The Smiling Irishman

When I was a kid, I remember "The Smiling Irishman" Bob Ryan, dressed in a green sport coat with wild white hair, advertising his little used car lot on TV. It sat on the NW corner of 7th and York. He opened for business in 1953 and over the years, many a big name - Muhammed Ali, Raymond Burr, Clark Gable, Hank Williams, Count Basie, the Everly Brothers, et al. - visited his lot. The place closed just a handful of years ago - I don't know if Mr. Ryan passed away or simply retired - but is now yet another parking lot downtown. Interesting individual; great piece of Louisville history.