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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.