"Buck has never sprouted any wings. His wings were backward about coming up, so he paid more attention as to how to walk, knowing the fly-time would take care of itself..." from the May 23, 1908 DOTHAN EAGLE editorial announcing Buck Baker being elected Mayor of Dothan for the first time. In the spring of 1908, Buck was a 39 year old bachelor living in one of the 52 steam-heated rooms of his newly opened Hotel Martin on East Main.