Oscar Combs & Country Kitchen (revised)
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This document provides a photographic history of Oscar Combs and Country Kitchen & Combs Inc. It begins with photos and details about Oscar Combs' early career and family. It then shows the expansion of his Country Kitchen restaurant franchise throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including the opening of his first location. Photos depict various Country Kitchen restaurant locations and associates over the years. The document highlights Oscar Combs' success and role in growing the Country Kitchen brand across multiple states before his passing in 1984.
Oscar Combs & Country Kitchen (revised)
- 1. PHOTO HISTORY OF OSCAR COMBS, COUNTRY KITCHEN & COMBS INC.
- 2. His 1st job after leaving Kentucky took him to the Jacksonville, FL shipyards (about 1950) Oscar was born & raised in East Kentucky Oscar’s first job in foodservice was at Sugar ‘n Spice restaurant in Cincinnati His daughter was born in a coal camp
- 4. After extensive training at Frisch’s, Oscar had a meteoric rise with Jerry’s Drive-Ins. In 1965, with just a handshake, he opened his first Country Kitchen location. In 1968, Bill Johnson rewarded his quick growth with an exclusive contract for six states and twenty seven counties in Ohio. Over the next fifteen years, Oscar opened and operated 18 locations and licensed 26 others. Needing an efficient way to cover such a large territory, he learned to fly and was a very talented pilot. He reached his pinnacle when he built an estate with his own private runway in Kentucky. Oscar Combs 1927 - 1984 Ted Kissel 1923 - 1978
- 5. Country Boy I - 28’ Owens Craft w/ 120 hp I/O MerCrusier. (Photo is of a similar style and configuration) (Inset photo relates to a story about ‘Riding Out the Storm’)
- 7. Country Boy II 40’ River Queen w/ twin 225 hp Chrysler Engines. (Photo is of a similar style and configuration)
- 8. Ky. 80 By n the 0
- 9. Oscar’s estate (1972) consisted of three homes, a hanger, and a runway on a 127 acre farm that was mostly pasture.
- 11. Paddock & Vine Dayton, Ohio location?
- 13. Dayton, Ohio (1956) Keowee St. Dayton, OH
- 15. Above is a photo of the Grand Opening at the Middletown location in 1959. Bill Johnson, founder of Country Kitchen, is pictured in the top left corner in the early 1960s, after franchising began to spread Country Kitchens throughout the Midwest. In 1968, Bill sold his trademarks and the franchising rights to Country Kitchen. He passed away in 1975.
- 17. Curt Carlson Rich Hohman Frank Steed Chuck MyersJeff Raymond Dennis LaVenture Curtis C. Nelson Paul J. Huffman, III William F. Reimer Richard L. Ozment Robert O. Massie Gary WakefieldBruce H. Olson Charles Mocco Charles Foster
- 18. Winona, MN Madison, WI La Crosse, WI La Crosse, WI - (Sparta?) Janesville, WI
- 19. Wisconsin Dells
- 20. La Crosse. WI St. Cloud, MN Grand Rapids, MI
- 21. Faribault, MN Hillsboro, ND Sheridan, WY Kenosha, WI Spearfish, SD Prairie du Chien, MN
- 22. Franklin, OH Onalaska, WI Marshalltown, IA W. Des Moines, IA
- 23. Country Kitchen & Combs Inc. Associates Bill H. Johnson (Founder) Oscar Combs (SE USA) Combs Gen. Mgr.s William F. Reimer (CKI) Richard C. Weiss (CLEVE) Robert L. Caron (1) Richard L. Ozment (CKI) Rich Hutter (CLEVE) Emmett Combs (4) Robert O. Massie (CKI) Dale L. Schwan (CLEVE) Gerald C. Matheny (5) Owen R. Massie (WI-IL-VA) William L. Polatsek (CLEVE) Sherrill Daugherty* (6) John McDonald (CKI Atty-TN) Christopher N. Polatsek(Cleve) G. Burl Wilson (9) Bruce H. Olson(IA/MO) Scott Simms (Wooster-Lodi) Philip (Butch) Kidd (11) Gary L. Wakefield (IA/MO) Kelsey H. Harding (W.VA) George R. Weddle (13) John C. Olness (CKWA-KY) John E. Renner Sr/Jr(Florence) Chuck Cattell (14) Jeff Raymond (WI-IL-VA) Thomas W. Farris* (15) Curtis L. Carlson (CKI) Combs Supervisors Tom C. Priddy (16) Richard B. Hohman (CKI) Wickliffe Y. Mann (3) Gary L. Middleton (17) Frank Steed*(CKI) Glen E. Cromer (7) Buddy J. Hancock (19) Curtis C. Nelson-(CKI) Jack M. Clark (8) W. Dale Hurley (22) Charles Foster(CKI) Clarence W. Goble (12) Vernon Abney (26) Charles M. Myers- (WI-IL-CKI) Walter L. Murray (10) Danny G. Newman (27) Dennis LaVenture(CKI) Douglas O. Combs (24) Mary Dick (29) Paul J. Huffman, III (CKI) Curtis R. Dick (30) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Attorneys - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Banker -- Sidney C. Brant John G. Prather, Jr. Richard Siegel C. T. Huffines
- 24. Combs Inc. Locations Combs Inc. Sub-licensees Woodlawn, OH Cleveland (Weiss/Hutter/Schwan) Bedford, IN Akron, OH Lexington, KY Akron, OH (Waterloo) Paoli, IN Akron, OH (Cuyahoga Falls) Richmond, KY (New?) Alliance, OH Cave City, KY (New) Austintown, OH Chester Road, OH (New) Boardman, OH London, KY (New?) Brimfield, OH Tampa, FL (New) Broadview, OH Lebanon, OH (New) Canton, OH Berea, KY (New) Cleveland, OH London, OH (New) Elyria, OH Somerset, KY (New) Combs II Hubbard, OH Lawrenceburg, KY Sub - CKI Kent, OH Florence, KY (New) Pigeon Forge Lodi, OH Goodlettsville, TN (New) Pulaski, TN Medina, OH Horse Cave, KY (New) Covington, TN Parma, OH Beckley, W. VA (New) Seville, OH Richfield, OH Consulted at Harrison, OH Tuscaloosa, AL Sandusky, OH Consulted at Salem, IN Dyersburg, TN Strongsville, OH Warrensville, OH Combs Inc. Sub-license Queen City Willard, OH W. VA. (Kelsey Foods) Sub - CKI Wooster, OH Barboursville, W. VA Wytheville, VA W. 150th St. (Cleveland) Charleston, W. VA Youngstown, OH
- 25. Sid BrantDavid Frisch Dick Amann Tom Sawyer Gene Yosick Warren Rosenthal John C. Johnson Paul Misali Rich Hutter Bill Polatsek Dale SchwanChris Polatsek Rich Weiss Si Polasky Jay Wittenbaum
- 26. COUNTRY KITCHEN Woodlawn, OH Butch Kidd was Oscar’s first location, across Chester Road from the Roadway Trucking terminal and across Glendale- Milford Road from Western Electric. Bob Caron was Oscar’s first General Manager that later transferred to KY. Pictured in the parking lot is Jack Clark, the first General Manager at Chester Road. The inset photo with Jack is Philip (Butch) Kidd, the last General Manager at Woodlawn.
- 28. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Bedford, Indiana converted from a Jerry’s for one year Example of the Drive-In parking lot (Bowling Green, KY, flipped)
- 30. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Lexington, KY the building is gone, replaced by a bank -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wick Mann (above) was the1st GM at Lexington and the1st Area Supervisor (inset is Burl Wilson, 2nd GM of Lexington) 1934-1997 1936-2019
- 31. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Paoli, Indiana (Tasty House was the previous tenant) Kenny & Bonnie were Oscar & Emmett’s siblings 1943-2000 1949-2012
- 33. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Richmond, KY I-75 at exit #95 (Boonesborough). Danny Newman & Wallace Stepp started their careers at Richmond with Dale Hurley, who ended up as the Franchisee. Danny went on to work in several other locations. Danny Newman Wallace Stepp 1950 - 1972
- 35. Richmond, KY Tresler Comet Truck Plaza with COUNTRY KITCHEN restaurant on I-75 at exit #95 (Boonesborough). Vickie, Danny Newman, Dale Hurley and unknown at Christmas party
- 36. Cave City, KY construction, spring 1969 Dick Amann (left), owner of General Fixture and Supply Co. Inc., and two of his employees, Gene Yosick & Tom Sawyer (right). The guys are busy reviewing plans for an upcoming installation. They worked on many of Oscar’s locations, including all of the newly constructed.
- 38. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Cave City, KY Owens E. Hayden a/k/a Cool Breeze Assistant Manger Glen Cromer, 2nd GM Cave City, 2nd Area Supervisor 1948-2008 Tom C. Priddy, 3rd GM Cave City, Eventual Franchisee 1948-2008
- 40. COUNTRY KITCHEN Cave City, KY opened on July 3rd, 1969 and was part of the Quality Inn property. Mammoth Cave National Park was the major attraction of many in the area and quickly propelled this location to be Combs Inc.’s first million dollar unit.
- 41. Melvin N. Korelitz, Landlord & Partner 1919-2012 1979 Yearbook Ad COUNTRY KITCHEN - Chester Road Jack Clark, 1st GM 3rd Area Supervisor 1923-2008
- 43. Windjammer Themed Restaurant (across & down the street 150 ft) Marriott Hotel Conference Complex (with Windjammer on the north end) COUNTRY KITCHEN - Chester Road
- 45. was Oscar’s second truck stop. Both were with TC, Tresler Comet, the other being in Richmond at the Boonesborough exit. However, at least five other locations provided varying amounts of truck parking. Bob Caron was the first General Manager here, after transferring from Woodlawn, Ohio. Bob was also the first General Manager at the Somerset location. Clarence Goble, GM at Richmond, KY 4th Area Supervisor and later a franchisee here in London, KY COUNTRY KITCHEN London, KY
- 46. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Tampa Darrin Stromquist B A R
- 47. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Lebanon, OH Walter Murray managed Lexington & Tampa before coming to Lebanon in 1976. He celebrated it’s 40th Anniversary in 2012.
- 48. 40th Anniversary – Past Menus 10 Cakes served during the celebration
- 50. At the Lebanon COUNTRY KITCHEN, Some Drop In for a Bite to Eat, While others Roll In for a Meet, And the Movie, a Christmas Treat!
- 53. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Berea, KY Doug Combs is Oscar’s oldest son and the third GM of Berea. He worked here for 6 years, and at 12 other locations. Inset photo on the right is the Lebanon, Ohio location. They were identical in design and almost in size too.
- 55. Berea, KY COUNTRY KITCHEN restaurant and Mountain View motel
- 56. Vernon Abney trained in Berea, his hometown, and was the second General Manager of London after Buddy Hancock transferred to Horse Cave. The entrance sign was one of a kind. COUNTRY KITCHEN - London, OH
- 60. Bob Caron was Oscar’s 1st General Manager, in Woodlawn. Five years later he transferred to London, KY., and three years after that he came to Somerset. He was trying to work his way back to be close to his family in Casey County. Bob Caron 1941-2007 Pete Rose Signing Autographs (‘74) COUNTRY KITCHEN - Somerset, KY Bob Caron 1941-2007
- 61. 1976 Ron Harper 1941-1989 COUNTRY KITCHEN - Florence, KY
- 63. Yearbook ad 1976 Emmett Combs was the first manager of Lawrenceburg. He also managed the Paoli, Indiana location and was one of Oscar’s younger brothers. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Lawrenceburg, KY 1940-2017
- 65. Lawrenceburg, KY
- 66. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Goodlettsville, TN Buddy Hancock 1942-2011 1942-2011
- 67. Originally a Rodeway Inn and COUNTRY KITCHEN restaurant
- 68. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Horse Cave, KY Gary Middleton 1946-2007 1946-2007 C o u n t r y K i t c h e n
- 70. COUNTRY KITCHEN - Beckley, W. VA
- 71. Charleston, W. VA. (sub-licensed)
- 73. Elyria, Ohio; a sub-licensed location in the Cleveland area. Yearbook Ad
- 75. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Dyersburg, Tennessee Pulaski, Tennessee (above) Covington, Tennessee (below) CKI sub-licensed locations
- 77. Bob CaronOscar Combs Wick Mann Jack Clark Fred Rushing Melvin Korelitz Emmett Combs Burl Wilson Dale Hurley Wallace Stepp Ron Harper Gary Middleton Buddy Hancock Cool Breeze Owens Hayden
- 78. Glen Cromer, Walter Murray, Vernon Abney, Doug Combs and Clarence Goble met at Leono’s Italian restaurant in Cynthiana, KY. Later that day, Doug at Danny Newman’s home in Estill county. We all met (except Clarence) 11 months earlier in Berea, KY. after nearly forty years. November 26, 2018