Gary West

Most people outside of Louisville probably have never heard of David Hawpe. But there was a time, while serving as the managing editor of the influential Louisville Courier-Journal, Hawpe’s opinion mattered. I first met David in 1963, when I transferred from Western Kentucky University to the University of Kentucky to pursue studies in journalism. David was one of the first fellow students I met. He was already a rising star in journalism and was in the top echelon of the school’s student newspaper, “The Kentucky Kernel.” I quickly realized he was someone I wanted on my side if I achieved my goal of writing sports for “The Kernel.” I heard about him,...

Every year when the 4th of July rolls around I have a memory flashback to an Independence Day event that at the time was a bit of a personal embarrassment for not only me but my two young children. It was 44 years ago, and the local country club I belonged to, traditionally had a big Fourth get together that included father-son, father-daughter swim relays, water balloon “fights,” and even a father-son battle to see who could capture a greased watermelon in the center of the pool. With a son 6, and a daughter 8, they were excited about taking their newly learned swimming skills from the club’s swim team, and...

I have traveled from one end of Kentucky to the other. In fact I have written several books about those visits. “Eating Your Way Across Kentucky,” “Shopping Your Way Across Kentucky,” “101 Must Places to Visit in Kentucky Before you Die,” and “Road Trip Eats.” So I know a little about our state. There comes a time, however, when there is a calling to visit another state. My wife and I chose South Carolina. Our first stop was Greer, a small outpost next to Greenville, one of the prettiest cities in all of the South. It just so happened that I have an old frat brother/college roommate while at the Uni-versity of Kentucky...

If Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones ever had to be in combat there’s one person he would like to have in his foxhole, Ryan Lemond. But, if that never happens, Jones is content to have him as his sidekick on their popular radio show heard over 53 radio stations across Kentucky. There’s no pretense when it comes to KSR’s loyalty to University of Kentucky sports, especially basketball and football, and with Jones, the shows originator, leading the way, the daily two-hour broadcast has developed a loyal following. While Jones is the self-proclaimed star, it is Ryan Lemond who has emerged as what Ed McMahan was to Johnny Carson several years...

My first encounter with legendary journalist and KET host Al Smith was in late 1973, where he was publishing the Logan Leader newspaper in Russellville. At the time I ran a monthly advertising publication out of Bowling Green, but printed it in Indiana. I wanted to get closer to home, so Russellville filled that need. In doing so, Al and I became friends, and frequently saw each other in our travels across Kentucky. Al passed away on March 20, 2021, at the age of 94. In December 2002, Kentucky Monthly Magazine’s publisher Steve Vest asked me to do a feature story on Al. I must admit to being a bit nervous about...

The day had begun with so much hope. Spring was just around the corner as the yellow school bus picked up its last student and was headed to the Prestonsburg Elementary and High School three miles away. It was 8:10 a.m., and US 23 had its usual amount of traffic. It was typical for mountain towns in Kentucky to have to deal with heavy winter rain and melting snow in late February. It was nothing unusual for the Big Sandy that flowed alongside the roadway, to be well above flood stage. On this 28th day of February the Big Sandy was 20 feet above its normal depth of 10 feet....

Before Rupp Arena . . . before the Yum Center . . . before Memorial Coliseum . . . before Freedom Hall . . . before Diddle Arena there was the Sportscenter in Owensboro. Basketball for decades has been searching for the ultimate place to play and be watched by thousands of fans. In 1949, the city of Owensboro went out on a limb and built a structure that would not only add to the quality of life for the entire region of western Kentucky, but fill a desire to have a gym that seated over 1,000 people. Costing $500,000 in bond sales and initially called the Owensboro Memorial Recreation Center,...

A Christmas gift to a six-year-old boy in Louisville in 1963 several years later began to take on a life of its own, especially when it was connected to the late Muhammad Ali. Billy Pfund was surprised that Christmas with two pairs of boxing gloves from his aunt and uncle.  But that wasn’t all.  One of the gloves had been autographed by Cassius Clay. “My uncle Cliff worked in the hat department at Levy Brothers department store in downtown Louisville,” Pfund said. “This was before the boxer became Muhammad Ali and before he became the champ.” Levy Brothers was an upscale department store at Third and Market from 1892 until 1980. The...

I’ve found myself trying to come up with something, anything, to get out of the house. Things are better than they were, but not much. “Let’s go for a ride,” my wife says. “Anywhere.” There has been times the ride meant downtown, around the square, thru the campus of Western Kentucky University, or wheeling thru a few neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live you know what I’m talking about. Anyplace... just out of the house. Well, I’ve discovered something for Kentuckians to do that probably hasn’t been on anyone’s bucket list. A ferry ride! While some people set out to visit all 120 Kentucky counties and county seats, a ride on any or all of...

Randy Embry has never really thought about being anyplace else but in Owensboro. It was at Owensboro High School where he gained a reputation as a player and coach that put him in legendary status in a town as rich in athletics as any in the state. As a Kentucky high school Mr. Basketball in 1961, he went on to play for Adolph Rupp in Lexington where he captained the team his senior year. Chick Embry, Randy’s dad, operated a Texaco gas station at the corner of 8th and Fredericka, and it was here that Randy learned at an early age what work was all about. “My job as a little kid...