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• Casey County Apple Festival

Producer: Sam McGhee
Videographers: Brent Boyens, Zaac Christopher, Alan Miller

Fruits of Their Labor

the world’s largest apple pie

What do you get when you mix a small community, a huge custom-made oven, and lots and lots of apples? You get the Casey County Apple Festival’s largest and tastiest attraction, the “world’s largest apple pie.” The pie brings visitors from across the United States and the world to the small town of Liberty so that they can see—and taste—the famous giant-sized dessert.

George Wolford, creator of the pie, and Lydia Sweeney-Coffee, head chef, talk about what goes into this mammoth project on this visit. The recipe is just like the one you probably use to make your own pie at home. Just multiply the quantities—big time. How about 45 bushels of apples, 150 pounds of sugar, and 15 pounds of butter? And don’t forget the 2-1/2 pounds of cinnamon.

Deva Hair, chairman of the Casey County Apple Festival, welcomes hundreds of visitors for the September treat. It takes about 12 hours to bake a 10-foot pie. As with any sweet dessert, though, it takes considerably less time to eat it.

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• The Liberty Foundation, 11564 E. 7th St., Tulsa, OK 74128, (918) 340-0243

Producer, editor: Alan Miller
Videographers: Michael DePersio, Andrea Hummel, Alan Miller
Production assistant: Jessica Gibb

Liberty on High

the Liberty Belle

Known as the Flying Fortress, the B-17 is the most famous bomber of World War II. More than 12,000 B-17s were produced by Boeing between 1935 and May 1945. Now fewer than 15 can still take to the sky.

One of those is the Liberty Belle, the lone B-17 that made it back to home base after a disastrous bombing mission over Dusseldorf, Germany. The plane went on to complete 64 combat missions before being salvaged on February 18, 1945.

After a $3 million restoration, the Liberty Belle began her new life, taking passengers around the country on a trip back in time. Scott Maher, director of operations for the Liberty Foundation, says the foundation maintains the plane as a way of remembering the sacrifices made by the men and women who served America during World War II.

The foundation relies on private contributions to keep the Liberty Belle in operation. David Miller, maintenance crew chief, knows what it takes to operate the vintage bomber. The cost of an engine overhaul tops $40,000, and the foundation may have to overhaul one or two engines annually.

Kentucky Life paid a visit to Blue Grass Airport in Lexington to see the Liberty Belle. Once in the air, passengers can take in the view from the bombardier’s position in the nose. Pilot Ron Gause is our guide for this memorable flight.

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For more information:
• Beegie Adair, P.O. Box 60462, Nashville, TN 37206

Producer, videographer: Cheryl Beckley
Editor: Jessica Gibbs

A Life in Music

jazz pianist Beegie Adair

Born and raised in Kentucky, pianist Beegie Adair has made a name for herself in the world of jazz. Her recordings—ranging from Cole Porter standards to Frank Sinatra classics to romantic World War II ballads—are among the biggest sellers in the jazz world.

We caught up with Beegie in a visit to Hart County. She lives in Nashville, where in the early years of her career she was a sought-after studio musician, accompanying such legendary performers as Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, and Johnny Cash. These days, she performs solo and with the Beegie Adair Trio, composed of herself, bass player Roger Spencer, and drummer Chris Brown.

Entertainment News has called her one of the finest piano players in the world. Beegie’s fans enjoy her delicate touch on the keyboard. Her bass player, Roger, can attest to her elegance and timing. Composer Ray Stevens is also a fan.

Beegie isn’t one to keep her light under a basket. She works with artists who are just beginning their careers, serving as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music and as a teacher and mentor at the Nashville Jazz Workshop.

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• The University of Kentucky men’s basketball web site includes player statistics from the 1948 and 1949 NCAA championship games.

Producer: Tom Thurman

A Team with Heart

UK’s Fabulous Five

After World War II, no basketball team in the entire country captured the spirit of optimism and accomplishment better than the University of Kentucky’s own Fabulous Five. They excelled on all levels: the NIT, the NCAA, and eventually the Olympics. At the heart of that team was a duo of native Kentuckians: Ralph Beard and Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones.

Beard and Jones—along with Alex Groza, Cliff Barker, and Kenny Rollins—played for the legendary Adolph Rupp and won the university’s first NCAA championship in 1948. Thousands turned out for a parade in Lexington honoring the win. The next summer, the team won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in London. Then the Fabulous Five repeated their NCAA success, taking another championship crown in 1949.

Beard, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 79, grew up in Louisville and went to Male High School. He was a three-sport standout, playing football and baseball as well as basketball in college. A quick 5'10" guard, he was widely regarded as one of the best basketball players in the country.

Jones, who turned 82 in 2008, is the only athlete in UK history to have both his basketball and football jerseys retired. At 6'4" and 205 pounds, he played for both Rupp and Paul “Bear” Bryant. Born in Harlan, he grew up listening to Wildcat games on the radio.

It’s been more than 60 years since that first NCAA championship, but Wildcat fans young and old still cherish the Fabulous Five and the sweet taste of success.

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