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Congratulations to Jack B. Martin

MYSTERY PERSON #46
Jack B. Martin of Hazard, Kentucky was the first to identify Bill Douglas as Mystery Person #46.  Douglas was the oldest of five children of William Harrison and Mary Lillian Douglas, both natives of Richmond.  His father worked for the railroad and transferred to Hazard in the late 1930s.  During high school, Bill's favorite hobby was building huge motor powered model airplanes with wingspans of about seven feet.  "I was always interested in mechanical things," said Douglas and he decided to pursue a trade at an early age.  Using funds from the sale of an Oldsmobile won in an American Legion raffle, he took up the refrigeration trade and went to school in Chicago.  "I had a good background from Hazard High and I knew refrigeration was the thing of the future," he said.  Douglas served in World War II in the Air Force as an engine mechanic - a B-29 hydraulic specialist, stationed in Saipan.  After his time in the service, Douglas married Vesta Binkley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  He owned and operated Douglas Refrigeration and gave Ernest Sparkman of Hazard his first job in the late 1940s, before Ernest started a career in broadcasting.

Douglas was best known and loved for his role as Santa Claus.  The call to be Santa came in 1949 at the Hazard Jaycee's Parade when WKIC's Fred Bullard wasn't going to show. The members discussed the problem the tale goes according to Douglas and they said, "Get Bill Douglas to do it, he doesn't give a ---- what he does."  That was the beginning of Bill's long association with Santa.  It turned out Bill did care when it concerned the kids.  "We'd go and bring them Christmas" Douglas said of the days when the county had about 40 one-room schools and road conditions limited travel.  Bill appeared annually in Hazard's Christmas parade.  In 1974 and 1975, he made his grand entrance by helicopter landing on the roof of the Perry County Court House.  "My Santa Claus has never been commercial.  I go mostly to civic clubs and schools, giving Christmas to children who mostly need a little something," Bill said.  For a couple of years, when Rev. Mires was pastor, Bill's Santa preached a sermon at the Methodist Church on the Sunday before Christmas.  "He (Rev. Mires) felt I could relate the story of Christmas, the birth of Jesus and how it all began and that's what I did," said Douglas.  "I'm dedicated to it.  I try to uphold the image of Santa as high as it can be held by having nice looking Santa suits with clean white gloves, playing the part and acting jolly.  I give my attention to the children alone," he said.  Children were spellbound with his magic.  Why?  It might have been his string of jingle bells that the children heard ringing announcing his arrival or it might have been the way he led them in singing Christmas carols or most likely it was because the children knew he loved them.  At one time Bill lived on Maple Street with his mother, who along with Mrs. Santa, Geneva McKnight, helped him keep his suits and white gloves clean.

Douglas originated a mountain vaudeville act in 1954 known as The Hillbilly Circus, a hillbilly family with Maw and Paw, Adam, their first born son, and Dorie Bell, their shapely daughter.  Douglas played the part of Paw.  The group appeared at conventions, coal shows and consisted of mostly ad lib jokes, music and dancing.  The group appeared at the inauguration of Governor Bert Combs in 1959 and the dedication of Buckhorn Dam in 1960.

Another one of Bill's exploits was a four day trip from Hazard to Frankfort down the Kentucky River.  About 20 East Kentuckians joined him including Jay Lasslo, Bill Gorman, Vernon Cooper, Alva Hollon Sr., Gene Combs, Gene Baker, L. D. Gorman, and Billy Engle II.  The intent of the voyage was to dramatize the need to further develop the river for industrial and recreational purposes.  

Jack B. Martin of Hazard, Kentucky was the first to identify Bill Douglas.  Carol in Perry County came in second place with the correct answer six hours later.  Two hours after that - Mary Jo Gregory Edwards of Carmel, Indiana identified Douglas.

Winning Entry
Mystery Person #46 was a mystery indeed.  My first choice was Bud Igo, because his home overlooked Collins Field, the present location of the Hazard Pavilion.  Collins Field was one of the few places that one could fly model airplanes.  Bud always had a fascination with airplanes.  I can remember very well him doing his flip flops and buzz diving in his single engine plane, over our community.  His father was a railroad employee.  Cromwell Sluder, not only flew model airplanes, but also lived on Maple Street.  I couldn't make any connection of his father having worked for the railroad.  I can remember being in his recapping establishment on North Main and observing his two largest planes, hanging on the wall.   The biggest was a yellow, single engine piper cub, with a wing span of approximately six feet.  Slightly smaller was a large green, twin engine bomber.  Many times I watched him fly his planes at Collins Field.   I also watched Sluder's recapping building lift off its foundation and move to the center of the river during the 1957 flood.  The most ironic thing was the smoke still coming out of the chimney, as it floated down the river.  The planes and all of his equipment was lost.  There were several railroad families that lived on Maple Street. One of them was the Douglas family.  I was acquainted with Bill's father, who was Chief Clerk and Engine Dispatcher at Hazard Railroad Shops.   I knew that Bill had a refrigeration business and worked with motors and compressors.  It was only logical, after giving it much thought, that Bill was, indeed, the mystery person.  Jack B. Martin, Hazard, KY

I should have known this.  His Mother lived right beside us on Maple St.  I love to guess even though I am not getting any right. I hope we get another mystery person soon.  Carlene Shackelford, Hazard, KY

Could it be Bill Douglas.  I think he lived on Maple Street and he worked on motors etc.  Carol in Perry County

My guess is Bill Douglas!  Mary Jo Gregory Edwards, Carmel, IN

I thought about Bill Douglas but didn't put it on here.  This site is great.  Thank you.  Mattie in Hazard, KY

That guess of Cromwell Sluder is a good guess but I am unable to find his birth in my research.  Also my guess earlier of Woodrow was premature because he was already in Hazard in 1930, showing up in 1930 Census. However, he might have just come to Hazard.  Hubert Horn was with the railroad.  You're doing some good ones, keep it going!!!!  IdaLee Hansel, Spartanburg, SC

Is the mystery man Elmer Campbell?  He lived on Maple Street and worked in the Sherwin Williams paint store for years.  Or could it be Champion Gordon?  Carol in Perry County

Could this be Earl Gordon?  Bob Byrge, Hazard, KY

Could this be Paul Gordon's Dad.  Paul is into photography and also loves to fly planes.  Francine in Hazard, KY

Cromwell Sluder and his wife, Cuba, lived on Maple Street.  He ran a tire recapping business on North Main Street, at the site of the present Coastal station.  His planes used to hang on the wall in his business.  The building washed down the river during the 1957 flood.  Sallie Martin, Hazard, KY

I am guessing Glen Reynolds because of the Maple St. connection.  Carlene Shackelford, Hazard, KY

Several RR families lived on Maple Street, but I am going to guess first, Woodrow Horn, the son of Sophie Horn Duke.  IdaLee Hansel, Spartanburg SC

Bernie Faulkner dad   or Paul Gordons Dad.....Darlene in Richmond, KY

Could it be Vernon Cooper?  Robin Combs Amburgey, Hazard, KY

I think this is Charles Sword.   predatorak

Mystery # 46 is Bud Igo.  I worked with his father, Arlie, on the railroad.  Jack B. Martin, Hazard, KY

Could this person be Bud Igo?  Lois Reynolds Farler, London, OH

  Could this be Bill Morton?  Carol in Perry County

Is it Bill Morton? Don't know anything about his military career, but he was a WWII Veteran and maybe Air Force.  jasmine44

Could this be Bud  Combs? He builds model airplanes.  Linda in Hazard, KY

Bud Combs who was the plumbing inspector at one time.  fe2004

Is the Mystery Man Mr. Sluder?  J. Strong, Hazard, KY

Charles Sword?  Lyndon Combs, Hazard, KY