Historical Marker

James D. Black (1849-1938)

Kentucky's 39th governor, native of Knox Co., served for seven months in 1919. As lieutenant governor, he succeeded A. O. Stanley when that official became U.S. senator. Black, a teacher and lawyer, was representative in Ky. House and superintendent of Knox Co. schools. A co-founder of Union College (1879), he named the institution Union to show community support.