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Rufus B. Atwood

Rufus B. Atwood served as president of Kentucky State College (now university) from 1929 to 1962. While improving educational opportunities for African Americans and bringing full accreditation to the college, he also led the battle for desegregated education in Kentucky in the 1940s. A 1976 KET production.
Season 1 Episode 18 Length 58:29 Premiere: 07/27/08 Rating: TV-G

Distinguished Kentuckian

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Season 1 Episodes

Adron Doran
S1 E28 Length 58:00 Premiere Date 09/29/08

A.D. Albright
S1 E27 Length 28:30 Premiere Date 09/22/08

Lillie Chaffin
S1 E26 Length 28:30 Premiere Date 09/22/08

Carl Perkins
S1 E25 Length 59:02 Premiere Date 09/10/08

Wilson Wyatt Sr.
S1 E24 Length 58:47 Premiere Date 09/09/08

Harry Caudill
S1 E23 Length 58:57 Premiere Date 08/31/08

Father Ralph Beiting
S1 E22 Length 58:54 Premiere Date 08/24/08

Leslie Combs II
S1 E21 Length 58:44 Premiere Date 08/17/08

Thomas D. Clark
S1 E20 Length 58:43 Premiere Date 08/10/08

Eleanor Churchill
S1 E19 Length 57:43 Premiere Date 08/03/08

Rufus B. Atwood
S1 E18 Length 58:29 Premiere Date 07/27/08

Adolph Rupp
S1 E17 Length 58:39 Premiere Date 07/20/08

John Jacob Niles
S1 E16 Length 58:54 Premiere Date 07/13/08

Barry Bingham Sr.
S1 E15 Length 57:13 Premiere Date 07/06/08

Joy Bale Boone
S1 E14 Length 59:01 Premiere Date 06/29/08

Chloe Gifford
S1 E13 Length 58:38 Premiere Date 06/22/08

Ed Prichard
S1 E12 Length 1:41:23 Premiere Date 06/15/08

Bert Combs
S1 E11 Length 1:06:28 Premiere Date 06/09/08

Margaret Willis
S1 E10 Length 58:50 Premiere Date 06/01/08

Earl D. Wallace
S1 E9 Length 58:40 Premiere Date 05/25/08

Robert Martin
S1 E8 Length 1:00:13 Premiere Date 05/18/08

William H. Neal
S1 E7 Length 58:30 Premiere Date 05/12/08

Morton Holbrook
S1 E6 Length 57:59 Premiere Date 05/04/08

Mary Helen Byck
S1 E5 Length 28:41 Premiere Date 04/27/08

Everett Moore
S1 E4 Length 55:10 Premiere Date 10/11/02

O. Leonard Press
S1 E3 Length 58:02 Premiere Date 04/13/08

Francis and Louise Hutchins
S1 E2 Length 57:06 Premiere Date 04/06/08

Smith D. Broadbent Jr.
S1 E1 Length 28:40 Premiere Date 04/01/08

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Harry Caudill - S1 E23

Premiered On: 08/31/2008

Author Harry Caudill is interviewed by Louisville journalist Bob Schulman. Caudill, author of "Night Comes to the Cumberlands," is credited with focusing national attention on Appalachia and helping to launch the federal War on Poverty. A 1977 KET production.

  • Friday March 20, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday March 20, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY

Wilson Wyatt Sr. - S1 E24

Premiered On: 09/09/2008

World War II-era Louisville mayor Wilson Wyatt Sr. also served as lieutenant governor under Bert T. Combs from 1959 to 1963. In 1968, Wyatt played a significant role at the Democratic National Convention by working out a compromise over the party's platform position on the Vietnam War. A 1977 KET production.

  • Thursday March 26, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday March 26, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY
  • Friday March 27, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday March 27, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY

Carl Perkins - S1 E25

Premiered On: 09/10/2008

An interview with U.S. Rep. Carl D. Perkins, a Democrat who served Eastern Kentucky as a member of the House of Representatives for more than three decades. A 1977 KET production.

  • Thursday April 2, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday April 2, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY
  • Friday April 3, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday April 3, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY

Adron Doran - S1 E28

Premiered On: 09/29/2008

An interview with Adron Doran, former president of Morehead State University and Kentucky House speaker. Between March 1954 and January 1977, Doran grew Morehead's enrollment from 700 to 7,500 and brought integration to the campus. A 1991 KET production.

  • Thursday April 9, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday April 9, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY
  • Friday April 10, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday April 10, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY

Smith D. Broadbent Jr. - S1 E1

Premiered On: 04/01/2008

At various times, agriculturist, businessman, and civic leader Smith Broadbent Jr. served as president of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, the Kentucky Seed Association, the Kentucky State Fair Board, and the Thomas Poe Cooper Foundation. A 1979 KET production.

  • Thursday April 16, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday April 16, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY
  • Friday April 17, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday April 17, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY

Mary Helen Byck - S1 E5

Premiered On: 04/27/2008

Louisville businesswoman Mary Helen Byck was also a well-respected community leader whose interests ranged from support of the arts to politics and social activism. A 1979 KET production.

  • Thursday April 16, 2026 3:30 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday April 16, 2026 2:30 am CT on KETKY
  • Friday April 17, 2026 9:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday April 17, 2026 8:30 pm CT on KETKY
Jump to Upcoming Airdates

Recent

Harry Caudill - S1 E23

  • Thursday March 19, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday March 19, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY

Father Ralph Beiting - S1 E22

  • Friday March 13, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday March 13, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday March 12, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday March 12, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY

Leslie Combs II - S1 E21

  • Friday March 6, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday March 6, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday March 5, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday March 5, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY

Thomas D. Clark - S1 E20

  • Friday February 27, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday February 27, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday February 26, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday February 26, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY

Eleanor Churchill - S1 E19

  • Friday February 20, 2026 9:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday February 20, 2026 8:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday February 19, 2026 3:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday February 19, 2026 2:00 am CT on KETKY
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