Florence Kentucky Online

Florence People: Shaun Alexander

One of Florence Kentucky's most famous citizens is none other than former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander. Shaun Alexander Way is located just off Rt. 18 in Florence on the campus of Boone County High School and is named to honor the star running back who played football for the Boone County Rebels in the 1990's.

Shaun Alexander was one of the best running backs in Northern Kentucky sports history and was the best from a long tradition of great running backs at Boone County. Alexander was coached at Boone County High School by the legendary Owen Hauck, seen in this newspaper image from 1994.

In his junior season in 1993, Shaun Alexander rushed for 2,396 yards and 42 touchdowns as the Boone County Rebels football team played their way to the Kentucky state semifinals. In a game versus Campbell County during that season, Alexander rushed for seven touchdowns. In January of 1994, Shaun was listed in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of Sports Illustrated magazine.

In Alexander's senior season in 1994,  he rushed for 3,166 yards and a Kentucky state record 54 touchdowns. Alexander was named the state of Kentucky's Mr. Football. In three seasons for the Boone County Rebels, Shaun Alexander rushed for 6,657 yards and 110 touchdowns, which are all-time high school Top 10 records.

After graduating from Boone County High School, Shaun Alexander played at the University of Alabama where he stands as the Crimson Tide's all-time leading rusher with 3,565 yards in four seasons. He set Alabama Crimson Tide records with 727 rushing attempts, fifteen 100-yard games, 41 rushing touchdowns and 50 total touchdowns. When Shaun's career ended at Alabama, he held 15 school records and 3 SEC records.

After graduating from the University of Alabama, Alexander was drafted in the 2000 NFL Draft in the first round as the nineteenth overall pick. Shaun had a stellar nine year career with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2005, Shaun Alexander led the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL and took home the NFL's MVP Award. Shaun spent the 2008 season with the Washington Redskins.

Shaun Alexander Way is a great reminder to everyone in Florence of the exploits of one of its most famous residents.

Florence People: Irv Goode

In today's Florence People we take a look back at another Florence resident who went on to success in the National Football League. Most are aware of the exploits of recent NFL MVP Shaun Alexander, but their was another Boone County Rebels football player who had an outstanding college and NFL career as well.

Irv Goode played for the Boone County football team in the 1950's, graduating in 1958. After graduating from Boone County, Goode went on to play college football for the University of Kentucky. Goode had an outstanding college career for the Wildcats, earning All-American honors. Irv Goode was a three year letterman at center and linebacker. Goode's number was retired by UK and he was officially inducted into the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005 with its inaugural class.

Goode was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft in 1959 and began his career playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. Goode would go on to have an outstanding 13 year career in the NFL. Playing for the Cardinals, Dolphins and Bills. Goode was named to the NFL Pro Bowl twice in his career. Goode was also a member of the Miami Dolphins Super Bowl championship team in 1974.

The football field at Boone County High School is named in honor of this outstanding Rebel alumni. Each week when the Boone County Rebels do battle on their home field, they are defending their turf on Irv Goode Field.

Remembering Steve McBee

The Boone County community lost a dear friend on Tuesday, September 1st.  Steve McBee died from a recently diagnosed case of leukemia. Steve McBee was one of those rare people who everyone loved and knew everyone as a friend. If there was a conversation to be had, Steve was there to share with you. Nobody was a stranger to Steve McBee.

An avid fan of Conner High School sports, Steve could be seen at Conner athletic events supporting his favorite team. Steve also liked to spend time talking to his friends about the Kentucky Wildcats. Steve was a member of the Burlington Baptist Church and served there as a greeter and unofficial goodwill ambassador.

All of Boone County will miss this man who had such a great spirit. He will be remembered by many throughout the Boone County community as a dear friend and for his gentle spirit.

Visitation for Steve McBee will be Thursday, September 3rd, from 4:00-8:00 P.M.. A funeral service will be held on Friday at 11:00 A.M. at the Burlington Baptist Church.

Here is some information on Steve that was received from Burlington Baptist Church:

Steve was really active in the Kentucky Special Olympics and won several medals for the sports he was involved in.  He was known all over Boone County and was a great friend to everyone he met.  His dedication to the Upward program was unmatched and he was a great ambassador for the church.  Steve had one great trait and that was being a good friend to all.  While we will miss him at the side door of the church welcoming us to church each Sunday, you can bet that he will be standing at the gates of heaven to welcome everyone to the joy of heaven.

Here are a few articles remembering Steve McBee:

Inspiration for Bean Bash dies

Stephen L. McBee

Florence People: H.B. Deatherage

There are few people who have shown as much dedication and passion towards the city of Florence Kentucky than H.B. Deatherage. A 1963 graduate of Boone County High School, Deatherage has dedicated his time to helping make the city of Florence a better place.

H.B. created the original Mr. Rebel mascot for Boone County High School that appeared at games, parades, community events, and other school events. The Rebel mascot could be seen on the sidelines of Boone County High School sporting events with H.B. inside, rallying the fans of the Rebels sports teams. Deatherage has also been the public address announcer for Boone County High School and Thomas More College sports. H.B. was instrumental in getting the Civil Rights Office in Washington, D.C. to allow Boone County High School to keep the Rebel nickname after researching history of the school. Deatherage's wife Judi was a long time teacher at Boone County and the author of a book to assist young people with making smart financial decisions.

The Florence project closest to H.B.'s heart has been the Veterans Memorial of Boone County. H.B. was instrumental in raising over $100,000 to build the Veterans Memorial of Boone County on the campus of the Florence Government Center. Deatherage created and designed the memorial and spent countless hours doing research and looking up names of those from Florence and Boone County who died in service for their country. The Veterans Memorial of Boone County was dedicated in August of 1998.  On Memorial Day, 2009, the War on Terror monument was added to the memorial in honor of US Marine Christopher T. Warndorf. You can find more information on the Veterans Memorial of Boone County at the new website commissioned by H.B. at www.bcmemorial.com.

H.B. was also the driving force to get the moving Viet Nam Wall in Florence in 2006 and in Kenton County in 2007. H.B. is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Boone County Businessmen.

Other honors earned by H.B. Deatherage include the following:

Kentucky Colonel
Inducted into Northern KY Athletic Director’s Hall of Fame
Inducted into Eastern KY University’s Hall of Fame
Official Torch Bearer for the Salt Lake City Olympics (2002)
Grand Marshall of Florence’s Labor Day Parade twice (1998 & 2004)
KY Senate and House Citations for Community Service
Hometown Hero, Cincinnati Enquirer (2000)
Paul Harris Award from Florence Rotary (1999)
Citizen of the Year, Florence Rotary (1998)
Boone Co. Jaycees Hometown Hero (1997-1998)
Has been President of both Florence Rotary Club and Boone Co. Businessmen
Currently Chairman of the Board for Boone Co. Businessmen
Instrumental in bringing minor league baseball to Florence

Today's Boone County News:

Florence plans Labor Day Parade

Homemakers plan cooking contest

Duathlon to benefit Big Bone

Union Town Center presentation planned

Boone County girls soccer keeps winning

WV Bearcats hope to make it 2-for-2

Girls High School soccer kicks into gear

Boone boys soccer strikes into action

Chick-fil-a practices what it preaches

Freedom sweep doubleheader

Chipotle planning second Florence location

Florence People: Bob Webster

There are few people on the planet who have lived a life as full as former Florence resident Bob Webster. Bob is a unique individual who has lived an extraordinary life and always has a great story to tell about his life and times.

Bob Webster moved to Florence Kentucky in 1951 with his wife Georgia Webster. In 1958, Bob became a member of the Florence City Council and spent several years serving the city of Florence in that capacity. In 1975, Bob became the Public Works Director for the City of Florence and served in that role until his retirement in 1983.

After his retirement, Bob and his wife moved to Mobile, Alabama to be near their children. A few years later Bob moved to the Tampa area where he still resides today.

Bob Webster touched many lives in his time in Florence. He is filled with stories about the people and places that he encountered over the years. He was an active member of the Florence Baptist Church and even made news headlines playing softball for the church as an old-timer.

Bob is an avid fisherman and spends much of his time in Florida dedicated to that passion. You haven't lived until you've been on a fishing trip with Bob Webster. His legendary story telling ability will make a day on the water with him last a lifetime!

Bob makes regular trips back to Florence to visit family and friends. It is not unusual to see Bob at a City Council meeting, Sunday church service or public event when he is back in the city. He loves to spend his time in town talking to his friends and family, reminiscing about all of the great experience of his life.

Bob Webster is a man who loves his family and his friends and has always been dedicated to his church and serving his community. If you have ever come in contact with Bob, you know what a unique person he is and you quickly understand how passionate he is about family and friends and sharing all of his experiences. If you have ever had the pleasure of being around Bob and hearing one of his classic tales, you know how special a person he is and how entertaining his stories can be. Bob is a true Florence Kentucky treasure, and even though he now spends his time in sunny Florida, he will always be a dedicated citizen of the city of Florence.

Today's Boone County News:

Ryle teams win medals

Clifton graduates from basic training

Ryle golfer wins 7-up title

Boone County Fair opens today

Boone County Library director retiring

Firefighter will miss cameraderie

Soccerama XXVII at Ryle High School

Florence People: Kenny Price

Many may not remember, but Florence Kentucky was the home to a country music legend, Kenny Price. James Kenneth "Kenny" Price was born in Florence in 1931 and raised on a farm in Boone County. Kenny's residence was right here in Florence Kentucky.

Kenny Price was a musician on the Midwestern Hayride on WLWT in Cincinnati, and eventually took over as the show's host until it went off the air in the early 1970s.

His first recordings were made for Boone Records, then Kenny moved on to RCA in 1969, where he remained until 1976. Kenny Price had 34 singles chart in his career, including "Walking on the New Grass"  in 1966, "Happy Tracks", "Northeast Arkansas Mississippi County Bootlegger", and "The Sheriff of Boone County". His novelty number "(This Is) The Shortest Song in the World", written with record producer Ronny Light, enjoyed some airplay after its release on album in 1970.

Kenny was a big man who stood six feet tall and weighed nearly 300 pounds for most of his professional career, and he was nicknamed "The Round Mound of Sound". Many of his comedic songs made reference to his size, "The Heavyweight" being an obvious example. In his later years Kenny became significantly thinner and lampooned himself in the song "The Boone County Weight Watchers of America".

In 1976 Kenny Price relocated to Nashville and became a regular on the classic television show Hee Haw. He served as the bass vocalist for the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet, which included Grandpa Jones, Buck Owens, and Roy Clark. Kenny could also be seen in the classic sketch "gloom, despair and agony on me".

Kenny and fellow Hee Haw cast member Lulu Roman got their own short-lived spin-off series called "Hee Haw Honeys", which ran from 1978-1979. Kenny and Lulu also guest starred on two episodes of The Love Boat. Kenny later had a small role in the film Cold Justice, which was released after his death.

Kenny's wife Donna wrote a few memorable tunes for him, including the hit "Let's Truck Together". In the mid-1980s, Kenny and Donna starred in The Nashville Network travelogue series called "Wish You Were Here", where they traveled across the United States in a RV and to show places of interest.

Kenny Price died of heart failure in 1987, and is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Erlanger.

Today's Boone County News:

Boone County equestrian drill team places well

Florence Elementary is piloting the Summer Bridge program

Cooper's year two optimism abounds

Florence Freedom cap sweep of Otters

Union theater auditions August 5th

Rabbit Hash to sponsor art fair

Boone Schools hosting high school conference

Freedom lose to Crushers

Historic homestead gets barn board

H&M to open store in Florence