Henry Earl, a Kentucky man who was known for having more than 1,300 arrests during his lifetime, passed away at the age of 74. He was buried at the Owenton Cemetery with no family present at the ceremony. Earl was a beloved figure in the Lexington community, where he spent his final years at the Owenton Healthcare and Rehabilitation Facility.
Throughout his life, Earl had numerous run-ins with the law, with the Division of Community Corrections documenting around 1,300 arrests since 1992. Overall, he had been arrested more than 1,500 times over five decades, mostly for alcohol-related offenses. Earl began drinking after the death of his adopted mother when he was 18 and had not held a steady job since 1969.
Earl made a mark on national media when he was featured on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in 2004. However, he was unable to attend the show in person due to being incarcerated at the time. His most memorable arrest was his 1,000th in 2008, where he was found passed out on someone’s back porch. He subsequently entered a rehab program, but unfortunately relapsed after four months.
Despite his struggles with alcohol, Earl was remembered as a charismatic and free-spirited individual by those who knew him. He was a regular presence at University of Kentucky college bars, where he would socialize with students. Known for his sense of humor, Earl would often tell people to call him “James Brown” and was described as a lovable person by those who worked with him.
Ramsey, the founder of Lexington’s Catholic Action Center, who knew Earl for decades, described him as a character with a wonderful sense of humor. While he could be difficult at times, particularly during his stay at the housing program, Ramsey emphasized that Earl’s free spirit and likable personality left a lasting impact on those who knew him. Despite his troubled past, Henry Earl will be remembered fondly by those who had the privilege of interacting with him.
