Byron Crawford grew up on a family farm in Lincoln County, attended Murray State University and, in his early career, worked as a news reporter at radio stations WAKY in Louisville and WCKY in Cincinnati and at WHAS Radio and Television in Louisville, where he hosted the popular traveling feature series, Sideroads. In 1979, he became the Kentucky Columnist for the state’s largest newspaper, The Courier-Journal, and spent nearly 30 years traveling to every corner of Kentucky, writing stories about fascinating people and places. Crawford hosted the first five seasons of Kentucky Educational Television’s Emmy Award-winning Kentucky Life series and has authored four books of Kentucky stories. He joined Kentucky Living after retirement from The Courier-Journal, and now writes the magazine’s back page essays. He was named 2017 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian, which is the highest honor bestowed by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives.
The Back Page
In this collection, veteran television and newspaper journalist Byron Crawford shares stories about Kentucky’s rural people and places, ranging from the playful to the poignant to the profound. Meet Justin the donkey, companion of racehorses and connoisseur of marigolds. Read tales of panther sightings, snake crossings and haunted happenings. Reminisce about country stores, telephone operators and pool halls. Hear quiet voices of sacrifice, courage, service and love. Since 2011, Crawford has written the back page of Kentucky Living magazine, the state’s most widely circulated publication, and each month, readers enjoy his unique gift for “finding the little story within the big story,” as he puts it.