Luther Carson was known as Paducah's 'Coca Cola King.'  Luther was born near Kirksey, in Calloway County, Kentucky on Feb 11, 1873. At age 26, he left the farm and took the path to his future fame. He and his brother became franchise owners in Coca Cola for a modest $2200 in 1902. The first Coca Cola they produced was sold to a Paducah grocery store owner, Mr George Wolf. Luther told Wolf he wanted him to have the distinction of buying the first case of the product bottled in town. The whole case sold for just 70 cents! Luther became a benevolent millionaire, and was active in the community. In 1918 Luther married Miss Lola Bass, and had one daughter, Margaret Jane. Carson built the impressive Paducah Coca Cola Bottling Plant in a time when the nation's economics were at a low ebb, instilling confidence in his product as well as in the community. Luther is remembered by many Depression era children for his purchasing Coca Colas for area students at report card time. He would meet a crowd of kids in a local grocery store after school, and pass out Coca Colas, but woe to the child who requested another brand of soft drink! Paducah's Luther F Carson Four Rivers Center is named in his honor.