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George E. McKinnis--Coming from Kansas in 1891, McKinnis was manager of the McKinnis-Baird lumber company in Tecumseh from 1891 to 1893, principal in the Tecumseh schools 1893-1894, principal in Shawnee schools 1895, and superintendent of Shawnee schools 1896. McKinnis was one of the founders of the State National bank in 1902, being vice-president 1902-1917, and president in 1917-1919. He is president of the First Federal Savings and Loan association, which is one of the strongest in the state, and has done perhaps more to build substantial home ownership in Shawnee than any other one thing. It was organized in 1912. McKinnis was president of the U. S. League of Building and Loan associations in 1926, and is now a director of the U. S. Building and Loan League of the sixth district.

He was Shawnee's postmaster 19031907, president of the Chamber of Commerce 1905-1907, delegate to the Republican national convention in 1916, president of the American Savings, Building and Loan Institute 1928-1929, president of Rotary 192.7-1928, and 12th district Rotary governor 1929-1930.

He is chairman of the home service department of the American Red Gross, director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of the 10th district. A Baptist, he was president of the O. B. U. board of trustees 1914-1926. Married Mayme Dickson of Paris, Tex., October 15, 1897. One son, George E. Jr.

E. L. Estes--With his father, William J. Estes, and brother, W. M. Estes, E. L. came from Kansas to Oklahoma City in 1890, then made the run into Pott country in 1891 staking the southwest quarter of 18-10-4. After a contest with Lola Beard, the quarter was divided. The family started farming, and launched a nursery business. In 1893-1894 E. L. had charge of tin work for the Clark Hardware store in Tecumseh. From 1895-1898 E. L. Estes worked for the Lehman hardware, the Hockaday hardware and the Wade and Branch store in Shawnee, then launched a plumbing business of his own.

During Shawnee's expansion from 1895 to 1907 W. J. Estes was a central figure in business life. Expansion of the town north was due largely to his efforts to build up North Broadway. He constructed the Estes building in 1902 which was the first brick on North Broadway, then got others to agree to build if he would put up another brick. W. J. Estes was one of the organizers of the First Methodist church, and later organized the Shawnee Realty company to develop the 300 acres on the north side of town, including his homestead. The Esteses were instrumental in organizing the Shawnee Canning company in 1904, the first gas company, and the street railway company.

E. L. Estes was associated with his father in building activities from 1904 to 1908, reentered the plumbing business from 1908 to 1915, then entered plumbing again in 1920. He is still in this business and in 1930 he organized the Master Manufacturing Company to launch his own water heater. His lifelong hobby has been inventing. E. L. Estes, Jr. is associated with him.

E. L. Estes married Virginia Lester in 1906. Only living member of the First Methodist church, Elk, Mason, Lions club, member of the National Association of Master Plumbers.

Aldridge Hotel-It wasn't long after oil hit Shawnee that Hilton A. Phillips, realizing the need of a modern hotel, began construction of a $750,000 building. In February, 1929, the nine-story, fire proof Hilton Phillips hotel was opened, and since that time it has been the center of civic and social functions of the city. The hotel was sold in 1930 to the Aldridge Hotel company, of which E. C. Aldridge is president. The name was changed to the Aldridge.

The hotel has 200 rooms, operates its own water system, supplying ice water on each floor, and also operates an up-to-date bake shop and modern laundry for the convenience of guests. The Coffee Shop has a seating capacity of 125. Employees of the hotel total 85.

The hotel's several dining and banquet rooms, seating from ten to 400

persons each, are constantly in use by various organizations. In addition to being the home of Shawnee's civic clubs and the center of social functions, the hotel is the home of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and radio station KGFF. Oil men find the Aldridge convenient headquarters for the Greater Seminole area. The ballroom on the ninth floor is regularly the scene of banquets, dances and other social events.

The Aldridge, at Ninth and Bell, is conveniently located to the new county court house, municipal auditorium and park, public library, Masonic temple, Elks club, and federal building, as well an all schools, churches and theaters.

KGFF--December 15, 1930, radio station KGFF was established on the mezzanine floor of the Aldridge hotel. This depression-born business has now become one of the regularly employed advertising media of this area. With announcement recently of a federal permit to increase power to 250 watts, Ross Porter, station manager, immediately began planning renovations to make the station more powerful in the rich central Oklahoma trade area.

Pottawatomie County Medical Society--The society was organized soon after the turn of the century to further the medical profession in this county. It is recognized as one of the best county societies in the state, due largely to the high-type meetings conducted, and to the standards required of members. It is one of the few groups of its kind that subjects its members to criticism, suspension and expulsion for ethical violations. New members are accepted on probation for a year before being voted permanent memberships. Explained by President Baxter, the aims of the society are first, to protect and serve the patient, and second, to preserve the dignity of the medical profession.

The doctors and the year they became members are: J. A. Walker, 1895; H. A. Wagner (deceased) 1901; R. A. Brown, 1901; R. M. Anderson, 19903; T. D. Rowland, 1903; J. M. Byrum, 1904; G. H. Applewhite, 1906; F. L. Carson, 19906p; J. E. Hughes, 1906; R. C. Kaylor, 1906; W. T. Blunt, 1906; W. A. Ball, 1907; J. H. Royster, 1907; H. G. Campbell, 1907; J. E.Cullum, 1907; J. E. Walker (deceased), 1907; W. S. Cordell, 1908; W. M. Gallaher, 1909; G. S. Baxter, 1909; M. A. Baker, 1909; J. M. Stooksbury, 1911; J. L. Fortson, 1914; A. C. McFarling, 1915; R. R. Culbertson, 1917; McAdams Williams, 1925; W. F. Matthews, 1925; E. E. Rice, 1926; C. F. Paramore, 1927; W. S. Stevens, 1927; J. I. Gaston, 1928; F. C. Gallaher, 1929; Frances P. Newlin, 1919; D. W. Gillick, 1930; E. E. Shivers, 1930; V. G. Isvahov, 1930; H. E. Hughes, 1931; Frank M. Kean, 1934.

The two institutions that have meant the most to Shawnee in a cultural way are Oklahoma Baptist “University and St. Gregory's College. Both began operation here in 1915 and since that time have progressed steadily to keep in step with Shawnee's advance.

Oklahoma Baptist University was granted its state charter in 1910. Classes were held in improvised classrooms for two years under the direction of President Dr. J. M. Carroll of Texas. In 1912 classes were suspended until the new building could be completed.

After years of hard work and many discouraging delays, Oklahoma Baptist University opened its first session in the new administration building in the fall of 1915, with Dr. F. M. Masters, pastor of the First Baptist church of Ardmore, as president.

The administration building that year was an all-purpose structure, with the kitchen, dining hall and gymnasium on the first floor, administration offices, auditorium and classrooms on the second, and the women's dormitory is on the third.

Executives of the university at the present time are R. J. McKnight, business manager; Dr. John W. Raley, president; and Dr. J. W. Jent, dean of faculties.

With the building of Montgomery hall, the first women's dormitory, in 1916, and the addition of Men's hall in 1918, the university embarked on a period of growth that was not curbed until the beginning of the depression. More recent improvements have been the new women's dormitory, and landscape work on the campus. Largely through the efforts of City Manager T. E. Thompson, a government project was secured for paving the oval. Dr. John W. Raley, president of the university since 1934, has taken a special interest in making the campus one of Shawnee's beauty spots. The native stone wall around the campus, the sunken garden, and Text Box:

other landscaping work has been completed under Dr. Raley's supervision.

In athletic activities, forensics, music and dramatic art, students have achieved state-wide and even nation-wide recognition. School officials are seeking constantly to provide a well rounded liberal arts program which will give students a rich background for any profession they wish to enter. Credits from Oklahoma Baptist University are accepted on an equal footing with all universities, and many who complete bachelor's work at O. B. U. continue their studies at Harvard, Columbia, Illinois and ether leading schools.

Second building on the O. R. U, campus was Montgomery hall. This building was used as a. women's dormitory until 1929 when the present Women’s Memorial Dormitory was built.

To meet that demand of school leaders, O. B. U. offers a complete teacher training program with a bachelor of science in education offered.

Back in 1915 when O. B. U. was struggling to become firmly established, the Benedictine fathers who had brought their boys' school from Sacred Heart to Shawnee were busy getting located in their new home northwest of Shawnee.

Through the years St. Gregory's has continued to offer well-rounded training to develop sound judgment, moral backbone, and vigorous manhood. But the college's greatest contribution to Shawnee culture lies in “Father Gregory” the Rev. Gregory Gerrer, O. S. B., D. D. and the art gallery and museum that have been collected under his guidance.

From all corners of the globe, and from all ages of history, Father Gregory has gathered material, using the taste and discrimination gained from years of study and travel. The talented Father himself is known to the art world of two continents. But it is the museum and gallery, this effort to leave something lasting and real for Shawnee and Oklahoma that has the heart of white-haired, energetic Father Gregory.

The art gallery is of particular interest because it displays paintings produced at intervals throughout the last 600 years, and because Father Gregory bas added so many of his own paintings of the southwest's scenic spots. Also included in this valuable collection are numerous works of modern artists.

Of his museum, Father Gregory says “Big eastern museums may have larger collections, but they can have no 'better items than we have gathered here in Shawnee.”

Probably of greatest note among the museum's exhibits are two Egyptian mummies, one of which is the Princess Menne of the royal family of the thirty-second dynasty, 332 B. C. A large collection of guns includes rare old styles and fine specimens of armor helmets and coats of mail. Other collections that are notable include the Babylonian, Oriental rugs, Chinese trinkets, Greek relics, antique musical instruments, Indian curios, and shell and sea life.