Near Benton in Marshall County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Shelby McCallum

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 12, 2018

1. Shelby McCallum Marker

Inscription. Born in Tn. in 1917, he moved to Benton in 1939 to manage the old Benton Theater. He served in the Army during WWII, then returned home & opened several drive-in theaters. He founded WCBL AM, Dec. 1954 and operated it for the remainder of his life. He served as a State Rep., 1952-60 & 1962-68 & Speaker of the House, 1964-68.

Later served as 1st District railroad commissioner & was member of KET Authority and Pritchard Commission of Higher Education. He was first chairman of state legislative Ethics Board, created in response to the Watergate scandal, and presided over passage of first Civil Rights Act in a southern state. He died in 1987 & is buried at Fooks Cemetery.

Erected 2012 by the Kentucky Historical Society Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2383.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1954.

Location. 36° 51.481′ N, 88° 20.201′ W. Marker is near Benton, Kentucky, in Marshall County. Marker is on Eggners Ferry Road (Kentucky Route 408) 0.1 miles east of Shelby McCallum Drive, on the right when traveling west. Located at Freeland Broadcasting.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1039 Eggners Ferry Road, Benton KY 42025, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. County Named, 1842 (approx. ¾ mile away); Marshall County Civil War Cannon (approx. ¾ mile away); Benton County Vietnam Conflict Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); Kentucky Writer (approx. ¾ mile away); Henry H. Lovett, Sr. (approx. 0.8 miles away); James R. Lemon (1848-1919) (approx. 0.8 miles away); Civil War Action (approx. 0.9 miles away); Arthur H. Davis (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Benton.

Also see . . . Explore Kentucky History on Shelby McCallum. (Submitted on September 22, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, April 3, 2021

2. Shelby McCallum Marker

Shelby McCallum Marker at WCBL-AM. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 12, 2018

3. Shelby McCallum Marker at WCBL-AM.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 281 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 22, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on April 3, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3. submitted on September 22, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.