KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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"Uncle" Charlie Moran
(Marker Number: 1091)

County: Boyle
Location: Centre College Campus, Danville, US 127, 150

Description: Colorful college football coach and National Baseball League umpire. Coached Praying Colonels of Centre College into national football spotlight, 1916-23. See other side. First coached, 1898-99, at Bethel College, Russellville, Ky. Then held four other coaching positions before going to Texas A. and M., where he coached, 1908-13, and at Carlisle Indian School, 1914-15. After seven years at Centre, then went to Bucknell Univ., 1923-25; Catawba College, 1929-39. National League umpire, 1917-39. Officiated at four baseball World Series-1927, 29, 33, 38. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1879. University of Tenn., 1897. Resident of Horse Cave. Died, 1949. Interred Horse Cave Cemetery.

(Reverse) Coach Moran's Banner Football Record at Centre

Centre	Opponent	Centre	Opponent
1919		1920
95 Hanover 0		66 Morris Harvey 0
Centre	Opponent	Centre	Opponent
1919 12 - Indiana - 3 57 - St. Xavier - 0 69 - Transylvania - 0 46 - Virginia - 7 14 - W. Virginia - 6 56 - Kentucky - 0 56 - DePauw - 0 77 - Georgetown - 7		1920 120 - Howard - 0 55 - Transylvania -0 14 - Harvard - 31 0 - Georgia Tech - 24 34 - DePauw - 0 49 - Kentucky - 0 28 - VPI - 0 103 - Georgetown - 0 77 - Tex. Christian - 7
1921 National Champions 14 - Clemson - 0 14 - VPI - 0 28 - St. Xavier - 6 98 - Transylvania - 0 6 - Harvard - 0 55 - Kentucky - 0 21 - Auburn - 0 25 - Wash. and Lee - 0 21 - Tulane - 0 38 - Arizona - 0 Post season 14 - Texas A and M - 22
1922 72 - Carson-Newman - 0 21 - Clemson - 0 55 - Mississippi - 0 10 - VPI - 6 10 - Harvard - 24 32 - Louisville - 7 27 - Kentucky - 3 27 - Wash. and Lee - 6 0 - Auburn - 6 42 - S. Carolina - 0		1923 14 - Carson-Newman - 0 28 - Clemson - 7 29 - Oglethorpe - 0 0 - Pennsylvania - 24 10 - Kentucky - 0 20 - Sewanee - 6 17 - Auburn - 0 19 - Wash. and Lee - 0 3 - Georgia - 3

(Subjects: Cemeteries | Centre College | Schools | Sports)

Birthplace of Naval Aviation Pioneer
(Marker Number: 1564)

County: Lincoln
Location: 1 mi. N. of Stanford, US 150

Description: Lt. Richard Caswell Saufley's Naval flights were the first official demonstrations in U.S. using aeroplanes for scouting purposes. This innovation revolutionized warfare. Born in Stanford, 1885, he attended school there and at Centre College. Graduated from U.S. Naval Academy, 1908. Killed while making endurance flight in Florida, 1916.

(Reverse) Lt. Richard Caswell Saufley - This aviation pioneer was awarded two Aviation Medals of Merit by the Aero Club of America: one for efficient air service in an expedition, 1914, and another for breaking the world's altitude record twice in succession, 1915. U.S. Navy Saufley Field in Pensacola, Florida, and World War II destroyer named for him.

(Subjects: Aviation | Centre College | World War II)

Centre College
(Marker Number: 923)

County: Boyle
Location: Danville, Jct. US 127 & 150 at campus

Description: Founded on this campus in 1819 by pioneer Kentuckians who held that heart and mind must be trained together, and dedicated to the inculcation of ideals of culture and character in the hearts of American youth. Veritas Lux Mentis.

(Subjects: Centre College | Schools)

Colonel George Morgan Chinn, USMC
(Marker Number: 2044)

County: Mercer
Location: Harrodsburg, Courthouse lawn, Main St.

Description: This Mercer County native was one of nation's leading authorities on automatic weapons. He attended Millersburg Military Institute and Centre College. A Marine veteran of WW II and the Korean War, Chinn observed combat use of weapons and served as trouble shooter. His findings led to Navy-sponsored The Machine Gun, five volumes on evolution of automatic weapons.

(Reverse) Weapons Expert - As consultant during Vietnam War, Chinn (1902-1987) helped develop grenade launchers and related air and ground weapons which were also used in Persian Gulf War. He was awarded several weapons patents. In 1960 he became director of the Kentucky Historical Society and wrote works on Mercer County and pioneer Kentucky. Presented by Marine Corps League of Kentucky.

(Subjects: Centre College | Kentucky Historical Society | Korean War | Vietnam War | World War II)

County Named, 1884
(Marker Number: 791)

County: Knott
Location: Hindman, Courthouse lawn, KY 80

Description: For J. Proctor Knott during term as Governor of Kentucky, 1883-87. Knott was born Marion Co., Ky., 1830. Missouri Legislature, 1851-59. Atty. Gen., 1859-60. Returned Ky., 1863. U.S. Congress six terms. Famous as humorous and satirical orator. In the 1891 Const. Conv. took lead in keeping capital at Frankfort. First Law Dean, Centre College, 1891-1901. Died in 1911.

(Subjects: Centre College | Constitutional Convention (1890-91) | Knott, J. Proctor)

Dr. Ephraim McDowell, 1771-1830
(Marker Number: 2281)

County: Boyle
Location: West Main St. at McDowell Park, Danville

Description: Burial site of Ephraim McDowell, the “father of modern surgery.” His family moved here from Va. in 1784. He studied medicine in Va. and Scotland before practicing in Danville. In 1802, he married Sarah Shelby, dau. of Ky.’s first gov. Was also a founder & early trustee of Centre College.

(Reverse) McDowell-Crawford Surgery- Dec. 25, 1809, McDowell performed world’s 1st successful abdominal operation when he took a 22-pound ovarian cyst from Jane Todd Crawford of Green County. With no anesthesia, she sang hymns during the ordeal. She recovered in 25 days & lived until 1842. McDowell died in 1830 and is buried in the Presbyterian churchyard.

(Subjects: Centre College | McDowell, Ephraim | Shelby, Isaac | Physicians)

Jacobs Hall
(Marker Number: 2005)

County: Boyle
Location: Danville, School for the Deaf campus, S. Second St.

Description: Kentucky School for the Deaf first opened 1823 in Danville, at 4th and Main Sts. In 1826, it moved to this campus. Jacobs Hall is oldest surviving building, constructed 1855-57, of Italianate design by architect Thomas Lewinski. Its interior is marked by a main hall with curving staircase and four-story atrium open to the cupola. Exterior remains unchanged.

(Reverse) John A. Jacobs, Sr. (1806-69) - KSD's first trained teacher, principal, third superintendent, 1825-1869. A Centre College student, he was sent in 1824 to Hartford, Conn., for training under T.H. Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc, pioneers of deaf education in America. He introduced Methodical Signs here and authored texts for deaf students.

(Subjects: Centre College)

John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911)
(Marker Number: 1606)

County: Boyle
Location: Weisiger Park, Main St., Danville

Description: Born in Boyle Co. and a graduate of Centre College, 1850, Harlan practiced law in central Ky. after 1853. Although against Lincoln and abolition in 1860, he was a strong Unionist during Civil War; recruited 10th Ky. Infantry. Elected Attorney General of Kentucky in 1863. Supported rebuilding Union and amendments 13-15. Named to Supreme Court by Pres. Hayes; served nearly 34 yrs.

(Reverse) Kentucky's "Great Dissenter" - During John Marshall Harlan's Supreme Court tenure, he authored 1161 opinions, spoke for the Court 745 times and wrote 316 dissents. Harlan was a highly respected jurist because of his individualism, dedication, and courage. He dissented with vigor, often alone, on issues of civil rights, interstate commerce, and income tax. Many of his dissents became the law of the land.

(Subjects: Centre College | Civil War | Lincoln, Abraham)

John Todd Stuart, 1807-1885
(Marker Number: 2244)

County: Boyle
Location: Main Street, Danville

Description: Abraham Lincoln’s friend and 1st law partner was born on Nov. 10, 1807, in Fayette Co. The son of a Presbyterian minister & Mary Todd Lincoln’s aunt, Stuart graduated from Centre College in 1826. Two years later he became a lawyer in Springfield, IL. Met Lincoln when an officer in Black Hawk War and encouraged him to study law. Over.

(Reverse) Lent Lincoln law books and they were law partners, 1837–1841. He was a Whig in IL legislature and US Cong. Backed John Bell over Lincoln in 1860 election and went to Cong. as Democrat in 1862. Was frequent White House visitor despite disagreeing with some of Lincoln’s policies. Was pres. of Natl. Lincoln Monument Assoc.

(Subjects: Centre College | Lincoln, Abraham | Lincoln, Mary Todd | Lawyers)

Knott of Lebanon
(Marker Number: 728)

County: Marion
Location: Lebanon, Courthouse lawn, US 68, KY 49

Description: J. Proctor Knott, 1830-1911. Born in this county. Missouri Legislature, 1851-59; Att. Gen., 1859-60. Came back here, 1863. U.S. Congress six terms, became famous as statesman, satirist, Governor of Kentucky, 1883-87. In 1891 Constitutional Convention, led keeping capital at Frankfort. First Dean Centre College Law School, 1894-1901. Knott County named for him.

(Subjects: Centre College | Constitutional Convention (1890-91) | Knott, J. Proctor)

Lottie Moon (1840-1912)
(Marker Number: 1705)

County: Boyle
Location: At First Baptist Church, 317 W. Broadway, Danville

Description: This dynamic Southern Baptist missionary spent almost forty years (1873-1912) teaching and ministering in China. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Danville, 1868-71, and taught at Caldwell Female Institute, later a part of Centre College. Lottie Moon's life inspired Christmas offering for Baptist foreign missions; fund named for her, 1918.

(Subjects: Baptist Church | Centre College)

Lt. Charles Moran-USAF
(Marker Number: 1207)

County: Hart
Location: Horse Cave, Jct. US 31-W & KY 218

Description: Shot down a lead plane of first invading flight of the Korean War, June 27, 1950. Four of enemy's nine fighter planes destroyed. Lt. Moran was killed in action 40 days later, Aug. 7, 1950. Member of 68th Fighter (AW) Squadron. Born in Horse Cave in 1924. Grandson of "Uncle Charlie" Moran, Centre's famous football coach. Lt. Moran buried in Horse Cave Cemetery.

(Subjects: Cemeteries | Centre College | Korean War)