A Union farm kid who played on one of Northern Kentucky's greatest football teams went on to shape Boone County for nearly a quarter century.
Bruce Ferguson, who grew up at Glencairn Farm in Union, was a standout on the 1946 Holmes Bulldogs squad that went undefeated and claimed a mythical state championship. The team was featured July 24, as Day 33 of LINK nky's "50 greatest NKY prep sports teams in 50 days" series, curated by sports editor Evan Dennison.
Ferguson graduated from Holmes High School in Covington in 1947. Born in 1929, he was just 16 or 17 during that championship season. He went on to serve as Boone County's top elected official for 24 years total, according to Boone County Fiscal Court records: as county judge from 1964 to 1982, and again as judge-executive from 1986 to 1992.
Among his accomplishments in office: helping launch the Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation, creating the county's first hospital, and establishing the county water system.
"Boone County would not be what it is today without the tremendous leadership and vision of Bruce Ferguson," then-Judge-Executive Gary Moore said in May 2015, when Ferguson died at age 86 at Colonial Heights assisted living in Florence.
Ferguson was inducted into the Covington Independent Public Schools Hall of Distinction in 2005. One detail from that honor: he still owned the Model T Ford he drove to Holmes High School.
The 1946 team
The Bulldogs' undefeated season came before Kentucky's modern playoff era, so their state championship was "mythical," based on statewide rankings and reputation. Several players on the roster had returned from World War II military service. Under the rules of the era, athletes could play high school sports until age 21.
Alongside Ferguson, the roster featured 1947 state discus champion Al Linneman, who later played at Indiana University; quarterback Don Davis; and Russell Knorel, who went on to play at the University of Kentucky.
Boone County in the series
The 1946 Holmes squad is not the only Boone County connection in the series. The 2019 Ryle Raiders girls basketball team appeared on July 3 (Day 12), the 1987 Boone County Rebels football team was featured on July 4 (Day 13), and the 2006 Ryle softball team was highlighted on July 9 (Day 18).
