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Mystery Person #9 Fred Combs Carlene Shackelford was the first person to identify Fred Combs who was born on the family farm at Jeff, Kentucky. He went to grade school and high school at Buckhorn and attended Roanoke Business College in Roanoke, Virginia. After a year of college, Combs returned to Perry County to go into business for himself. He started the Hazard Service Station and operated it for 12 years. When World War II started, he sold his business and joined the Armed Service. He was wounded in the Battle for Rome and discharged. When he returned to Hazard, he bought his old business, the Hazard Service Station. However, his war injury would not allow him to continue in this venture. So, with Fred Vescio and Les Craft, Combs founded the Hazard Auto Supply Company, a wholesale automotive business on East Main Street in Hazard. He operated the business until 1949 when he entered the political field and was elected Perry County Judge Executive. When WSGS asked Combs what he considered his most important project, he said, "My pet project was the building of a walkway on the side of the Lotts Creek Bridge. Although this was a small project it was vital for the increased traffic that was came along with the opening of M. C. Napier High School. Although Carlene Shackelford was the first to correctly identify Fred Combs, Ida Lee Hansel, Shelby Morgan and Elizabeth S. Duncan also guessed correctly. Recent Mystery Men Joe Foley M. C. Napier Dudley Goodlette R. L. Collins John Gross Blondie Eblen Clymon Shelton Zeke Smith Lus Oxley William Stanfill S. B. Snyder Carl Seale Nell Harper |
