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Congratulations to Ida Lee Hansel, of Spartanburg, SC for identifying Mystery Person #31 as Lee Crutchfield.  He's seen here with Ernest Sparkman playing the banjo, one of his favorite pastimes.  Lee Cruthfield was born on May 18, 1909.  He was a founding member of the 88th Infantry Division Association, in which he served with distinction in Italy for fourteen months during World War II.  He was a member of the local Draft Board of the American Legion of Perry Post #128.  He was truly one of the real civic-minded citizens of Hazard.  He served as the first chairman of the War Bond Committee for World War II, and as chairman of the Committee for President Roosevelt's Birthday celebration for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, and as chairman of the Community Chest.  He was a member of the Hazard Lions Club, the Hazard Golf Club, and the Masonic Lodge of Hazard.  He participated in the American Red Cross Fund Drive on WKIC in Hazard in 1948 when thirteen thousand dollars was raised in less than nine hours on the air, a considerable about of money - sixty years ago.  In September of 1935 - he opened the Hobbs Motor Service on East Main Street - selling Chevrolets and Cadillacs.  Hobbs employed about 18 people and had one of the largest garages in Perry County.  Crutchfield was the President and Treasurer of the company, Dr. W. H. Hobbs served as Secretary and Mrs. Lee Crutchfield as Vice-President.  Many of Cruthfield's workers were long time employees such as E.E. Potts, the Office Manager from the 1930s until the 1950s.  Doyle Leveridge headed the new car department.  Charles Kinner managed the Used Car Lot.  Chancellor Wooton was Service Manager, and Estill Clay directed activities in the parts department.  The business operated in Hazard until the franchise was purchased by another car dealer and the name was changed to Cardinal Chevrolet.  Lee Crutchfield died on April 15, 1997..

When you put that clue in red about E. E . Potts that clinched it for me because I remembered they lived on Maple and Mildred (Tootle) was my cousin Glynna's good friend and so I phoned Glynna to verify that I remembered him as being the bookkeeper there.

Glynna asked me if I remembered that he didn't own a car nor did he drive.  I don't remember ever seeing him drive just walking back and forth to work but he lived very close to the garage.  Glynna told me that he also did some work for the bus station, but I didn't ask her what.

Just a note on Potts.  They are from the Irvine area as I recall and my cousin, J. P. was doing some genealogy with Tootles before J. P. passed and he emailed me one day and told me that the movie star Annie Potts was of their line.  I thought that was cool.  Another link sort of to our area.

I will have to "fess" up that I never knew anything about the banjo.  I was sure that Elizabeth Duncan or one of the older ones would get it.  I think Carlene and her family lived down the street on Maple but it was possibly after that period of time.  But the Willoughbys did live on Maple too.  

Ida Lee Hansel, of Spartanburg, SC  

Was this person Vernon Cooper?  George Pendleton, Houston, TX

Is he George Davis the Singing Miner?  Sherry Smith, Airport Gardens, KY

Could that be George Davis?  Darlene Watts, Richmond, KY


Mystery #33     Mystery #32     Mystery #30     Mystery #29     

Mystery #28     Mystery #27     Mystery #26     Mystery #25     Mystery # 24      

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