Honoring Everyday Heroes from Kentucky: A Tribute to the Northern Kentuckians we've Sadly Said Goodbye To
In the heart of Kentucky, stories of extraordinary individuals unfold, each one a testament to resilience, compassion, and determination. These heroes, profiled in Steve Flairty's Kentucky's Everyday Heroes book series, have left an indelible mark on their communities, but a comprehensive list of these 31 heroes remains elusive in the current search results.
One such hero is Kendall Harvey from Adair County, who, despite only having a grade school education, made 157 adaptive three-wheeled bikes for individuals with disabilities.
Another hero is Dave Scalf, a minister from Winchester, who, along with his wife, made significant contributions to their communities in Kentucky and Arizona. Scalf had a deep understanding of human nature, often saying, "We're all just messes who need a messiah."
Calvin Ray Johnson, born with muscular dystrophy, became a successful country music singer while performing from his wheelchair and advocated for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Joe Beach used his high-level musical skills to build sustained, quality music programs in Shelby and Fayette counties, advocating for African American minorities to be included.
James Lyon, Sr., of Greenup County, achieved high recognition as a judge in that eastern Kentucky area despite being born with extreme physical challenges. Mike Wilson, along with his wife, supported Bardstown's The Stephen Foster Story and the Bardstown Community Theatre while being full-time public-school teachers.
Jackie Kaye provided hospitality to U.S. Navy personnel docked offshore in Florida and sent "care packages" by mail to sailors in her final years. Mike Howard, better known as "Mountain Santa," led, for decades, in delivering thousands of Christmas gifts to the poor in Harlan County.
Buford Williams, from Breathitt County, had a successful career as a teacher, coach, and sports official despite overcoming the challenges of polio. Marie Braun, who recently passed away, was a respected, effective advocate for those with disabilities in Northern Kentucky and beyond. She was born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
Lee Jones started a summer baseball program for Black youths in the Louisville inner city, reaching 500 in doing so. He used his vast experience working for Brown & Williamson to attain corporate gifts to bring the program to fruition. Bettie L. Johnson, raised poor in Louisville's West End, was a bright student not allowed to enroll at the University of Louisville because she was Black. She eventually became a big donor to U of L and had a building on campus named for her.
Ally Bruener, who lived near Claryville, had a successful career as a comedienne in the Greater Cincinnati area while dealing with the challenges of muscular dystrophy and presenting from a wheelchair. Ruth Perkins became the Greensburg community's "guru of genealogy" while working at the Green County Library.
Henry Baughman, a native of Lincoln County, wrote the first emergency technician training workbook in Kentucky and helped break new ground with a six-hour EMT class in 1971. He was also a seniors' championship-level tennis player. Russell Vassallo, from Casey County, lived with a large, assorted variety of animals he rescued. He wrote a series of books about his experiences, inspiring many.
Billy Edwards wrote eloquently for his long-time religious column at The Gleaner, Henderson's local newspaper, despite experiencing difficulty in speaking orally due to cerebral palsy. Ed Sypolt, of Burlington, transformed from a self-proclaimed "selfish" life to a compassionate caregiver with Hospice of the Bluegrass, Northern Kentucky Office.
Beulah Campbell, from Campbellsville, was a pioneer in the publishing of children's books. Dave Scalf and his wife, Amy, worked in a church ministry that focused on helping vulnerable individuals in local projects, but were rebuffed by the leadership there.
Dave Scalf and his wife adopted seven children, four of whom had special needs. Harold Slade was the driving force in establishing one of the best local history collections in the state, the Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum.
While the specific 31 heroes profiled in the series have not been detailed in the current search results, one can find their stories in the books themselves or by contacting Steve Flairty directly. His contact info is publicly available through his columns and social media pages. Each of these heroes' stories serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance, love, and service to others.
- Stories of heroes in Boone County, who embody resilience, compassion, and determination, remain to be discovered in the current local news.
- Education plays a significant role in the life of Kendall Harvey from Boone County, as he used only a grade school education to create 157 adaptive bikes for individuals with disabilities.
- Cincinnati's community is enriched by Dave Scalf, a minister from Winchester, known for his contributions in Kentucky and Arizona, understanding human nature as "We're all just messes who need a messiah."
- Northern Kentucky is home to Calvin Ray Johnson, a successful country music singer with muscular dystrophy, who advocates for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and promotes fitness-and-exercise for family-health.
- Sports and community work intersect in the life of Buford Williams, a teacher, coach, and sports official from Breathitt County, overcoming polio to make a mark in the local sports scene.
- In the face of challenges, Jackie Kaye from Florida provides hospitality to U.S. Navy personnel and focuses on family-health and mental-health by sending care packages to sailors.
- Mike Howard, known as "Mountain Santa," delivers thousands of Christmas gifts to the poor in Harlan County and is dedicated to workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness for his community.
- Therapies-and-treatments for muscular dystrophy patients receive support from Ally Bruener, a comedienne from near Claryville, living an inspiring life in the Greater Cincinnati area and promoting parenting strategies.
- Ruth Perkins in Greensburg devotes her time to community service, working as the local genealogy expert at the Green County Library, and contributes to relationships and family-dynamics through her work.
- Henry Baughman from Lincoln County is a pioneer in emergency medical services, writing the first emergency technician training workbook in Kentucky and advocating for career-development in the field.
- Russell Vassallo from Casey County focuses on science and conservation, living with a wide variety of rescued animals and writing books about his experiences.
- Billy Edwards, a religious columnist at The Gleaner in Henderson, overcomes cerebral palsy to share his perspectives, promoting education-and-self-development and personal-growth through his writings.
- Ed Sypolt from Burlington, inspired by his own life's transformation, dedicates himself to community caregiving through Hospice of the Bluegrass, Northern Kentucky Office.
- Beulah Campbell from Campbellsville focuses on education for children and advocates for lifelong-learning, increasing access through the publishing of children's books.
- Local projects to help vulnerable individuals are at the heart of Dave Scalf and his wife's church ministry in Winchester, although they faced obstacles from the leadership in implementing their vision for education-and-self-development, parenting, and career-development.
