>> YOU MUST TRAVEL BACK 25 YEARS TO REMEMBER OUR VERY FIRST HOST OF KENTUCKY LIFE.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDER WHO HAD WAS MORE POPULAR?

DAVID SHUFFETT OR THOSE EVER PRESENT FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS OF HIS?

AND HOW DID I GET FROM THE BASEBALL DIAMOND TO HERE?

THAT AND MORE.

ALL ARE COMING UP.

SO STAY WITH US AS KENTUCKY LIFE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'M DOUG FLYNN, THE HOST OF KENTUCKY LIFE.

AND WELCOME TO THIS VERY SPECIAL EPISODE FEATURING PAST AND PRESENT HOSTS OF THIS SERIES.

DURING THE 25 YEARS THIS TELEVISION SEAR I SEERYS HAS BEEN ON THE AIR, WE HAVE TOLD MANY STORIES FROM EVERY CORNER OF THIS GREAT COMMONWEALTH.

YOU NAME THE PLACE, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE WE HAVE BEEN THERE.

AS THE CURRENT HOST, I HOLD THE DISTINCT HONOR OF FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF TWO PREVIOUS HOSTS WHO KEPT THIS SERIES UP AND RUNNING FOR ITS FIRST 20 SEASONS.

BYRON CRAWFORD, HOST FOR THE FIRST FIVE SEASONS AND DAVE SHUFFETT WHO ROMEED THE WOODS AND STREAMS OF KENTUCKY WITH HIS TRUSTY CANINE CO-HOST FOR 15 SEASONS.

RECENTLY I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SITTING DOWN WITH BYRON AND DAVE IN KET STUDIO TO REMINISCE ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES, TELL A FEW TALES AND REFLECT UPON WHAT THIS SERIES HAS MEANT TO OUR VIEWERS AND TO US.

>> WHO BROUGHT THE CARDS?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE EVER GOT TOGETHER.

>> IT IS.

>> IT IS.

>> I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF BOTH OF YOU GROWING UP AND WATCHING THIS SHOW, WATCHING HOW YOU STARTED WITH BYRON AND THEN DAVE, YOU GUYS HAVE LEFT ME SOME BIG SHOES TO BILL FILL.

HOW OLD IS TOBY NOW?

>> 1 YEARS OLD.

>> HE HAS BEEN BY MY SIDE ON THE ROAD FOR 15,000 MILES.

HE IS 15 YEARS OLD.

HE HAS BEEN DOING KENTUCKY LIFE.

>> IN ALL OF THESE YEARS, AND I HAVE JUST BEEN DOING IT FOR FIVE NOW, BUT THERE IS NOT A PLACE THAT I GO TO WHERE PEOPLE DON'T ASK HOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

AND THIS IS WHAT IS SO COOL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE CAN CATCH PEOPLE UP ON JUST EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> YOU DON'T TELL THEM, DO YOU?

>> I TOLD THEM YOU WERE IN WORK RELEASE.

THAT'S WHY WE COULDN'T FIND YOU.

>> NOT FAR FROM IT.

>> YOU ARE IN THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM.

[LAUGHTER] BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL BECAUSE THE LEGACY THAT YOU HAVE HERE WITH THIS PROGRAM AND NOW TO SAY 25 YEARS OF KENTUCKY LIFE, THIS IS AMAZING.

>> IT IS.

IT IS KIND OF SCARY TO ME, TOO.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S STRANGE THAT I HAVE WATCHED YOU FOR A LONG TIME, WATCHED YOU WITH THE REDS AND THEN I'VE LISTENED TO YOU AND WATCHED YOU WITH THE REDS BROADCAST.

>> AND WE JUST MISSED EACH OTHER IN CINCINNATI, RIGHT?

>> WE JUST MISSED EACH OTHER.

I LEFT THERE AS A NEWS REPORTER IN 1973 AND YOU CAME TO THE REDS IN WHEN?

>> '75.

>> WE JUST MISSED.

>> I USED TO DO THE CLUBHOUSE INTERVIEWS WITH THE LOCKER ROOM INTERVIEWS WITH THE STAR OF THE GAME AND I KNOW I WOULD HAVE BEEN... >> YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN... [LAUGHTER] >> BECAUSE YOU HAD PROBABLY THE ONLY PLAYER I HAVE EVER KNOWN ABOUT WHO HIT THREE TRIPLES IN ONE GAME.

>> I KNOW.

>> FOR A GUY WHO COULDN'T RUN AND COULDN'T HIT, THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

>> THEN THE GOLDEN GLOVE.

>> YEAH, WHEN I GOT TRADED OVER TO NEW YORK WHICH WAS THE BEST THING FOR ME BECAUSE I GOT A CHANCE TO PLAY EVERY DAY.

>> UNDERSTAND I THINK YOU ALMOST GOT THE GOLD EP GLOVE A COUPLE MORE TIMES.

>> I WAS A RUNNER UP THREE TILES.

I'M GLAD YOU REMEMBER THAT.

NOBODY ELSE REMEMBERS THAT EXCEPT YOU AND ME.

>> I'M THE ONLY ONE OLD ENOUGH.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

>> THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

>> AND I FOLLOWED IN HIS FOOTSTEPS MY WHOLE CAREER, NOT THAT HE KNEW I WAS DOING THAT.

KENTUCKY LIVING MAGAZINE.

WE BOTH WENT TO MURRAY STATE.

BOTH KENTUCKY LIFE HOSTS.

AND PEOPLE GET ME CONFUSED WITH YOU A LOT.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

>> I THOUGHT, DAVE, I LOOK AT MYSELF, I THINK I'M A LOT BETTER LOOKING THAN DAVE SHUFFETT.

[LAUGHTER] >> I HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME-- >> I KNOW THEY DO ME, TOO.

>> I HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME JUST RECENTLY DOWN AT THE LIGHTHOUSE RESTAURANT IN SULFER WELLS.

A FELLA CAME UP TO ME AND HE SAYS YOU'RE BYRON CRAWFORD.

AND I SAID I SURE WISH PEOPLE WOULD QUIT CONFUSING ME WITH MY TWIN BROTHER.

>> LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

I WENT TO SPEAK-- THIS HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS AGO-- TO A COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

AND A WOMAN CAME IN.

WE WERE-- EVERYBODY WAS MILLING AROUND AND I WAS UP GETTING MY SEAT AT THE TABLE AND SHE SAID ARE YOU THE SPEAKER TONIGHT?

I SAID YES MA'AM.

SHE SAID, I WISH MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.

SHE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SPEAKING TONIGHT.

SHE SAID IF HE HAD KNOWN THAT, HE WOULD HAVE DROPPED EVERYTHING HE HAD TO DO AND BEEN HERE.

SHE SAID LET ME ASK YOU, HOW IS YOUR DOG?

[LAUGHTER] >> AND I SAID, MA'AM, I THINK YOU HAVE ME CONFUSED WITH DAVE SHUFFETT.

I WORK WITH A CAT ALL THE TIME.

>> WELL, I CAN'T THINK OF A NICER GUY TO BE CONFUSED WITH AND MAYBE WE'LL GET CONFUSED, YOU KNOW.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

YOU ALL HAVE SET SUCH A REPUTATION OUT THERE OF BEING SUCH GOOD GUYS AND YOU ARE SO GOOD ON CAMERA.

>> YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.

>> THANK YOU.

BUT I JUST FILLED IN FOR YOU FOR TWO MONTHS, IS ALL.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT HAS BECOME FIVE YEARS.

>> THE REST IS HISTORY.

>> AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

ARE YOU ALL LIKE ME?

WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO AROUND THE STATE, DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA-- I LOVE THIS STATE.

BORN AND RAISED, BEEN HERE MY WHOLE LIFE BUT I HAD NO IDEA OF ALL THE MARVELOUS MIRACULOUS STUFF THAT YOU CAN FIND JUST WHEN YOU START GETTING OUT AND AWAY FROM HOME.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT AMAZES ME ABOUT KENTUCKY LIFE AND IS SO GREAT ABOUT KENTUCKY LIFE, AND KET AND THE BROADER PICTURE, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL TELEVISION IS CITIES AROUND THE STATE HAS CONTINUED TO SHRINK ITS COVERAGE AREA BECAUSE IT'S BECOME MORE URBAN IN ITS COVERAGE.

SO THAT IF THERE ARE VERY FEW TV STATIONS NOW WHO REALLY HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO TO GO OUT THERE AND DO STORIES LIKE KENTUCKY LIFE DOES, WHERE YOU LET PEOPLE HAVE THE CHANCE TO TELL THE STORY.

EVERYTHING IS A THREE SECOND SOUNDBITE ANYMORE, A QUICK SHOT, MINUTE AND A HALF STORY.

KENTUCKY LIFE STILL AFFORDS THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TELL THEIR STORIES ALL OVER KENTUCKY, FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER.

>> AND YOU WERE AN ON THE ROAD KIND OF CHARLES CUR KURALT OF KENTUCKY.

>> KENTUCKY LIFE STILL HAS THAT OPENING FOR THAT AND I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO HAS DONE A BETTER JOB OF TELLING THOSE STORIES BORDER TO BORDER THAN KET AND KENTUCKY LIFE.

>> YEAH, I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH YOU.

MY PROBLEM IS I TOLD THE PEOPLE AT KET, I SAID Y'ALL ARE WONDERFUL WRITERS, I'M JUST NOT A BEAUTIFUL SPEAKER SO YOU HAVE TO COUNTRY PHI THAT THING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

I HAVE A TENDENCY TO SAY I'M GON' TELL YOU.

I'VE MET SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE BUT BY GOLLY, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING.

>> WELL, I'M BACK IN GREENE COUNTY WHERE I'M FROM.

ONCE YOU GET BACK HOME, YOU START TALKING LIKE YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED THERE AND SO MY COUNTRY ACCENT HAS GOTTEN MORE AND MORE.

>> WHAT ACCENT?

>> IS IT'S A MIXTURE OF SOUTHERN AND APALACHIN.

>> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

YOUR VOICE IS DISTINCTIVE.

BORN AND RAISED IN LINCOLN COUNTY DOWN BETWEEN STANFORD AND DANVILLE AND I HAVE A LITTLE, I COULDN'T CALL IT A FARM BUT IT'S A LITTLE 30-ACRE PLACE ON SALT RIVER IN ANDERSON COUNTY HAVE SOME SMALL MOUTH IN THE RIVER THERE AND SITTING ON A LOG ONCE IN A WHILE AND DAVE AND I BOTH WRITE-- I WRIE THE BACK PAGE FOR KENTUCKY LIVING MAGAZINE AND DAVE WRITES THE OUTDOORS COLUMN, SO.

>> AND I LIKE TO FISH, TOO, SMALL MOUTH STREAM FISHING ESPECIALLY.

>> WELL WE NEED TO DO THAT.

>> OH YEAH, LET'S DO THAT.

>> THAT COULD BE HOW WE CAN STAY IN TOUCH AND GET TOGETHER AND COMPARE... >> YOU CAN COME TO GROWN GREEN RIVER.

>> I LOVE GREEN RIVER.

>> HE LIVES RIGHT CLOSE TO THE RIVER.

>> I CAN WALK TO IT.

>> I LOVE THAT BECAUSE THEY GOT EVERYTHING AT GREEN RIVER.

YOU CAN FISH ANY KIND OF FISH YOU WANT SO I LOVE THAT.

>> AND WHAT DO DO YOU WHEN YOU ARE NOT DOING KENTUCKY LIFE?

>> I'M ACTUALLY A BANKER.

>> I WORK AT CENTRAL BANK.

I HAVE BEEN THERE 22 YEARS.

ONE OF THE GREAT CONNECTIONS.

>> BETTER FRIENDS THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED.

>> I WAS DOING SOMETHING CALLED CHAMPIONS AGAINST DRUGS AND DID THAT FOR NINE YEARS AND THEN WENT BACK INTO BASEBALL A COUPLE AND HAVE BEEN IN THE BANKING BUSINESS FOR 22 YEARS.

I'M BLESSED BECAUSE IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT AND DO THE SHOW AND DO SOME BROADCASTING FOR SIPS SINCE AND U.K. AND-- AND CINCINNATI.

IT'S FUN.

I LOVE BEING LIKE YOU GUYS.

YOU HAVE TO BE A PEOPLE PERSON TO DO WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THIS SHOE.

>> YOU DO.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PLEASED ME ABOUT KENTUCKY LIFE WAS HOW QUICKLY KENTUCKIANS CAUGHT ON TO WHAT WE WERE DOING.

YOU KNOW, USUALLY IT TAKES A WHILE IF YOU ARE DOING FEATURE TYPE STORIES.

EVEN A YEAR OR YEAR AND A HALF IS NOT TOO LONG TO EXPECT BEFORE PEOPLE LATCH ON TO IT.

THIS ONE, RIGHT FROM THE GET GO, IT SEEMED LIKE, THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE INTO.

AND OF COURSE THEY CAN SUPPLY YOU.

IT KIND OF FEEDS ON ITSELF.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP TO YOU AND SAY I'VE GOT A GREAT IDEA FOR THE SHOW.

>> ALL THE TIME.

AND A LOT OF TIMES WE GO WITH IT, TOO.

>> AND I WAS GOING TO SAY.

I KNEW EARLY ON THAT THESE GUYS RIGHT HERE WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE RATINGS.

I NEEDED ALL THE HELP I COULD GET.

I'VE HAD A CANINE CO-HOST ALL ALL THE YEARS.

>> I STARTED WITH MY TWO DOGS.

>> YOU NEED TO BRING THEM ON ALL THE TIME.

I WILL BE EXPECTING THAT.

I'LL THE REASON KET BECAME A DOG FRIENDLY WORKPLACE.

YEAH YOU CAN JUST BRING THEM INTO THE OFFICE HERE.

>> OFFICE?

>> YOU DON'T HAVE AN OFFICE?

>> I NEVER EVEN HEARD THE WORD OFFICE.

>> WELL, HE WAS HERE FOR 15 YEARS.

>> I WANDERED THE HALLWAYS WHEN I WAS IN TOWN.

THE REST OF THE TIME I WAS ON THE ROAD GOING SOMEWHERE.

BUT YOU WANDER THE HALLWAYS TRYING TO THINK OF A SCRIPT OR SOMETHING.

AND RARELY-- I HAVE TO MOVE ALL THE TIME.

>> YOU KNOW IT'S SO COOL THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND DO THE SHOWS AND BE BACK IN OUR HOMES AT NIGHT.

I LOVE THAT BECAUSE THE YEARS THAT I TRAVELED PLAYING BALL, YOU WERE GONE FOR THREE DAYS OR SEVEN DAYS, SOMETIMES 14 DAYS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE CAN GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING YOU ENJOYING TO AND STILLING BACK AT YOUR OWN HOME AND GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

ALL THE YEARS DOING THE SHOW, DOES ANYTHING STAND OUT ON ONE OF THE SHOWS YOU MAY HAVE DONE?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM, DOUG, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME THAT AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM STAND OUT.

I MET SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE AND SAW SO MANY INTERESTING PLACES OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, I LIKED DOING CENTENARIANS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I MET Ms. LIRA WILLIAMS AND WE DID A FEATURE WITH HER.

THE OLDEST LIVING KENTUCKIAN AT THE AGE OF 111.

66th OLDEST PERSON IN THE WORLD AND WE WALKED UP WITH ALL THE CAMERAS AND STUFF AND I WAS WORRIED TO DEATH OF HOW THAT WOULD UPSET, YOU KNOW, THE ROUTINE.

SO I KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND AN ELDERLY MAN COMES TO MEET ME AND HE'S HER YOUNGEST SON.

ABOUT 70 YEARS OLD.

HER YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS THERE.

SHE WAS 96, I THINK.

THERE SHE WAS SITTING IN THE CHAIR AND SHE SAID WELL NICE TO MEET YOU AND I SAID IT IS AWFUL NICE TO MEET YOU.

SHE SAID I THINK WE'LL LOOK REAL CUTE TOGETHER ON TV.

>> MOM WAS BORN JUST AFTER WE CROSSED INTO THE 20th CENTURY FEBRUARY 9, 1900.

SHE IS KNOWN AS A SUPER CENTENARIAN.

PEOPLE 110 AND OVER.

>> Ms. LIRA, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING A MOVIE STAR TODAY?

>> THRILLED TO DEATH.

>> I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT.

I COULD GO ON AND ON AND BOTH OF YOU COULD AS WELL GO ON AND ON WITH THESE STORIES.

I JUST READ THE OTHER DAY WHERE HELEN LA FRANCE WHO WE DID A STORY ON MAYBE IN GRAVES COUNTY, SHE STARTED PAINTING PRIMITIVE PICTURES PAINTINGS IN A SCHOOL BUS DOWN THERE AND BECAME ONE OF THE FOREMOST AFRICAN AMERICAN FOLK ARTISTS IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY AND SOME COLLECTORS SAW HER WORK AND IT JUST WENT GREAT.

WELL THAT'S SOMETHING THAT KENTUCKY LIFE HAS CHRONICLED THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 25 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS WORKING THE SHOW THAT IS IN THE ARCHIVES.

I THINK THIS PROGRAM HAS BECOME PART OF KENTUCKY'S ARCHIVES NOW.

AFTER 25 YEARS.

AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE GREAT STORIES.

>> PERCY LEE SPENT HALF HIS LIFE AS A DINING CAR CHEF.

>> I SPENT 38 YEARS ON THE RAILROAD.

STARTED OUT WITH THE RAILROAD IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

AN EDUCATION.

YOU SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT I SEEN.

A SOUTHERN RAILROAD TOWN THAT LOOKS OUT UPON THE NATION.

WHENEVER I GROW TIRED OF BEING IN THE SAME PLACE TOO LONG, I KNOW I CAN GO TO FULTON, CATCH A TRAIN, HEAD OUT SOMEWHERE ACROSS AMERICA AND TELL MY OWN STORIES OF FAR OFF PLACES AND TRAINS SOME MOTION.

>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THE SHOW?

>> THERE ARE SOME THAT STICK OUT.

LIKE YOU SAY, YOU CAN'T REALLY SAY ONE IS FAVORITE BUT WHEN WE GOT A CHANCE TO GO DOWN AND THERE WAS A MENNONITE KNIFE MAKER AND IT WAS REALLY COOL BECAUSE I'M THINKING HOW IS HE GOING TO DO THIS?

WE TALK IN THE SHOP AND THERE ARE PULLLEYS ALL OVER THE CEILING AND WE ARE THINKING I SEE HOW HE IS GOING TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY.

HOW IS HE GOING TO GET IT WORKING?

TAKES US OUT TO THE SIDE OF THE STORE AND THERE ARE THESE TWO MASSIVE HORSES AND THEY'RE ON A TREAD MILL AND SO HE WILL HOOK THIS LITTLE LATCH AND THESE HORSES WILL START WALKING.

THESE PULLLEYS START GOING AND IT IS AMAZING.

HE MADE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL KNIFE I'VE EVER SEEN AND HE JUST EYEBALLED IT.

YOU TALK ABOUT CRAFTSMANSHIP.

I WAS THERE TWO OR THREE TIMES FOR KENTUCKY LIFE.

THEY'RE ALMOST HAND CRAFTED.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> LOSING SOME OF THAT NOW, YOU ARE RIGHT.

BUT IT WAS AN ART HOW THEY WOULD DO THAT AND I THINK WE ARE LOSING A LOT OF THAT NOW.

THE STORIES YOU COVERED EARLIER ARE FUN TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT AND TO WATCH AND SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME OR HAVEN'T COME.

>> YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW SOON THE LANDSCAPE CHANGES BOTH CULTURALLY AND OVER THE TRUE LANDSCAPE, YOU KNOW.

WE LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES 10 YEARS AGO, THE TAPES THAT WE MADE.

THAT HAS CHANGED COMPLETELY.

THAT IS A RECORD OF OUR PASSING THROUGH KENTUCKY LIFE AND I THINK IT'S BECOME A VALUABLE TOOL FOR US HERE IF WE SAVE THOSE SHOWS.

AND WE REVISIT THE PLACES OR WE WOULD RUN OUT OF THINGS TO DO.

YOU GO BACK TO THE STATE PARKS AND NATURE AREAS.

BUT THE PEOPLE REPLENISH THEMSELVES.

WE'LL NEVER RUN OUT OF STORIES.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST KENTUCKY.

I MEAN EVERY TIME I GO UP TO CINCINNATI, THOSE FOLKS GET OUR SHOW OR ANY OF THOSE STATES THAT ARE BORDERING KENTUCKY THAT PICK UP KET.

AND THEY'RE ALL WATCHING THE SHOW AND MY WIFE SAID THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE WERE UP IN CINCINNATI.

SHE SAID THESE PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER IF YOU PLAYED BALL OR NOT.

THEY ALL KNOW FROM YOU KET.

WHICH IS FINE.

>> DAVE IS TALKING ABOUT HOW OUR PATHS HAVE CHRIS ROSED OVER THE YEARS AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE REALLY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THIS REALLY BUT WHEN I WENT TO MURRAY STATE, WHICH WAS BEFORE HE WENT, OF COURSE.

THE COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION AND I WAS A DISK JOCKEY ON THE COLLEGE STATION.

THEY HAD A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AT NIGHT WHERE WE PLAYED, YOU KNOW RECORDS AND THINGS.

THEY HAD RECORDS BACK THEN.

45s.

SO I WAS A DISK JOCKEY ON THAT STATION.

BUT I WAS OFFERED A JOB BY THE GUY WHO OWNED THE LOCAL RADIO STATION.

IT WAS DAVIES UNCLE.

-- IT WAS DAVIES UNCLE.

I WAS TOO BUSY WITH SOCIAL LIFE AROUND THE CAMPUS, BUT THAT DIDN'T LAST LONG, DAVE.

I WAS BACK HOME IN NO TIME.

>> WERE YOU?

>> HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB AT KENTUCKY LIFE?

>> I THINK THAT I HAD WORKED-- I WAS WITH WHAS BEFORE I WENT TO THE "COURIER JOURNAL" AS A COLUMNIST.

I WAS DOING WHAS STUFF WHICH IS A LOT LIKE WHAT WE DID HERE AND I HAD A HALF HOUR SHOW ONCE A MONTH WHERE I COMBINED ALL THE SMALL SEGMENTS I HAD DONE AND IT WAS SYNDICATED ACROSS PART OF TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY AND OHIO AND DID SOME IN SOUTHERN INDIANA.

AND KET PICKED IT UP.

AND DONNA MOORE LIKED THE SHOW, LIKED ITS RECEPTION HERE FROM KET VIEWERS, SO THEY OFFERED ME HOSTING JOB, WHICH I, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT, BUT WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

SOUNDED LIKE WHAT I HAD BEEN DOING.

I WAS WITH THE NEWSPAPER BY THAT TIME.

BUT IT WORKED WELL.

I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME.

THE NEWSPAPER WAS MY MAIN JOB AND I WAS TRAVELING ALL OVER THE STATE, BUT IT HELPED ME COME UP WITH STORY IDEAS FOR KENTUCKY LIFE.

>> DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GETTING DAVE INVOLVED IN IT?

>> ACTUALLY I THINK IT SENT WORD TO DAVE WHEN I WAS LEAVING.

>> HE RECOMMENDED ME.

>> SURE DID.

>> I OWE HIM SOMETHING.

>> I'M WAITING.

>> LET'S SEE, BUT THE 15 YEARS, YOU DID IT FOR 15 YEARS.

>> YOU DID IT FOR SIX SEASONS.

>> I DID IT THE FIRST FIVE SEASONS.

AND YOU DID IT FOR HOW LONG?

>> 15 SEASONS.

>> YOU'LL CATCH UP WITH ME.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THEY GOT A WALKER OUT THERE OR SOMETHING?

>> THAT'S-- I SAW YOU SLEEPING ON THE JOB ONE TIME.

JUST THE OTHER DAY.

>> IN THE HAMMOCK?

THAT WAS COMFORTABLE.

>> YOU WERE DOING A TREE HOUSE STORY.

SOMEBODY HAD TO ALMOST KICK YOU OUT OF THE HAMMOCK, RIGHT?

>> YOU CAN'T GET IN A HAMMOCK AND NOT GO TO SLEEP IT IS JUST COMFORTABLE.

YOU KNOW OUR WONDERFUL STAFF WAS OUT THERE DOING WHAT THEY DO, I THOUGH THOUGHT I WOULD CATCH UP ON SOME... >> YOU KNOW, WHEN THE TIME COMES, DAVE CAN RENT TOBY TO YOU AS A SERVICE DOG.

>> I'M SORRY HE IS SO OUT OF HAND.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT.

ARE THERE AS MANY PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT TOBY THAT KNOW ABOUT KENTUCKY LIFE?

>> OH YES.

>> I'VE HAD FOUR CANINE CO-HOSTS OVER THE YEARS.

ONE OF THEM WAS BACK IN KENTUCKY AFIELD DAYS AT FISH AND WILDLIFE.

HIS NAME WAS SAM AND THEN I HAD SADIE AND CHARLIE AND TOBY AND I GOT HIM WHEN HE WAS ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS OLD.

HE FINALLY, A COUPLE HAD WENT OUT ACROSS THE ROAD AND PULLED HIM OUT OF THE BUSHES AND THEY CAME TO ME AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

LEE HE WAS THE BEST TV CO-HOST I EVER HAD.

>> 25 YEARS.

AND I WASN'T KIDDING.

I MEAN WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO ESTABLISH SUCH A GOOD RAPPORT WITH EVERYBODY ACROSS THIS STATE AND THE STATES SURROUNDING, IS AMAZING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IT'S AN HONOR JUSTED TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, WHAT I'M DOING CAN'T REPEAT WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE BUT HOPEFULLY LIT KEEP THE LEGACY GOING.

>> EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN STYLE.

YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.

YOU ARE GETTING THE LUMMOR IN WHICH-- HUMOR IN THERE WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO BE A LEGACY.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

THEY WON'T REMEMBER YOU FROM BASEBALL.

THEY'LL REMEMBER YOU FROM THIS IF YOU STAY WITH IT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD THING.

SOMETIMES THOSE BASEBALL CARDS HAVE A LITTLE TOO MUCH INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF THEM.

STUFF WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

>> I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE WE SHOULDN'T OVERLOOK IS ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH US.

THE GUYS BEHIND THESE CAMERAS AND THE SOUND PEOPLE AND THE PRODUCERS WHO WE WORKED WITH, AND THEY WERE PEOPLE WHO CAUGHT THE ENERGY OF THIS SHOW EARLY.

AND YOU COULD FEEL IT WHEN WE STARTED KENTUCKY LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S APPARENT TO YOU GUYS NOW OR HAS BEEN.

>> OH YEAH.

>> BUT YOU CAN JUST FEEL A LITTLE ENERGY CHURNING WITH THE SHOW LIKE THIS AND PEOPLE WANTED TO GET OUT THERE AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT THE BEST THAT THEY COULD MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD STUMBLE A TIME OR TWO AND DIDN'T ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD -- WE DIDN'T ALWAYS HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK BUT WE USUALLY-- >> WE DID A SPECIAL KENTUCKY'S LAST GREAT PLACES.

IT WAS A LOOK AT ALL OF THESE PRISTINE AREAS IN THE STATE.

YOU REALLY CAN'T GET TO AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STILL SO PRISTINE AND WE HAD SIX TRIPS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

I MEAN BIG CREW.

AND I WAS ONE OF THEM THAT WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

BUT WE HAD PEOPLE FALLING OFF MOUNTAINS AND EVERYTHING.

THEY ARE DEDICATED.

I WOULD BE DOING A ROAD SHOW AS WE CALLED THEM GOING DOWN HIGHWAY 68 ACROSS THE STATE AND IT LOOKED LIKE ME AND A DOG WERE JUST HAVING A LEISURELY TRIP BY OURSELVES AND THERE WOULD BE A VAN FULL OF EIGHT PEOPLE BEHIND ME WORKING THEIR-- WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE IT LOOK-- AND WE OWE IT TO THEM.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY DO.

THE WRITING IS BEAUTIFUL.

THE CAMERAS, YOU WON'T FIND ANY BETTER SCENERY ANYWHERE AND SO I THINK ALL OF US ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THEY MAKE US LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN WE ARE.

>> YES.

>> AND WE NEED TO LOOK BETTER.

SL SO HERE'S MY MAYBE LAST QUESTION.

WHY HAS IT TAKEN FIVE YEARS FOR TO US GET TOGETHER?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I'VE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME SMALL MOUTH FISHING AND ROCK HUNTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> YOU LIKE TO FISH.

>> AND YOU LIKE TO FISH.

>> YES.

>> WHY CAN'T WE DO A FISHING SHOW WITH THE THREE OF US?

>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANYBODY... >> I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA.

>> WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

AND I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL INVITE ME BACK FOR THE 50th ANNIVERSARY.

>> YES.

>> I PLAN TO BE HERE.

>> I WILL BE 110... >> WELL, YOU'RE THE BABY.

>> AM I?

>> YES.

>> 61 YEARS OLD IS THE BABY.

>> THAT'S THE BABY.

>> SOME BABY.

>> IT HAS BEEN JUST AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND YOU.

NOW I KNOW WHY THIS SHOW HAS BEEN HERE THIS LONG AFTER SITTING WITH YOU GUYS.

>> THE PLEASURE IS ALL OURS.

>> THANK YOU MY FRIEND.

>> , YOU, TOO.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR THIS TRIP DOWN KENTUCKY LIFE'S MEMORY LANE.

AS YOU CAN TELL, WE TAKE PRIDE IN THE STORIES WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING TO OUR VIEWERS FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY NOW.

KENTUCKY IS FULL OF GREAT STORIES AND WE HAVE BEEN HONORED TO TELL SO MANY OF THEM OVER THE YEARS.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING MORE OF THEM TO YOU IN THE FUTURE WHETHER THEY BE ABOUT MUSIC, HORSES, ARTISTS, HISTORY OR SOME SURPRISES ALONG THE WAY.