George L. Coleman, Jr. was born in Miami, Oklahoma on January 1, 1912 to Mr. and Mrs. George Coleman, Sr. (George and Jessi)
1925 September 10 "Town Talk"
George Coleman, Jr, son of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Coleman, Rockdale addition, will leave Monday for Alton, Illinois, where he will attend the Western Military Academy this year. *Newspaper records George returning to Alton in 1926 and 1927.
1926 June 27 "Town Talk"
A group of boys, including George Coleman, Jr., Herbert Sapp, Bill Neal, Leon Latimore, Burke Tuthill, and John Malocsay spent a part of last week camping near Pineville, Missouri. The boys were accompanied by Melvin Hutts.
1927 January 7 "City Briefs"
George L. Coleman, Jr, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Coleman, Rockdale, who has been confined to his home several days by illness, is said to be improving.
1929 February 20 "108 Seniors on Class Roster"
Unless there are further changes in the grade standings for seniors at Miami high school, there will be 108 young men and women in the graduating class, R.C. Nichols, principal, said yesterday. George L. Coleman, Jr's name is on this list.
1929 April 14 "Net Doubles Taken"
Entering a track meet at Claremore on Friday with an abbreviated team because of many ineligible athletes, Miami high school placed only one man, Shirley Keith, who took first place in the low hurdles.
George Coleman, Jr. and Hal Wynne won the doubles event in tennis, but were not entered in the singles play. Entry in the net competition was extemporaneous. Coleman and Wynne were not aware that tennis was included in the meet until some time after their arrival.
1929 November 28 "Locals"
George Coleman, Jr. and F.C. Love of Purcell (future family to the Love's Travel Stops) and R.B Housendorf of Claremore, students in the University of Oklahoma at Norman, are holiday guests of the former's parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Coleman, Rockdale. They will be attending the opening of the new Rockdale Country Club.
1929 Coleman Theater opens
1930 March 1 "Locals"
George L. Coleman, Jr., who has been spending several weeks with his parents in Florida, was among the 20 pledges from the University of Oklahoma to be initiated into the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the annual state convention of the organization in Tulsa. Melvin K. Hutts accompanied young Coleman to the convention. He left Saturday night for Eustace, Florida to join his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Coleman.
1930 May 27 "Coleman Company Enters Two Cars in Indianapolis Classic"
Built by the Coleman Co. headed by A.E. Coleman of Colorado, a pair front-drive speedsters are entered by designer George Coleman, Jr, of Miami (who would have been only 17 years old at this time and already designing cars) with Lou Moore and "Red" Shaffer, Veteran Pilots, at the Wheels.
Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Coleman and George Coleman, Jr., their son, were to leave Miami for Indianapolis today, where they will view the classic race.
1930 June 1 "Shafer Seventh in Auto Classic"
Other Coleman Entry, Driven by Lou Moore, Forced Out in Accident..
...Red Shafer, driving one of the two Coleman front-drive specials entered in the classic, finished the race in seventh place with an average speed of 90.921 miles per hour. Lou Moore, driver of the other Coleman Special, was out of the race at 200 miles mark due to an accident, which involved six machines. He was not seriously hurt...
The winning car, driven by Billy Arnold, was one of the few front-drive cars like the Coleman Specials where were entered in the speedway event. This year marks the first in which a front-driven entry has triumphed.
1930 October 1 "Boat Racing on Spavinaw"
The Miami boat club composed of George Coleman, Jr., Traverse Staton, Phil Romac, and Robert Whitebird, are donating the purses, while the Tulsa boat club will donate trophies to the annual Lake Spavinaw Boat Race on Oct.5.
By AbeEzekowitz - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11616060 found in Wikipedia
1930 December 8 "Locals"
George Coleman, Jr. who attends the University of Oklahoma in Norman, visited his parents in Miami over the week-end.
1930 December 26 mdnr "Society News"
The Fullerton house, 237 D. street northwest, was the scene of a "Christmas" party of double significance yesterday where it was celebrated also the wedding of Miss Elizabeth Fullerton, charming young daughter of Judge and Mrs. S.C. Fullerton, and George Coleman, Jr., only son of Mr. and Mrs. George Coleman, Rockdale.
1931 January 1 Joplin Globe "Society Page"
Christmas brides presented above: Mrs. George L. Coleman, Jr., formerly Miss Elizabeth Ann Fullerton, daughter of Judge and Mrs. Clyde Fullerton of Miami, who was married Christmas Day.
After a divorce, Elizabeth married a banker from California. When he died she married a Duke and became the Duchess of Manchester.
1931 February 8 mdnr WILL ROGERS HITCH-HIKES INTO MIAMI, HOLDS 1,125 SPECTATORS AT BY IN THEATER, HIJACKS THIRTEEN MIAMIANS AND ESCAPES IN HAWKS' PLANE WITH $1,674
In an unplanned landing late Friday night, Will Rogers followed up by giving a 10:00 am show for charity at the Coleman Theater with the assistance of the newlyweds, George L. Coleman, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth. He thanked them for the use of their theater and later in the program escorted them onto the stage. Roger shared quips, stories and rope tricks for two hours.
"I'm the only speaker that every appeared here without a message," Rogers said, adding that he was from Oolagah, a town you couldn't spell but had to play on the flute.
1932 September 23 "St. Louis Sportsman is Guest in Miami"
Miami had two luminaries of the sporting world here last night, one a native son, George L. Coleman, Jr., and the other J.T. Milliken, millionaire sportsman of St. Louis, Missouri, who, like Coleman, is interested in outboard motors now. Milliken is visiting Coleman here until the state championship outboard races open at Claremore on Saturday and Sunday.
The St. Louisan arrived here Thursday with four boats, two "F" outfits and two "C" sleds. His "F" class entry established a new world outboard speed record at the same races in which Coleman broke the "B" record, a short time ago
1940 August 22, Oakland Tribune "National Amateur Qualifying"
Sectional qualifying rounds for the National amateur golf championships will be played at San Francisco next Tuesday. Ten entrants have been named with three to qualify.
Following are the pairings: George C. Ehmann, Oakland, vs George L. Coleman, Jr., Del Monte.
1941-1945
During World War II, Mr. Coleman served in the Army Air Corp Reserves and the U.S. Naval Reserve. As an experienced pilot, he served as director of the Spartan School of Aeronautics at Muskogee, Ok and was responsible for training 450 pilots at a time and maintain a large fleet of aircraft. Later, he was commissioned a Lt. J.G. in the Navy, assigned to the Naval Air Transport Squadron VR-9 and then to the Bureau of Aeronautics. George L. Coleman obit
1946 June 14 George L. Coleman, Jr. Wins Oklahoma State Am
1947 Radio Station K G L C was started by George L. Coleman.
1949 Thanks to Albert Coleman, his nephew George was able to invest quit readily in businesses in the Littleton, Colorado area. A search of Coleman at this time provides extensive information on the various industries that the Coleman money touched.
1947 November 11 "Pro Swingers in Honolulu Tourney"
Dutch Harrison still was the man to beat today as some of the best professionals teed off. Over the weekend, Harrison paired with George L. Coleman, Jr., of Miami, Oklahoma to capture the pro-amateur event with a scorching 63 round.
1948 June 13 "Oklahoma Golf Tourney Nears"
Oklahoma's amateur men golfers will begin touring the Muskogee Country club course Monday in the qualifying rounds of the 36 State Tournament. Charles Coe of Ardmore poses a definite threat. Coe a University of Oklahoma star golfer, is Trans-Mississippi Champion.
About 10 Miami golfers were expected to compete including George L. Coleman, Jr, who won the state title in 1946 at Tulsa. Pro Jack Guild went with the amateurs to watch the tourney's progress.
1948 August 12, Bakersfield California "Qualifying Rounds"
San Francisco, August 22 (AP) Sectional qualifying round for the national amateur golf championship will be played here next Tuesday. Ten entrants have been named with three to qualify. Following are the pairings: George C. Ehmann, Oakland, vs. George L. Coleman, Jr, Del Monte.
1948 September 29 The Modesto Bee "Match Play"
Two Modestans, LeRoy Silva and Richard Giddings, and Dick Bailey of San Francisco, formerly of this city, tee off in match play today at Pebble Beach after qualifying for the California amateur golf championship.
Silva, who qualified with a 75, best score made by the three, faces Larry Pendleton, Glendale, who shot an 80. Giddings, 80, meet George L. Coleman, Jr. Miami, Ok 75. They are in the top bracket.
1948 November 7 The Daily Ardmoreite "Angus Bull Wins Championship"
Oklahoma A&M College's Prince Blackcap Seventh was named the Grand Champion bull at the American Aberdeen-Angus association's regional show and sale in Ardmore today. The bull brought $5000, the highest price ever paid at the annual event.
The show's trophy-winning cow was Blackbird of Sky Farm, shown by George L. Coleman, Jr., of Miami. She was sold for $1025, top price for a cow in the auction, to Roy Moore of Chillicothe, Missouri.
1948 January 11 MDNR "Miamian Competing in Crosby Tourney"
Playing in crooner Bing Crosby's $10,000 pro-amateur golf tourney, E.J. Dutch Harrison of Little Rock, Ark, and his amateur partner, George L. Coleman, Jr., of Miami. They posted a 36 hole total score of 137 (70-67).
Research and writing by Letty Stapp Watt
Excellent read! Thanks for sharing! J.Stansell
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGreat read !! Thanks Letty for your hard work, enjoy it. R.Spencer
ReplyDeleteThanks Letty. Very interesting. This is first story/blog that I have read that makes reference to Sky Farm. That's where I live in Miami. DF Glasman
I loved the book “The Match” by Mark Frost, and how the whole thing happened because of George Coleman and Eddie Lowery- Francis Ouimet’s caddie when he won the US Open. Dusty J.
ReplyDeleteLoved to read the 1931 account of Will Rogers visit to Miami and charity show at the Coleman. That was apparently the show that Charles Banks Wilson attended and did his sketches that would in future years be the reference source for a couple of his lithographs and paintings of Mr. Rogers. It would interesting to see if there are any pictures of Mr. Rogers entertaining the crowd at either the airport or the Coleman theatre. I’d love to see them. Thanks Letty, keep up the good work. KCooper
ReplyDeleteThank you, Letty. Your research is very interesting. I enjoyed reading it so much !
ReplyDeleteA Friends of the Coleman committee is doing research in preparation for publishing
a book about the Coleman Theater. We are very proud of the theater, as we should be.
Nancy Gee
Thanks Letty. It’s an amazing read.
ReplyDeleteWeren’t “those the days”… at least if you were white, male, wealthy, and connected! I do enjoy reading about Miami Society and names I remember! Keep it up, Letty!!!
ReplyDeleteCarol
You are to be congratulated for your detailed account of George L Coleman Jr and Miami Oklahoma. Growing up in Miami and frequenting The Coleman Theater and Rockdale Boulevard passing the mansion had no idea it’s historical significance. You truly have Paul Harvey qualities for obtaining the “Rest of the Story.”
ReplyDeleteThank you Randy. This is a lovely compliment. I really do enjoy entertaining people with a good story.
ReplyDeleteHOW FASCINATING, I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED HISTORY. WHAT BETTER HISTORY THAN WHERE YOU HAVE GROWN UP. I LEARNED QUITE A BIT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOU HARD WORK. I RECENTLY BOUGHT A PAUL HARVEY BOOK " THE REST OF THE STORY". HE WAS A MEMBER OF MY FRATERNITY AT TULSA UNIV, LAMBDA CHI ALPHA.
ReplyDelete