Richard Coulter Jr
Encyclopedia
Richard Coulter, Jr. was a World War I
general, a businessman, a professional football
player and a banker.
, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
, the first of six children of Richard Coulter Sr.
(1827–1908) and Emma Welty (1841–1929). His father Richard Coulter Sr.
was a Major General
in the American Civil War
, a prominent business man in Greensburg, and founder of the First National Bank of Greensburg. Son Richard Coulter Jr. attended Princeton University
and graduated in 1882. After college, he worked for his father in business and banking. From 1894 to 1896, he played organized football with the Greensburg Athletic Association
, one of the very first professional teams. He served the team as an offensive lineman.
Richard Coulter Jr. began his military career as a private
in the Pennsylvania National Guard
in 1895. In 1898 he was commissioned a second lieutenant
in the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
. Coulter was promoted to Colonel of the 10th Regiment in 1907 and commanded the regiment on the U.S. border with Mexico in 1916. Pennsylvanian leaders considered Col. Coulter as the Democratic
candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in the 1916 election.
. Shortly after that, Coulter was promoted to Brigadier General
and transferred to the 41st Infantry Division. General Coulter Jr. was discharged from the army in January 1919.
). After the death of his father Richard Coulter Sr. in 1908, Richard Coulter Jr. served at the bank's president for more than 40 years. During the Great Depression in the early 1930s, the bank was reorganized, but continued to survive under Coulter's leadership. Coulter also headed several coal
companies which owned coal mines under and around Greensburg.
General Coulter married Matilda Bowman (November 15, 1875 - February 26, 1964) and had one daughter Emma.
General Coulter died September 26, 1955 and is buried in St. Clair Cemetery, east of Greensburg.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
general, a businessman, a professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and a banker.
Early life and career
Richard Coulter, Jr. was born in GreensburgGreensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...
, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
, the first of six children of Richard Coulter Sr.
Richard Coulter (general)
Richard Coulter, Sr. was an American Civil War general in the Union Army, a businessman, and banker. During the Civil War he was colonel of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, often rising to brigade command upon the wounding of superior officers.-Early life and career:Richard Coulter, Sr...
(1827–1908) and Emma Welty (1841–1929). His father Richard Coulter Sr.
Richard Coulter (general)
Richard Coulter, Sr. was an American Civil War general in the Union Army, a businessman, and banker. During the Civil War he was colonel of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, often rising to brigade command upon the wounding of superior officers.-Early life and career:Richard Coulter, Sr...
was a Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, a prominent business man in Greensburg, and founder of the First National Bank of Greensburg. Son Richard Coulter Jr. attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and graduated in 1882. After college, he worked for his father in business and banking. From 1894 to 1896, he played organized football with the Greensburg Athletic Association
Greensburg Athletic Association
The Greensburg Athletic Association was an early organized football team, based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, that played from 1890 until 1900. The team began as an amateur football club in 1890 and was composed primarily of locals before several professional players were added for the 1895 season...
, one of the very first professional teams. He served the team as an offensive lineman.
Richard Coulter Jr. began his military career as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the Pennsylvania National Guard
Pennsylvania National Guard
The Pennsylvania National Guard is composed of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. It is one of the largest National Guards in the nation. It has the largest Army National Guard of all the states and the fourth largest Air National Guard. These forces are...
in 1895. In 1898 he was commissioned a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Spanish-American War
In 1898, Coulter's Regiment was ordered to active duty in the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. Coulter was promoted to Colonel of the 10th Regiment in 1907 and commanded the regiment on the U.S. border with Mexico in 1916. Pennsylvanian leaders considered Col. Coulter as the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in the 1916 election.
World War I
In 1914, Coulter commanded the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment when it was ordered to active duty in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Shortly after that, Coulter was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and transferred to the 41st Infantry Division. General Coulter Jr. was discharged from the army in January 1919.
Postbellum career
After World War I, Coulter returned to Greensburg, where he resumed his business and banking activities in the First National Bank of Greensburg (now the First Commonwealth BankFirst Commonwealth Bank
First Commonwealth Financial Corporation is a financial services company based in Indiana, Pennsylvania, primarily serving the Western and the Central Pennsylvania regions....
). After the death of his father Richard Coulter Sr. in 1908, Richard Coulter Jr. served at the bank's president for more than 40 years. During the Great Depression in the early 1930s, the bank was reorganized, but continued to survive under Coulter's leadership. Coulter also headed several coal
companies which owned coal mines under and around Greensburg.
General Coulter married Matilda Bowman (November 15, 1875 - February 26, 1964) and had one daughter Emma.
General Coulter died September 26, 1955 and is buried in St. Clair Cemetery, east of Greensburg.