Krispy Kreme Donuts got their start in Paducah! It's true! The sweet-to-eat treat has its origins in our own town. Vernon Carver Rudolph was born on a farm in Marshall County, Kentucky, the eldest of five children. Vernon came to Paducah in 1933, after graduating from high school. His uncle, Ismael Armstrong,  had purchased a doughnut shop on Broad Street in Paducah. It had been owned previously by Joseph LeBeouf, and the sale included all the fixtures and LeBoeuf's secret recipe. Vernon's job was to make deliveries for his uncle with his trusty bicycle, which was conveniently equipped with baskets on the front and back. An older Vernon later acquired the recipe and separated from the family business, and moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There the donut recipe was finally given its now popular and well known name, Krispy Kreme. In his old age, Vernon said the donut's name came to him, while driving his old car through a rainstorm, travelling to North Carolina for the frest start. The wipers kept squeaking "Kris-py Kreme, Kris-py Kreme" while trying to clear the glass of the rain.