If Kip Cornett is at the Rotary podium, you can be certain that something big is going on in Lexington. When last we saw him, it was to learn about the week-long events surrounding the 2022 Breeders’ Cup held at Keeneland. That was then; this is now.
In 2025, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Lexington’s founding. In September 2023, Mayor Linda Gorton announced the members of the Mayor’s 250 Lex Commission. The commission is planning an entire year’s worth of events honoring the cultural and historical significance of Lexington’s past, present, and future.
Lexington was founded in 1775, one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, by William McConnell and frontier explorers who set up camp near a natural spring, now known as McConnell Springs. In honor of the American Revolution battles in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, the frontiersmen named their site Lexington.
One focus of the commission will be June 2025, called ’ Come Home ’ month. June is the month Lexington is believed to have been named. The city is inviting anyone who has lived here, has family here, or would like to see all we have to offer to travel here for a month-long cultural experience.
The Commission is led by co-chairs Eunice A. Beatty, PhDand the aforementioned Kip Cornett. We are delighted to welcome Kip to update us on the work of the Commission and all that is being planned as part of this celebration. Karl“Kip” Cornett was born in Hazard, Ky., and moved as a teenager to Lexington, where he tended heat and, in 1977, graduated from the University of Kentucky. Just a short seven years later, Kip founded CORNETT, an advertising firm that has become one of the leading agencies in the region. The company quickly grew and works closely with such brands as Valvoline, Keeneland, Tempur+Sealy, Buffalo Trace Distillery, as well as the University of Kentucky, UK Athletics, and UK Healthcare.
Kip’s great passion for the city of Lexington has been evidenced throughout his life. In 2015, Kip served as the chair of the Breeders’ Cup Festival Committee, helping Keeneland and the city execute one of the most successful running events in its 31-year history. He is actively involved with numerous boards and civic efforts, including The Fayette Alliance, YMCA, The Lyric Theatre, and Picnic with the Pops Commission.
Kip and his wife, Ellen, live in Lexington.
Rotary in Review
LEXINGTON CELEBRATES A BIRTHDAY 250 YEARS IN THE MAKING
In 2025 we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Lexington’s founding. In September 2023,Mayor Linda Gorton announced the members of the mayor’s 250 Lex Commission. The commission is planning an entire year’s worth of events honoring the cultural and historic significance of Lexington’s past, present, and future.
Lexington was founded in 1775, one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, by William McConnell and frontier explorers who set up camp near a natural spring, now known as McConnell Springs. In honor of the American Revolution battles in Lexington and Concord,Massachusetts, the frontiersmen named their site Lexington.
To support a celebration worthy of this event, Mayor Gorton established the 250 LexCommission and chose as its co-leaders Eunice Beatty and today’s presenter, Kip Cornett.
It has been said that true leaders are those whose actions speak louder than their words. Very few live up to that adage more than Kip Cornett. As the founder of the advertising firm CORNETT, Kip early on demonstrated his business acumen by building one of the leading agencies in the region. Kip’s passion for our city has been evidenced throughout his time in Lexington.In 2015he served as the chair of the Breeders Cup Festival Committee. In addition, he has been actively involved in The Fayette Alliance, YMCA of Central Kentucky, The Lyric Theatre, and the Picnic with the PopsCommission.
As Co-Chair of the 250th Anniversary of Lexington, Kip and his fellow Commission members have put together a year-long list of events that will tell our city’s story and involve virtually every aspect of what Lexington has to offer. Each month has a specific theme: April was the Music and Written Word Month; May is Diversity Month, The month of June is especially meaningful as the month in which Lexington was first established and has been designated asCome Home Month.All of the themes, history, and events can be found on 250lex.com. The events will be educational and include both indoor and outdoor concerts and wellness activities for every age group and meet the needs of all interest groups.
I personally have been involved by writing the“official” 250th Anniversary song with Devine Carama and I will be hosting an Arty Party soiree for LexArts on June 20 with other songwriters.
At the end of his presentation Kip provided some 250Lex merchandise to winners in a TriviaContest.He also encouraged Rotarians to visit 250lex.com often to learn more about the countless activities in which we can all participate, noting that his presentation was only an overview.We in Lexington should be thankful to have a leader who truly knows what it means to serve. Well done Mr. Cornett and Happy Birthday Lexington!