PMA cadet with M1903

[Rick the Librarian]

From the U of Wisconsin photo collection. A Philippine Military Academy cadet with his M1903, probably late 1930s. Note post-WWI handguard and sanded stock.

Information

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[Don W]

There once was another PMA; and a very proud one.

"Ponca Military Academy" was located outside of Ponca City, Oklahoma.

I was a cadet there 1949/50. The photo provided with the link shows one of the main buildings that used to exist at the site.

http://poncamilitaryacademy.com/

Don W

[Jim Tarleton]

Don,

Did you ever visit the Marland Mansion and see that $1.5MM gold leafed ceiling? And the tunnels? That $5.5MM (dollars of the day) mansion was originally sold for $66K. I think the city owns it now.

I once gave the elderly Lydie Marland a ride home from the grocery store (about 1976) after I saw her walking down the road with a bag of groceries. I did not know who she was until she introduced herself, and she seemed very shy and demur. I took her to the little cottage near the mansion where she lived at the time. She was, in succession, E. W. Marland's niece, foster child, adopted daughter, wife and 1st Lady of Oklahoma when Marland was Governor. Quite a scandal in the day. She was a very quiet and graceful lady when I met her. It was one of the few times in my life when I was speechless. I had a thousand questions and asked not one. I suspect she was very beautiful when she was young. I think she is now deceased. Weird enough, she was a 60's pacifist.

E. W. was quite an interesting study, and unknown to most, our current employee benefits were derived from Marland's excellent treatment of his workers, including weekly Polo games (the players were the workers).

Marland Oil Co. became Conoco, Inc. and the Conoco logo (originally the Marland logo) was copied from the YMCA sign by Marland.

I spent many boring days in Ponca City.

Jim

[Don W]

Jim,

I don't recall ever being inside the mansion.

When I finished elementary school in Ponca, we left the town and I have since never returned, except for family funerals.

To a youngster, it was a very good town. I can imagine it might be pretty boring to and adult, unless you were part of one of the "inner circles" there.

My grand parents later house, in Ponca, was constructed utilizing some timbers salvaged from one of the old 101 Ranch buildings.

My mother was born in 1909 & one of her brothers was born in 1907, the year Oklahoma became a State.

Regards, Don