KHS to Dedicate Historical Marker in Marshall County

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 16, 2012) — The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will dedicate a historical marker honoring Shelby McCallum at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at WCBL radio station, 1039 Eggners Ferry Road in Benton.

Born in Tennessee in 1917, McCallum moved to Benton in 1939 to manage the old Benton Theater. He served in the Army during World War II, then returned home and opened several drive-in theaters. He founded WCBL AM in December 1954 and operated it for the next 33 years. He served as a Kentucky state representative from 1952-60 and 1962-68, and as speaker of the house from 1964-68. He was the first chairman of state legislative ethics board, created in response to the Watergate scandal, and presided over passage of first Civil Rights Act in a southern state. He died in 1987 and is buried at Fooks Cemetery in Marshall County.

The Kentucky Historical Marker Program, administered by KHS in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, tells Kentucky’s story through the people, places and events that have shaped local communities across the Commonwealth. These markers highlight the importance of place in Kentucky’s collective history, in order to build strong communities for the future. The markers are on-the-spot history lessons that make connections between history, place and historical evidence housed in the Commonwealth’s many historical organizations. Through the program, Kentucky’s history is made accessible to the public on markers along the state’s roadways and online at www.history.ky.gov/markers and via the Explore Kentucky History smartphone application available for free at iTunes and Google Play.

For more information, contact Becky Riddle, Kentucky Historical Marker program coordinator, at 502-564-1792, ext. 4474 or becky.riddle@ky.gov.

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