Famous Louisvillians: Morganna the Kissing Bandit (#15)

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After saluting the Scots I figured I’d stay a little closer to home for this one, so here are 15 people from various walks of life who were born right here in my little ol’ hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Let’s start in sports! #15: Morganna the Kissing Bandit The gal with a gigantic set of.....eyes. According to Picky Wedia, her chest measurements were sixty inches, and she’d claim that “Dolly Parton is flat-chested compared to me.” She spent some of her childhood in a convent here, raised by nuns after her family left her. She considered becoming a nun, but decided against it and ran away from the home — and Louisville — when she was 13. The legend of the Kissing Bandit started not too far from here, either, in Cincinnati, where she said someone bet her and “double-dog dared” her to run out onto the field and kiss someone. She picked Pete Rose. These were more innocent times, and her antics were generally tolerated by players in all major sports. As baseball (in particular, her favorite venue for the stunt) tightened up restrictions on fans jumping onto the field in the major league games, she turned to the minor leagues for her “attacks.” She retired from the role of “Kissing Bandit” in 1996. Now 73, she lives quietly with her husband in Ohio and doesn’t give interviews or make appearances. But for a generation of baseball fans, she was a wild and fun distraction. Morganna the Kissing Bandit Born Morganna Roberts 1947 (date unknown) Famous for running onto the playing field and kissing athletes during sporting events Here’s a quick video about her exploits: