Thelman Lester '25
Date of birth: March 23, 1904
Date of death: August 6, 1928
Age: 24
Lucky Bag
From the 1925 Lucky Bag:
Thelman Lester
Wilburton, Oklahoma
"T" "Judge" "Les"
"WHAT'N 'hell they tryin' to do around here: make this a theological seminary?"
"Les" got his early training in Oklahoma, and after having been associated with the Indians and others of that state, he developed a peculiar aversion to anything that approached mild nature.
Whenever "T" got in trouble with the upper classes during Plebe year, which was not so infrequently, his favorite remark was, "The fun I have is worth anything I get for it."
"Say, T, how about dragging for me this weekend?"
"Sure! Who is it, the chaperone?"
"Now, this a cold 4.0 and, just to show you that I believe what I say, I'll put up five dollars, and if she's a brick you get the five."
"Check, you're on."
This should have ended by "Les" getting the five, but he decided that being a man of honor, he couldn't do anything but refuse. Must have been some woman for usually he would call the Queen of Sheba a brick in order to get the five.
Class Track (4, 3, 2); Class Boxing (2); Class Football (3, 2).
Loss
Thelman was lost on August 6, 1928 when the plane he was piloting crashed near San Diego, California.
He was survived by his wife, parents, a brother, and three sisters. Both his father and his father-in-law were justices in the Oklahoma State Supreme Court. He and his wife had only been married for two months.
Thelman was flying from USS Lexington (CV 2); unable to find which squadron. He earned his wings as naval aviator #3403 on April 7, 1928.
Class of 1925
Thelman is one of 29 members of the Class of 1925 in Memorial Hall.
