1957 The Race: the Muntz Jet vs the Chrysler 300

After writing the stories about George Coleman, Jr. I cannot go on without sharing another one of George's influences in our lives in Miami. Both George and my dad loved to race cars and play golf. The early 1950's green Oldsmobile that dad bought when we arrived in Miami in 1954 came from George Coleman. That car alone, made many fast from Miami, Oklahoma to Santa Anita, California, where dad and his country club crew would play in a golf tournament then drive home. In the early days, it was Dr. Robert Baron who rode shotgun, later Doc Jackson was a regular. The shotgun driver had the responsibly of keeping an eye out for the Highway Patrol.  

Mad Man Muntz caricature on Steering Wheel

<https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0815-219801/1952-muntz-jet-convertible/>
 

In 1957 Johnie bought The Muntz from Lou Newell, who at that time owned Sky Ranch and a famous stud horse named Johnny Dial  Lou had bought the car in Indianapolis. (Contrary to rumors this car was not a pace car for the Indianapolis 500, as reported in my childhood.)

The car was made in 1951 by Mad Man Muntz. In the late 1940's a nationally known race car wizard, Frank Kurtis, who eventually developed a number of Indianapolis 500 winners, designed and built about 20 aluminum-bodied two-seater sports cars. Kurtis, however, lacked production resources, so Muntz stepped in and bought the manufacturing right. Muntz redesigned the car that was soon dubbed the Muntz Jet. He stretched the wheelbase, put in a back seat, replaced the Ford engines with Cadillac V-8's, added padded dashboards and seat belts, painted the cars in bright Easter egg colors, and even installed liquor and ice cabinets. (Our center console  held beer, but I don't recall that it was a liquor cabinet, merely space between the bucket seats, where mom and dad could hide their beers on the way to Minnie and Milts Dinner Restaurant in Joplin.) 

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/355937-1951-muntz-jet/

 

 

Bob Hill retold this story recently. Your dad must have bought the car in 1956, and it was well known to be one of the fastest cars on the road with a Cadillac V-8 engine. Bob and his buddies heard a rumor that George Coleman, Jr. had challenged Johnie to a race. The Will Rogers Turnpike was not open to traffic in the spring of 1957, but the road was open and cleared for traffic. The holdup being the finishing touches on the Glass House over the turnpike near Vinita. 

George Coleman, Jr. bought a new 1955 Chrysler 300 with push button transmission and decided to drive it back to Miami and challenge his golfing friend and race car buddy, Johnie Stapp, to a race between his new Chrysler 300 and the Muntz Jet. 

The two men and their fast cars arrived at the turnpike intending to race full speed from Miami to Vinita. Without proof, I am sure there was a gallery of people present to see the pro and George race.  

Bob and his buddies decided to ride their bikes to the first over pass between Miami and Vinita, so they could watch the race. By the time they arrived the race was over.

In the end, the pair never even made it Afton. The Chrysler out performed the Muntz because of the newer faster engine and the push button transmission. It was made to travel. The Muntz was a dragster and drove well on the straight out fast track. 

Shortly after the race, during my fourth grade year in school,  we moved to 209 H. N.E. where dad had a two car garage. I'm sure it was during that year 57-58 that dad bought a Chrysler push-button transmission shifter next to the steering column.  and the guys at B & B garage worked many hours to install the new engine. Dad could always be found tinkering with his car in that old garage. My sister and I spent evenings watching dad or doing our best to help and yet, stay out of the way.

Letter Series
Chrysler first introduced the 300 back in 1955, and with the debut of that high-performance 4-seater some would say the idea of the muscle car was born. Over the next 10 years, Chrysler would bring to market a range of 300s now referred to as the “letter series,” starting with that first 300 and continuing on with the 300B, 300C, 300D — a new letter every year with the final 300L in 1965. These special Chrysler's were among the fastest production cars on the road, equipped with the latest in luxury features. Other 300 models followed the letter series, but none would ever be as special as those first versions.  Chrysler 300: a Brief History

1955 Chrysler 300* 

 

Jim Taylor, son of Gob Taylor, personal memory of riding in the Muntz on Highway 66.

This event occurred with Pat Temple when Johnie took the two of us on a little ride going to Commerce and back on Highway 66. I believe this was a 1951 Muntz and was well capable of speeds in excess of 120 mph. Johnie also was an experienced race car driver and that Muntz looked hot to Pat and me. We were always asking Johnie to drive us around. Hence, he finally succumbed to giving us a ride and off we went. 

 

Rolled and pleated interior

https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0815-219801/1952-muntz-jet-convertible/

When we got to Highway 66, we were really riding him to show us something. He did, he drove that Muntz right between two cars at 65 mph or so and he floored that Muntz and we flew through them. Scared me thoroughly as it did Pat, and we did not ask again. However, it was evident that Johnie knew well how to drive a race car. That Muntz was a state-of-the-art car in the early 1950's.

Jim Burford, son of John and Lucille Burford,shared this personal story: 

Jim told me that my dad was always his hero, not for the golf but for his racing passion. Jim became fascinated with how dad modified engines, like the Muntz, to go flat out 160 down the turnpike or late night roads like the one that connected Ben Stanley's corner on Route 66 to the east and back to the Fairgrounds. It was a lonely dark road until the boys and men challenged each other to drag races. Once, again it was the mechanics at B&B Garage on South Main, who kept dad's car rolling along. 

Our Muntz Jet was originally a mustard color that I now see on some of the new smaller cars. The interior was also rolled and pleated mustard color leather. Later, dad painted it black, a shinny black. Next, it became baby blue and the interior was changed to match it. No matter which color the Highway Patrol found him on Route 66 or the Will Rogers Turnpike. They knew his car and his name personally. 

To me the car was always that vivid mustard color.

L.K. Newell went on to establish his now well-known Newell Coach .

L.K. Newell also was a noted Miami business man, who kept many Miami people employed over the decades:  L.K. Lou Newell, Business man

 

1955 Chrysler 300 image credit:  https://fairfieldcollectibles.com/1955-chrysler-c300-red-1-24-scale-diecast-model-by-motormax/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6_CYBhDjARIsABnuSzpW5Aao1mWieAaIsSEfU8wFPpsM_VBQZn6ZTvFpaRyJblakaAL4lHsaAmmzEALw_wcB

1950-1996 George Coleman, Jr. Miami Years, part 2

 

Coleman family crest found in carpet of the Coleman Theater.

1950 January 11 MDNR  "George Coleman, Jr., Re-elected by Bank"

George L. Coleman, Jr., was re-elected president of the Miami First National bank at an annual meeting of stockholders and directors. Other officers include: C.H. Mullendore, executive vice-president; R.J. Tuthill, vice-president; D. F. Ogden, cashier, and C.V. Ayres, J.B. Lehmer, H.S. Maupin and W.S Vanatta, assistant cashiers.  

Members of the board of directors are Richard Beck, George L. Coleman, Jr., V.D. Cooper, Sam Fullerton, Jr., J.H. Griffin, M.K. Hutts, Ray McNaughton, C.H. Mullendore, J.A. Robinson, John F. Robinson, R.J. Tuthill, C.P. Williams, Richard F. Wills, F. L. Wormington and C.E Youse. 

(Mr. Coleman was a director of Florida Sun Incorporated and a director of Pennzoil Company, and its predecessor companies for 33 years. Former corporate directorships included Detroit Baseball Company, and Chris Craft industries.)

1950 May 16 "Thirty-two Americans in British Open"

Thirty-two yanks are entered in the British Amateur golf championship starting next Monday.....For the most part, including Bing Crosby, the roundup at historic St. Andrews in Scotland is strictly a rich man's holiday. Among the competing Yanks are socialites, tobacco wholesalers, a bank president, a steamship executive, a Wall Street broker, an oil man, and a dozen more who no longer have to work for a living. 

Auto Dealer, Ed Lowery of San Francisco, who caddied for Francis Quimet when the Bostonian won the U.S. Open in 1913 will try again as will Quimet. Other entrants include: George L. Coleman, Jr, a bank president from Miami, Oklahoma.

1950 August 22 The Ardmoreite "National Amateur Results"

 Defending champion Charlie Coe of Oklahoma City, was impressive in his 5 and 4 victory over Tom Jamison of Greensburg, Pa. Coe was one of a few who trimmed par, being one under for the 14 holes needed. In other first round results George L. Colman, of Miami, Ok. def. Emerson Carey, Jr. of Hutchinson 7 and 6. Today's pairing George Coleman vs. Marshall Trammell.

 

1953 January 2, San Mateo Times "Gala List of Golfers Ready to Play in Crosby Tourney"

 Pebble Beach (UP) More than 100 top-flight amateur golfers, including scores of motion picture, radio and sports celebrities have been invited to play in the $10,000 Bing Crosby national pro-amateur golf championship of 1953. The tourney will be played January 9,10, and 11 on the Monterey Peninsula golf course.  

In addition to the old crooner himself, the player list includes such entertainment names as Leo Durocher, Phil Harris, Bob Hope, Gordon McRae, Randolph Scott, and Johnny Weismullier.  Other players include George L. Coleman, Jr., Pebble Beach and  Eddie Lowery, San Francisco. (List abbreviated)

 

1955 May 26 MDNR  "Scholarships to 100 Here"

More than 100 scholarships have been contributed by Miami business firms, civic groups, and individuals for students entering Northeastern A & M College next autumn. 

Dr. Bruce G. Carter noted that Eagle-Picher will contribute 10 scholarships, and B.F. Goodrich, Walter Head confirmed that Goodrich will add it's fair share to the scholarships. Other firms and individuals offering one or more scholarships include the following: Milner-Berkey, by H.A. Berkey; Miami News-Record; Lowry Ford; Charles Burtrum; Neil Norton; Stephenson Pontiac; Mrs. and Mrs. Charles M. Harvey, Jr.; John A. Robinson; John F. Robinson; Miami Floral Co. by Lance Duff; Charles A. Neal, Sr, Charles A. Neal, Jr.; B&K by Tom Barton; Wiley Rexall drug John Wiley; C.R. Durham; Bomford Insurance Co, Tom Bomford; O.K. Plumbing Co, Lisle Torbert; Warren Wilbur; Coca-Cola Carl Hilliard; Meadow Gold, Ed Jones; Miami Savdings and Loan; Cooper Funeral Home; Plannett Cleaners;Owens & Wallace legal firm; AAUW, Mrs. David Steele; Junior Chamber of Commerce;  Miami Lions club; Miami Rotary club.

Dr. F.L. Wormington; R.J. Tuthill; Dr. Rex Graham; M.K. Hutts, George L. Coleman, Jr.; Sam C. Fullerton, Jr.; Joe S. Thompson; C.E. Youse, Elmer Isern, Al White;Miss Nellie Dobson and S.B. Dobson; Gordon Walkers, Merrill Chaney, George Walbert. 

** This is the community which makes me proud. Everyone stepped in to help others.

1956     THE MATCH BY MARK FROST

In 1956, a casual bet between two millionaires eventually pitted two of the greatest golfers of the era -- Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan -- against top amateurs Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi.

The year: 1956. Decades have passed since Eddie Lowery came to fame as the ten-year-old caddie to U.S. Open Champion Francis Ouimet. Now a wealthy car dealer and avid supporter of amateur golf, Lowery has just made a bet with fellow millionaire George Coleman. Lowery claims that two of his employees, amateur golfers Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi, cannot be beaten in a best-ball match, and challenges Coleman to bring any two golfers of his choice to the course at 10 a.m. the next day to settle the issue. Coleman accepts the challenge and shows up with his own power team: Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, the game's greatest living professionals, with fourteen major championships between them.

My words can't begin to share the delight and suspense of reading this story. I encourage anyone who can related to golf history and our storied past to check out the book from the nearest library and read it, purchase your own copy.    

1958 July 10 MDNR "SOCIALITES' GEMS STOLEN--$100,000"

Theft of jewelry from the Pebble Beach, California home of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Coleman, Jr., of Miami rated BOXCAR headlines in the San Francisco Chronicle's July 2 final edition, a copy of which has reached the News-Record. Across the top of page one and measuring three and one-half inches in depth were there lines:

SOCIALITES' GEMS

STOLEN--$100,000

Details of the theft was accompanied by a picture of the Coleman's. 

 

1959 March 24, San Mateo Times "Duke and Wally Get Lost on Visit"

The former King of England and his American-born duchess, playing the role of ordinary tourist, ran into a typical tourist snafu last night when they asked direction of three young girls on the Monterey Peninsula: They got the wrong directions and spent half an hour driving around the tree-lined byways of 17-Mile Drive, while a dinner party waited patiently for them.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, accompanied by a chauffeur, secretary, maid, valet and three pug dogs, slipped into Monterey after a long drive from Southern California, looking like many a tourist in their baggage-laden station wagon, trailer, and sedan. At last they pulled into the estate of Mrs. George L. Coleman, Jr. where they will be house guests. After a stay in Pebble Beach they will continue their journey of parties and social engagements in California.

1959 November 1  AP George L. Coleman, Jr. Weds Dawn L. Soles

 

Description: Photograph taken for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Wedding vows were exchanged here today between George L. Coleman, wealthy industrialist and part owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball team, and Mrs. Dawn L. Soles, Montecito, CA., socialite."

Date: November 12, 1959

Creator: Associated Press

1962 October 10 "Registrations Lag at Election Board Here"

Absentee voting interest is thriving here, but there is a surprising lack of registrations for the Nov. 4 general election, according to Secretary Jim Reed of the Ottawa County Election Board.....Seventy-one applications for absentee ballots have been filed up to mid-morning today, including these 43 not listed previously:

Miami: George L. Coleman, Jr., Dawn L. Coleman, Mary Poe, Mary Viola Sims, Grace Woodall, Ronda Kayleen Thomas, Don Coulter, Bernice Coulter, Ruth Watters, Rosemary Russell, George G. Russell.  

 

1963  The Coleman Ranch was sold, ending an era.

 

A view of the Coleman Mansion from the back side. Thank you Bob Poole for sharing this photo.

 

1963 November 27 "The Local Scene"

Mrs. Helen Johnson, who is employed in the Miami office of George L. Coleman, Jr, and Mrs. George L. Coleman, Sr., left Tuesday to join Mr. and Mrs. George L. Coleman, Jr., in Palm Beach, Florida.  

1965 

In the late winter of each year Ben and Valerie Hogan go to Palm Beach, where Ben began preparing for his first tournament appearance of the season—the Masters. This had been an unvarying custom for fifteen years, and it began because of his admiration and affection for The Seminole Golf Club, which he considers the equal of any in the world, both in design and condition.

Super-social Palm Beach may not seem the place for a man like Ben Hogan to find friends, but he has found them there. Claude Harmon was the pro at Seminole when Hogan first started going to Palm Beach. He was succeeded by Henry Picard, who was a staunch friend of Ben's in his very early days of tournament golf. The maitre de at the club and the man who was largely responsible for the excellence of the course, was Chris Dunphy, an old companion of Ben's. One year Ben and Valerie spent their holiday at Dunphy's house, where the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were frequent guests. Another of the wealthy Palm Beach gentry whom Ben and Valerie have visited was George Coleman, a man who has long been a patron of athletes. 

(George L. Coleman, Jr. was an investor in Ben Hogan's Golf equipment company in Ft. Worth. )

Ben Hogan and George Coleman 

1968 December 3 San Rafael Daily Independent Journal  

"Socialite Sues Artist Husband"

Mrs. Ann Coleman Woolworth Carmack, San Francisco socialite, filed a complaint yesterday in Superior Court for annulment of her marriage to John Carmack, landscape artist.

The complaint alleged Carmack "knew he is incapable of functioning as a husband over any sustained period of time" and had "moved into plaintiff's home intending to be supported and use plaintiff's social and family contacts to foster and finance his own speculative projects, thereby practicing a fraud."

The Carmack's were married Oct. 6, 1967 and separated Thanksgiving Day this year. Mrs. Carmack is the daughter of Mrs. W.W. Crocker, Pebble Beach and George L. Coleman, Jr, Palm Beach, Florida. She married Robert Frederick Woolworth, New York in 1954 divorced him in 1959. She has two children. 

1977 Ben Hogan visits George Coleman at his Florida home.

     In 1977, at age 65, Ben Hogan made one final trip to Florida to enjoy time with his good friend George Coleman and to play a little bit of golf at Seminole where for many years he had loved to practice in the winter months leading up to the Masters. George Coleman had a home on the water and, according to James Dodson’s biography Ben Hogan: An American Life,  Coleman and Hogan often hit balls into the ocean from that backyard. At the time of what appears to be Hogans’ last trip to Seminole Coleman had just purchased a new video camera and wanted to test it out. This led to one of the most important pieces of film ever made of Ben Hogan – The Coleman Video. Magnum184 on the Golfwrx Thread pointed out to me that you can actually see the balls land if you pay attention.

Hogan video link

1997 July 23 

George L. Coleman, age 85, of Hobe Sound, Florida, died July 23, 1997...Two of his closest friends were Bing Crosby and Ben Hogan.  

Mr. Coleman was a member of the Board of Governors of Seminole Golf Club, Juno Beach, Florida since 1959 and served as President from 1981 to 1992 and then became President Emeritus. A yearly amateur tournament is now held in honor of George L. Coleman, the prestigious George Coleman Invitational. 

Mr. Coleman had the longest membership (60 years) in the Cypress Point Club at Pebble Beach. Other memberships include the Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, Brook Club, NYC, NY, Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock, CO, and Jupiter Island Club, Hobe Sound, Florida. (obit)

 

PERSONAL NOTES from emails and FACEBOOK "You Know You Are From Miami, when..."

I recall being at the Miami Airport about 1970. I asked the manager, Nelson Malochay, why the employees were busy dusting and straightening up. Nelson replied that George Jr went to OU and learned to fly, so his dad bought the land and built the airport so George Jr. could fly home to visit. That was a happy trip for me to the airport. 

Nancy

(February 18, 2018 from Debbie East)

I just got off the phone with a friend of mine who worked for the Coleman's and here is the information given. He swears it is true because he was there.

Jessie married the much older George L. Coleman. George died in 1945 at the age of 87.  She died at the age of 92 in 1972. Jessie had a cook named Mrs. Shaffer from Afton, a nanny and cook named Anna and a chauffeur and gardener name Louis. All lived in the Coleman Mansion servant quarters. Coleman's daughter, Ann, who bought the house after Jessie's death, kept the servants on until their deaths.

Jessie's car was a black Cadillac but Ann's was a Bentley and her tag was OT-1. It was taken away from her so the city could use that number as a prize for employee of the year. The Coleman's were so furious that they dropped their Country Club membership. 

Jessie gave most of her estate to her three granddaughters. She didn't give her son, George Jr., any money because he was independently wealthy. Helen Journeycake was the secretary of the trust and also for Ann. 

George Jr. married Elizabeth Fullerton. When they divorced, Elizabeth married a banker from California. When he died she married a Duke and became Duchess of Manchester. **

George Jr., then married Dawn and they lived in a home in Palm Beach but continued to fly back to Miami to visit. 

Richard Neal:

 

Ann and I were friends and kept in touch til her death. I remember one day in high school, Mrs. Coleman (Jessie) was in her late 80’s. Louis was off and I needed to go to the country club. She insisted on driving me. She rarely drove and could barely see over the steering wheel of that huge Cadillac. When we got to the country club she ignored the “new” circle drive and drove up the middle of the lawn to drop me off at the front door and returned across the lawn ignoring the new drive I could barely see her head above the wheel. Exciting ride. Mrs Coleman was a great lady.

Her sister, Jenni, was a most wonderful lady who worked the ticket booth at the Coleman Theater for life. Jenni lived in a home, owned by George Jr. It was located by the Cooper Funeral Home.

**

Footnote on Elizabeth Fullerton Fullerton Obit 

 OKLAHOMA GIRL BECOME A DUCHESS

Fascinating woman. Born in Oklahoma to a lawyer, who later became a District Judge. This part of Oklahoma was in the heart of the oil empires and she met and married, George L. Coleman, a multi-millionaire oil magnate. Her new husband had an estate in Pebble Beach, California, where they spent much of their time. On July 1, 1958, the Sheriff's Department was investigating the theft of Elizabeth's jewels valued at between $62,000 and $100,000. By 1959, Elizabeth and George were divorced. 

She became fabulously wealthy from the divorce, receiving millions plus the Pebble Beach estate that George Coleman had owned. Quite quickly, she met William Willard Crocker, scion son of the famed transcontinental railroad builder, Charles Crocker. His wife had just died and soon they were off to Europe. They married in a civil ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, followed by a church wedding in Paris. Returning from their wedding, they moved into Crocker's 53 room estate on several hundred acres in Hillsborough, San Mateo Co., California. It was named "Sky Farm." Rumors had it the marriage was one of convenience. They maintained separate bedrooms and when there was a social function, William Crocker usually attended with a woman other than his wife. The marriage lasted only four years and William died.

 Elizabeth, already a wealthy woman, inherited one half of the Crocker estate with a monthly allowance of $12,500 for personal needs. A quarter went to each of Bill Crocker's children. When the children attempted to visit the house, Elizabeth refused them admission and turned them away at the front door. Irate, the children took Elizabeth to court claiming they had been cheated out of their legitimate inheritance.

With black handkerchief in hand to dab her tears, she testified that, since Bill's demise, she had cut down on her expenses and was existing with a skeleton staff of a cook, a butler, a maid, a cleaning man and a gardener. She could no longer afford a chauffeur to drive her 1964 Rolls Royce. Yes, she had recently gone east for "health reasons" and while there had purchased a $4,000 mink coat. Otherwise, she had acquired "nothing" for herself.

An unsympathetic Judge told Elizabeth Crocker she was a fabulously rich woman even without Crocker money, and cut her allowance by $5,000 a month. After the lawsuit was finalized, Elizabeth heard about the death of a former neighbor at Pebble Beach and she became the first to offer the grieving husband condolences. Understanding each others losses, the couple soon married. In February, 1969, Elizabeth Fullerton, the girl from Miami, Oklahoma, married Alexander Montagu, the 10th Duke of Manchester. Thus the Oklahoma girl became a Duchess.

 

Research and writing by Letty Stapp Watt

1912-1949,George Coleman, Jr. Miami Years, part 1

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

  "Humorist Keeps Crowd in Ecstasy for Two Hours After Arrival From South When Plane Lands Due to Fog While Crowd Wails at Airport; Rope Tricks Added. 

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