William Jobe "Bill" Curtis

William Jobe "Bill" Curtis. .

To William J. Curtis....whose unselfish service in the cause of the project was unflagging, honor is due." , The Carlisle Mercury, August 23, 1928

, William Jobe "Bill” Curtis was born in Robertson County, Kentucky, November 22, 1868. While attending a Centennial Celebration in 1882 of the Battle of Blue Licks, Mr. Curtis developed a fascination and interest in the grounds. At only 14 years of age he began developing interest in its history and working towards its preservation. He represented Robertson and Nicholas counties in the state Legislature for three terms between the years 1926 and 1934. Through his efforts during these years, 32 acres were purchased and presented to the state of Kentucky in 1928. Mr. Curtis was joined in his efforts by several other prominent figures to secure funding for the erection of the monument and later the Pioneer Museum in 1930. He contributed all his time and work up to June 1932, when he was officially appointed superintendent of the park. He served in this capacity until 1945, when he retired. Upon his death in 1950, Mr. Curtis was buried next to the Pioneer Museum by a special act of the 1950 Legislature., Mr. Curtis worked tirelessly to curate and display many of the items still on exhibit in the Pioneer Museum. His collection of fine Native American relics, antique firearms, and prehistoric fossils and artifacts, were on loan to a number of college museums throughout the state. He was also featured predominantly in the book, Ancient Life in Kentucky by Funkhouser and Webb (1928) before his collection was purchased and put on permanent display here at Blue Licks. For these reasons, Mr. Curtis is regarded as the "father" of Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park.