February 24, 2025
Ryan Pitino, 4-year-old ball boy, 1995
Ryan Pitino, Kentucky Coach Rick Pitino’s 4-year-old son, was put to work during the UK-Georgia basketball game on Jan. 14, 1995, helping keep the Rupp Arena floor dry for the perspiring likes of Georgia’s Carlos Strong (25), Ty Wilson (4), Charles Claxton (33) and Kentucky’s Jared Prickett (32). Click here to see another photo of young Pitino. Kentucky plays Georgia tonight. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
Egyptian army delegation visits Man o’ War, 1947
An Egyptian army delegation touring U.S. military installations, including Kentucky’s Fort Knox, made the trip to Faraway Farm in Fayette County to meet Man o’ War on May 4, 1947. Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Pasha Atalla, chief of staff of the Egyptian army, gave Big Red a pat as he was held by groom Bob Groves. Maj. Gen. John W. Leonard, right, commanding general of the armored center at Fort Knox, looked on. In the background are several Egyptian and American officers, members of the entourage that accompanied the generals to Lexington. Man o’ War, considered one of the greatest Thoroughbred racehorses of all time after winning 20 of 21 races, died five months later. Lexington’s Man o’ War Boulevard is named after him. A life-size sculpture and memorial marks his grave site at the Kentucky Horse Park. The park recently announced that it is planning a yearlong celebration to honor the great Thoroughbred’s 100th birthday. An exhibit featuring artifacts from his career will open March 29 at the park, which is planning other events to honor the horse. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Cynthiana’s Harrison Hotel, 1951
The Harrison Hotel on downtown Cynthiana’s Main Street, January 1951. Note that the building advertises that it is air conditioned and has a coffee shop and dairy bar inside. Next to the building on East Pleasant Street was a Standard Oil gas station. The photo went with a standing feature on various communities in Central Kentucky. The story highlighted the addition of industries and a growing hospital as signs of civic growth in the city of about 4,800. Residents also cited progressive civic organizations as evidence that they live in the “finest town on Earth.” Today, the building is the Harrison House Apartments. Click here to see other images of Cynthiana from our archives. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Kentucky and Kansas in NCAA tournament, 1999
Kentucky’s Desmond Allison guarded Kansas’ Ryan Robertson in the first weekend of the NCAA tournament on March 14, 1999, in New Orleans. Robertson, who hit four three-pointers and 13 of 14 free throws, scored a game-high 31 points for the Jayhawks in a losing effort against the Wildcats. Kentucky won 92-88 in OT, advancing to play Miami (Ohio) in the regional in St. Louis, and winning that game, 58-43. Kentucky could n’t advance past Michigan State in the second regional game, losing 66-73, finishing the season under Tubby Smith at 28-9. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff
Lafayette-Clark County basketball game, 1950
Lafayette High School guard Jimmy Hutchens put up a shot during the Generals’ game against Clark County on Dec. 2, 1950. It was a rematch of the previous season’s finals of the state basketball tournament, won by Lafayette. This time, Clark County got revenge in front of the 5,000 fans at UK’s Memorial Coliseum, winning 55-51. The Cardinals would finish the season by winning the school’s first state title. In 1963, Clark County was consolidated with Winchester High School and is now known as George Rogers Clark High School. Published Dec. 3, 1950, in the Sunday Herald-Leader
Brent Musburger arrives in Lexington for NCAA Final Four, 1985
Sportscaster Brent Musburger, center, waited for his luggage on March 27, 1985, after arriving at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport for the NCAA Final Four at Rupp Arena. The lead voice for CBS Sports was greeted by NCAA hospitality volunteers as soon as he stepped off the plane, thrusting a tray of brightly wrapped candies towards him. “Welcome to God’s country. Have a bourbon ball,” Pat Shropshire, the head of the airport hospitality committee, urged in her best welcome-to-Lexington voice. No sooner had Musburger sidestepped the sweets than an eager army of volunteers surrounded him, dispensing NCAA buttons, patches and directions. He was among the first of a large group of tournament visitors to arrive in Lexington. Other passengers on Musburger’s flight got the same treatment, and many appeared bewildered by the hearty hellos. Five days later, Musburger did play-by-play while Billy Backer provided color commentary on Villanova’s historic NCAA championship upset over heavily favored Georgetown. Musburger announced Wednesday, Jan. 25, that he is retiring from sportscasting. Photo by Christy Porter | Staff
Navy’s David Robinson in record-breaking game at Rupp Arena, 1987
Navy’s David Robinson blocked a shot by Kentucky’s Rob Lock on Jan. 25, 1987, at Rupp Arena. Robinson finished the game with 45 points and 10 blocks, both Rupp Arena records. He also had 14 rebounds, giving him the only triple-double by a men’s college player in Rupp history. He was so good that Kentucky, its coach, Eddie Sutton, and ABC analyst Dick Vitale gave him a standing ovation when he exited the game. The 7-foot-1 center blocked layup attempts — and even a three-pointer — and scored 12 of Navy’s first 14 points and 19 of the first 23. Ten of those points came on dunks. The halftime score was UK 40, Robinson 21. “He’s the best I’ve ever played against,” Lock said. “I thought I was a pretty good defensive player, but I couldn’t defend him at all. I was lucky he scored only 45 points.” Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Thompson-Boling Arena construction, 1986
Construction of the University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, June 11, 1986. The home of the Tennessee men’s and women’s basketball teams opened in 1987 and is currently the third-largest on-campus basketball arena in the country, with a seating capacity of 21,678. The distance from the playing floor to the roof is 120 feet, the equivalent of a 12-story building. In 2008, the stadium underwent a $35 million renovation that added loge seating and 32 luxury suites on the arena’s north side. Only Syracuse’s Carrier Dome, which also is used for football, and UNC’s Dean Smith Center can seat more on-campus basketball fans. Men’s basketball games against Kentucky account for four of the six highest-attended men’s games at the arena. The Cats play the Volunteers on Tuesday at Thompson-Boling. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
University of Kentucky campus, 1954
A 1954 aerial view of the University of Kentucky campus, centered on a men’s dormitory, to be named Donovan Hall, being built, center right, facing Rose Lane. It was completed in 1955 and was named to honor the service of Herman L. Donovan, president of the university at that time. A livestock exhibition building also was being built, above and to the right of the dorm. This view of south campus precedes the building of the medical center, which would later sit where the open field is farther out Rose Lane, closer to the intersection with South Limestone, seen at top right. In the upper middle of the image on the farmland is the future site of Commonwealth Stadium, and the heavily wooded area to the left is now the site of the W.T. Young Library. Click on the image for a closer look, and click here to see a different view of campus nine years earlier. Published in the Lexington Leader on Oct. 6, 1954. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
View from Fayette County Courthouse bell tower, 1974
A view from the old Fayette County Courthouse bell tower, looking down on Cheapside Park and Main Street in December 1974. Click here to see another view of the bell tower, looking toward Market and Short streets. Photo by Tom Carter | Staff
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Kentucky.com news feed
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