentucky for several meetings with constituents. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
Artist Joe Petro presents President Eisenhower with Man o’ War drawing, 1954
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, left, received a pencil drawing of Man o’ War from Transylvania student Joe Petro on April 23, 1954. Transylvania President Frank Rose was at right. Petro, a Lexington native, graduated from Henry Clay High School before studying art at Transylvania. He became an accomplished artist and returned to Transy in 1977 to become artist-in-residence. Eisenhower was in Lexington to speak during the convocation marking the 175th anniversary of the founding of the school. An estimated 6,500 to 7,000 people attended. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
All-city elementary school band members, 1948
From left, three members of the all-city elementary school band, Orcena Lyle, Connie Lyle and Betty Jean Gourley, rehearsed for the city school music festival with director Joseph Friedman in April 1948. The concert was held April 30 at the Henry Clay High School auditorium. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic, 1999
Jockey Chris Antley and Charismatic received the traditional blanket of roses after winning the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 1999, at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Charismatic, who fell short in his Triple Crown bid, finishing third in the Belmont Stakes, died Sunday at Georgetown’s Old Friends Equine farm. He was 21. Photo by David Coyle
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Kentucky.com news feed
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