| Notes |
- The Paducah Sun-Democrat, Kentucky, Friday, July 27, 1962
Luther Carson Drink Bottler, Dies At 89
Business Career Here Spanned Nearly 60 Years
By Don Pepper
Sun-Democrat Staff Writer
Luther F. Carson, who rose to wealth on one of America's most fabulous business success, died at 10 a.m. today at Western Baptist Hospital.
At 89, Carson was one of the last of the men who started with the famous Coca-Cola almost from the beginning of its history as a bottled drink.
Next March 27 he would have spent 60 years as a bottler of Coca-Cola in Paducah.
He used his business success to help many civic and charitable enterprises, especially the Boy Scouts, Carson Park, home of the West Kentucky Fair is named for him.
In addition to heading the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. here Carson was president of the Coca-Cola plants in Evansville, Ind. and Champaign, Ill and had interests in several other smaller plants in Indiana.
One of Paducah's wealthiest men, he was a native of the little village of Kirksey in Calloway County.
He was one the the founders of the Lincoln Income Life Insurance Co. of Louisville and at the time of his death was a director emeritus.
Long Illness
He death followed a long illness. He had battle several serious ailments for the past 15 years.
Carson believed success was built on personal contact with his customers. When the Coca-Cola Co. asked a group of its pioneer bottlers to give there success formulas, Carson wrote:
"Bottles must be absolutely sanitary and goods up to standard. Know your customers by coming in contact with them personally as often as possible. Let your customers know you as you know your goods. Place signs everywhere you can."
Won Scout Awards
His contributions to civic welfare were recognized on many occasions. Two of his most cherished obsessions were the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope awards given by the Four Rivers and Region IV councils respectively of the Boy Scouts of America. They are the highest awards the two Scout units can bestow.
He was a life member of the Elks Lodge and of the Travelers Protective Association.
All his life he kept his church membership in his home church Kirksey Methodist. He built for that congregation a new brick church.
Arrived in 1903
Mr. Carson arrived in Paducah March 13, 1903 to start his Coca-Cola business.
A few years before, he had left Calloway County to go to work for the Lookout Mountain Railroad which operates the track up the steep incline of Lookout Mountain at Chattanooga. Carson's uncle, John Crass, built the railroad and operated it for tourists visiting the historic spot.
It wasn't long before Carson was a conductor on the little railroad.
In Chattanooga, Carson saw for the first time the soft drink that was to become his vehicle to business success. Coca-Cola had been invented in
Atlanta in 1886, but it wasn't until 1901 that it began to be bottled. A friend told Carson about it, and Carson immediately sensed its promise.
He persuaded his brother, John F. Carson, now deceased, to join him in establishing a business, in Paducah. He chose the city because it was near his native Calloway County.
They rented a building at 726 S. 3rd St., now occupied by the Wagner Candy Co. It didn't take long to set up the simple equipment needed at that time, and two weeks after they arrived, on March 27, 1903, the first Coca-Cola was bottled in Paducah.
Sold First Case
They sold the first case to George Wolf, who operated a grocery nearby on 3rd St.
Wolf set up a display in front of his store for the novel product. Carson always recalled that the first display attracted curiosity but few customers.
The Carsons' father, Thomas C. Carson, joined his sons in their new venture in September, 1903, helping to finance it. He remained in the business until his death in 1938.
After helping his brother establish the business here, John F. Carson went to Evansville to establish a bottling plant there.
Coca-Cola didn't catch on immediately in Paducah. Carson had to work night and day just to keep the business going. He would mix and bottle the drink at night and peddle it door to door in a mule-drawn wagon in the daytime.
Carson's own colorful personality sustained the business in those early days. Later it was remarked that he bore a strong resemblance, both in appearance and manner to Will Rogers.
In time Coca-Cola began to grow in popularity. Carson twice moved the bottling plant to larger quarters in those early days, first to 5th and Jackson Sts. and later, in 1907, to 6th and Jackson Sts.
Plant Built in 1939
It was on June 20, 1939 that the elaborate plant the company now occupies at Broadway and La Belle Ave. was opened
Two major projects stand out in the record of Carson's public services--development of Camp Pakentuck, the former Boy Scout camp, and Luther Carson Park.
The Camp Pakentuck improvement was but the largest of many projects for the benefit of the Boy Scout movement which Carson contributed over the years.
For 18 years he was a member of the local council. He served as vice president and member of its' camping committee. He was a member of the Region IV committee, comprising Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Most of his work was with the Four Rivers Council. He always asked that his name not be mentioned in connection with the many gifts he made to the development of the camp, it is known now that his contributions made possible a program of repairs for the camp each year, a 96-foot well, enlargement of the swimming pool and rebuilding of the hill road into the area.
Gave Land For Camp
He bought a 133-acre tract adjoining the original 50 acres and and gave it to the Scouts. Funds contributed by Carson helped complete several camp projects, including a 22-acre lake.
For years he saw to it that the Scout council had a pickup truck, for use of Scout Leaders.
Roy Manchester, former Scout executive, once said that although Carson gave much in money to Scouting, this wasn't his greatest contribution.
"His greatest contribution was his enthusiasm for Scouting, his advice, council and untiring efforts for better Scouting and his interesting in the boy with few advantages."
Carson Park is the greatest civic monument to Carson.
He bought the bulk of the land included in the park in 1936 and gave it to McCracken County for use for county fairs, training and riding of horses and for horse shows.
In addition Carson was chairman of the Paducah Park Board for several years.
Mr. Carson is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lola Carson; a daughter, Mrs. Jane Myre; a granddaughter, Miss Pamela Mrye; a niece, Mrs. Wally Bishop of St. Petersburg, Fla., and a nephew, William M. Carson of Paducah.
The body is at the Harris Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1873 - 1962 (89 years)