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Congratulations to
Ida Lee Hansel, the 1st to identify Gene Baker
Mary Jo Gregory Edwards & Elizabeth Duncan also correctly
identified the Mystery Person
Gene
Baker was born and reared in Hazard. He was a member of the
1929 Senior class at Hazard High School. He obtained business training at
Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri. Upon
completing his business training, he returned to Hazard where he was
employed by D. H. Goodlette, owner of the Goodford Motor Company on East
Main Street in Hazard. Baker sold Ford automobiles
for several years until he obtained a franchise for Dodge and Plymouth
cars. On December 18, 1936, Baker opened for business in the
location later occupied by the Terminal Theater next to the Bus Terminal
in Hazard. Baker was a business associate of Dr. M. B. Payne
at the time. In 1938 Gene Baker added Buick automobiles to his
selling line. In 1940 he moved from the bus station location to East
Main Street, a spot later occupied by Carl Melton Motor Company. In
1942, Baker bought out Dr. Payne's interest in the business and became the
sole owner of the Gene Baker Motor Company. In 1945, Baker broke
ground for a modern building on East Main Street that would be home to
Baker Motors for many years. On February 7, 1947, Gene Baker moved
into the modern building and remained there through the 1960s.
Besides selling Dodge cars and trucks, he also offered Buicks, Plymouths
and Diamond T. and Mack trucks. Gene Baker was a pioneer in many
automotive firsts: He was the first to have a front end alignment
machine, the first to have a radiator and auto-glass department, and the
first to install an automatic car-washer. The Gene Baker Motor
Company was one of the largest retail establishments in Hazard. 30
people were employed at the business in 1950.
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