MCGREGOR "RAY" COFFMAN

1943 MHS GRAD

ALUMNI PARADE MARSHAL IN 2014

McGregor "Ray" Coffman, Jr., Class of 1943, was born in 1925 at the Border-McGregor Mangum

Hospital occupied today by the Old Greer County Museum and Hall of Fame history. He completed

twelve years of school in the Mangum Public School system. Known as a good friend, hard worker, family

man, and community volunteer, he was chosen by the Alumni Board of Directors as this year's Parade

Marshal. The Parade will be held May 24, 2014, in downtown Mangum.

Congratulations to Mr. Coffman and to his wife, Doris (Cityview Grad) , and children, Mac, Jimmie Kay

and Randy, all MHS grads.

A TIGER DYNASTY.....THE COFFMAN FAMILY

MANGUM HIGH SCHOOL

ALUMNI PIONEER FAMILY.........2014

By: Joy Hall Grant, Alumni Historian, Class of 1957

DORIS KYLE COFFMAN MCGREGOR "RAY" COFFMAN, SR.

CITY VIEW HS 1947 MANGUM HS 1943

McGregor "Ray" Coffman, Sr., Class of 1943, was born in 1925 at the Border

McGregor Hospital in Mangum occupied today by the Old Greer County Museum

and Hall of Fame history. Twenty-three years later, his son, McGregor Ray

Coffman Jr., a/k/a/ "Mac", holds the distinction of being the FIRST baby born in

the same facility but known as Southwest Baptist Hospital in 1949.

Ray was born to Ray and Lillie May (Smith) Coffman. The family moved from Missouri

to Paul's Valley, Oklahoma, to become producers in cotton farming. The Mangum City

Manager at that time, Mr. Mackey, recruited Mr. Coffman to come to Mangum and

help operate the City Power Plant where he eventually became Superintendent at the

Power Plant. The family would include two more boys: Kenneth S. (MHS 1949) and

Jimmy Scott "Scotty" (MHS 1950).

Ray started to Edison Elementary in 1931. Some of his life long classmates and

friends were "Bill Willis" of Granite; "Harold Kelly", Oklahoma City; "Billy Ray

Fleming" (deceased), and "Rob Overton" (deceased 2013). Ray and Harold Kelly joined

the Navy together and have life time stories and experiences that are interesting to hear.

Ray and Rob were pretty good at stealing watermelons, this writer learned. Note by this

writer: That was an active sport back then. My dad always planted watermelons close

to the road so the "boys could steal them easily without climbing fences or damaging

property and generally they wouldn't bother the live stock."

One story Ray told on himself was about Mrs. Frances Smith Herron during his Junior

College speech class when he was asked to give a speech. He said she finally said, "Sit

down Ray and let someone else talk." Thus, ended his days at giving speeches in class.

Ray had a few more stories about his military times which won't be printed with this

history. But, call him and he'll tell you about them.

In 1941, Mr. Coffman died, and Ray went to work at the City Power Plant his

sophomore year in high school. He went to school at 8:00 A.M. worked at the plant from

10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.; back to classes; practiced sports, and then went back to the

plant arriving home by midnight. Ray also worked five hours each Saturday selling grass

for 10c a gunnysack to Hobbs Hatchery. After his father died, support for the family was

necessary from him as the oldest son.

After graduation, at age 17, Ray was offered two football scholarships: one from the

Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and one from Marquette University. He

forfeited both scholarships in order to volunteer for the military and enter the Navy.

After military life, he entered the Mangum Junior College where he met the love of his

life, Doris Kyle (City View Grad 1947). They married in 1948 and are celebrating 66

years of marriage today. While visiting with the couple, one gets a warm feeling of a

lifetime of shared memories. Together with the love for their family, God, the church

and the community, they show commitment and life time achievement many families

never get to experience.

When Ray was asked about his life long "career field", he said, "WORK". He worked

for the City of Mangum six years; was a Custom Hay Baler, self employed; worked 11

years as a ginner at the Mangum North Gin and when it burned, he worked at the

Compress until the gin was rebuilt. He then went back to the new gin in the 1950's;

worked for Dave Cox pouring mixer; worked at John Deere Implement and worked 24

years for Jewett Scott as a diesel mechanic. When he wasn't working for pay, he was

volunteering mowing yards for the church and neighbors.

When asked his advice for today's graduates, he quickly said, "They need to learn to

work in high school through vocational-technology training, if necessary, and spend two

years in the military; it will prepare them for life."

Ray is active in many organizations: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars,

Masons, Scottish Rite of Guthrie; York Rite Wichita Falls/Altus; Knight Templar;

Shriners and Eastern Star. He's also been active in the MHS Alumni Association and

Grace Christian Church throughout his life.

Doris (Kyle) Coffman was born to Jim and Willie "Bill" Kyle in the Fairview

community south east of Mangum. She attended the Fairview school two years, Hester

school a year and moved to the City View school district to finish grades 4 through 12,

where she graduated in 1947. Two siblings also graduated from City View: Hulen Kyle

and Martha Kyle, both of whom married Mangum high school graduates: Carol Bell and

Bert Kirk. Note in history: The Midway and Citv View schools consolidated due to

the numbers of students and the safety structure of the facilities. Students moved to the

Midway building but the school was called City View.

While attending Mangum Junior College, Doris met her future husband, Ray; they both

worked at M. E. Moses

during this period. After

marrying Ray in 1948,

she worked as a

telephone operator and

became "mother" to their

three children. In 1971,

she began working for

the Mangum City

Hospital as the Medical

Records Director, a

position she held for 30

years. Doris is also

active in the Grace

Christian Church as

Treasurer, a member of the Genealogy Society, Ladies' Guild, and secretary for the

Eastern Star. She's been a long-time organizer of the local churches in celebrating

Birthdays at Grace Living Center. Both Doris and Ray are a committed couple in the

community.

Ray and Doris have three children: Mac Coffman (MHS 1967), Jimmie Kay Coffman

Crouch (MHS 1970) and Randy (MHS 1983). Three wonderful in-laws: Leanne

Coffman of Mangum; Michael Crouch of Anadarko, and Tara Staton Coffman (MHS

1988) of Victory, OK.

Grandchildren include: Greg Wynn (MHS 1990); Steven, Kyle, Chase Coffman of

Oregon; Christopher of Iowa; Crystal Crouch of Anadarko, OK; Kylia Crouch of OKC,

Kaci Crouch of Moore, OK; Amanda and Aubrey Coffman of Victory, OK; Jennifer

Risner of Mangum and Curtis Risner of Arkansas. Great Grandchild: Kyle Ellis (MHS

2009) along with 16 other great grandchildren.

It appears that more of the future heirs may also be known as "Mangum Tigers".