From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Irvin, Theophilus, Sr.
(born: 1882 - died: 1967) Theophilus Irvin, Sr. was a horse trainer who was born in Clark County, KY, the son of Laura and Rev. Dudley Irvin. His birth date is given as October 22, 1882 in the Social Security Death Index and on Irvin's World War I draft registration card. He was the husband of Ada Bell Morton Irvin; the family lived at 511 Chestnut Street in Lexington, KY.Irvin worked at the racetrack, where he was employed by Will Perkins Stables. He was also listed in the 1910 U.S. Census as a foreman at the racetrack. Irvin and his previous wife, Lou J. Shelton Irvin, were living with his wife's family on Thomas Street. In the 1920 census, Ada B. Morton Irvin is listed as Theophilus Irvin's wife; the couple had two sons. [They would later have more children, including Theophilus Irvin, Jr.] By 1932, Theophilus Irvin, Sr. was employed as a janitor at the Lexington Telephone Company and the family lived at 549 Thomas Street in Lexington [source: Polk's Lexington (Kentucky) City Directory]. The telephone company was later owned by Bell Telephone; Irvin continued working there until his retirement. He died in 1967.
For more see the obituary of Theophilus Irvin, Sr., "Retired employee of Bell Telephone Co." Lexington Herald-Leader, p. 15, C1.