At a news conference on Monday, October 21, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05), and officials of the Civil War Trust and Mill Springs Battlefield Association announced preservation of two historic properties associated with the Mill Springs Battlefield. The two properties, totaling 95 acres and known locally as the Landmark Ventures tract and Gladstone-Muse tracts, will be added to the 450 acres currently protected in the privately run Mill Springs battlefield park.

“Standing on this picturesque battlefield, with the white headstones of the National Cemetery just beyond us, one cannot help but think of the young men in blue and gray who fought here,” remarked Rep. Rogers. “By preserving this battlefield, we ensure that their sacrifices will never be forgotten, and their brave deeds will inspire Americans for generations to come.”

Joining Rogers at the news conference were Civil War Trust president James Ligthizer, Trust chairman emeritus John L. Nau, III and Mill Springs Battlefield Association (MSBA) president Bill Neikirk. All three men thanked Rogers for his commitment to the battlefield and noted that preservation efforts at Mill Springs are the result of strong partnerships between federal, state and local officials and non-profit groups like the Trust and MSBA.

Protection of the Landmark Ventures and Gladstone-Muse tracts was the result of a $832,000 national fundraising campaign initiated by the Civil War Trust in 2012. The two tracts were the scene of intense fighting during the January 1862 battle, including the first documented bayonet charge of the Civil War, launched by the 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry regiment.

The fundraising campaign to preserve these two properties raised more than $440,000 from private-sector donations, which were matched by grant funding from the federal Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program. This program, funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and administered by the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Program, has been used to preserve more than 19,000 acres of battlefield land in 16 states. In his role as chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Rogers has been a strong supporter of the battlefield matching grants program.

“We could not have preserved these properties without the leadership of Chairman Rogers on the House Appropriations Committee,” noted Nau. “Today’s announcement is but one example of how his support for historic preservation in Congress translates into land conservation victories in Kentucky and throughout the United States.

Lightizer was also quick to praise Rep. Rogers, stating that the Congressman understands the need to preserve battlefield sites like Mill Springs as lasting monuments to those who served in America’s armed forces–both during the Civil War as well as in other conflicts. According to Lightizer, “These battlefields are shires to the service and sacrifices of all our men and women in uniform.”

In addition to announcing the preservation of the Landmark Ventures and Gladstone-Muse tracts, the Civil War Trust also revealed a new opportunity to preserve a further 102 acres at Mill Springs. The Civil War Trust currently has this historic property under contract and intends to raise the $724,000 necessary to permanently preserve it through donations leveraged against a matching grant.

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Author Gary P. West has found himself visiting different locations in Wayne County recently, as he continues to research material for his next book, about the life of Wayne County native Kenny Davis, who was the captain of the 1972 Olympic basketball team.

For the past six months, West has been conducting interviews and doing research for the book, which will highlight the former Wayne County High School basketball player’s journey from Monticello to a defining moment as the captain of the U.S. Olympic basketball team that played a controversial gold medal game with the Soviet Union in 1972.

“Kenny lived this story, and I am going to write it,” said West, as he talked about his upcoming book. “It’s pretty amazing that a kid from Monticello…achieved what he did all the way to being the captain of the 1972 Olympic team.”

It’s been a book that Davis and West have talked about for quite some time. About six months ago, the timing seemed right for the work to begin. Davis retired after 40 years with Converse and West, who has published eight books in the last eight years, was ready for his next project.

“He is just an icon with the Converse shoe company where he worked for 40 years…He is a super guy, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet,” said West.

Davis has spoken about his experiences to groups over the years, and last year he and teammates from the 1972 team were reunited as part of a 40th anniversary event at Georgetown College. In an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader that was published last year, Davis talked about the aftermath of the game, when the Soviets were declared winners of the contest after their third chance at a last shot.

The U.S. players decided in the locker room to refuse the silver medal.

“Over the years, we’ve been called by some people bad sportsmen,” said Davis during last year’s interview. “But if you look at the game objectively and according to the rules, we did win. So why would we accept something under those conditions? If we had lost according to the rules, we would have proudly stood there and accepted the silver medal because losing gracefully, I believe, is much more important than winning gracefully.”

Over the years, Davis said he had been called on numerous occasions about accepting the silver medal, and he has continued to refuse. In fact, he feels so strongly about it that it is now in his will that none of his descendants will ever accept a silver medal from the 1972 Olympics.

West’s column “Out and About…Kentucky Style” is published monthly in The Outlook, as well as in publications across the state. He has written three sports books with topics based around the state. His most recent was “The Boys from Corbin: America’s Greatest Little Sports Town.” West is also the author of “King Kelly Coleman: Kentucky’s Greatest Basketball Player,” and “The American Basketball Association: The Real Story of the Team Left Behind.”

West said he is still in the process of conducting interviews. He has visited Monticello and he has talked with former high school coaches of Davis. He is hoping that there are some stories out there, and maybe even some pictures of Davis, that local residents would like to share for the book.

The book is untitled at this point, and West said there is no time line for its publication. Anyone who would like to share information or photographs for the book can contact West by email at west1488@twc.com or by calling (270) 846-0859.