Chenault - George & son Harry
Chenault – George & son Harry
(Runs east and west – 3 blocks south of Broadway & Gentry)
George S. Chenault
Born: April 8, 1865, in Tenn.
Died: Dec. 18, 1951, in Muskogee
Burial: Greenlawn Cemetery, Checotah
George began his business adventures in Atoka in 1890, where he was manager of the Cobb and Phillips mercantile company.
On Sept. 4, 1894, he moved to Checotah, where he became a very prominent merchant and civic leader in the community. George established and ran Chenaults Mercantile and general store until 1922.
He was elected chairman of the first school board in 1898 before the day of regularly tax-supported schools. He also took part in floating a bond issue that helped provide the first schools for the city of Checotah.
In 1905 he served as president on the school board where he supervised the building process of the original Longfellow school. He was an active member of the Methodist Church.
George was an active member of the Methodist Church helping build the first church building, spending more than 50 years as a member of the board of stewards. He was chairman of the board when the present church building was constructed.
George was also a member of the Checotah Masonic Lodge.
Following in his father’s footsteps, George’s son Harry left his mark on Checotah as well.
Harry Staton Chenault
Born: Feb. 16, 1911, in Checotah
Died: Nov. 15, 1999, in Tulsa
Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Eufaula
Harry graduated from Checotah High School in 1929 where he was an outstanding football player and continued to be an avid enthusiast of the sport.
His career as a dry goods merchant spanned more than half a century. During that time he owned stores in both Checotah and Eufaula.
He retired in 1977 but continued to own commercial property here into this decade.
As a member of the City Council, the accomplishments of his tenure included projects for blacktopping streets, water and sewer expansion, building a railroad spur to Magic Coal Mine properties and work to improve both US 266 and 69 through McIntosh County.
From 1951 until the dam’s completion in 1964, Harry was a driving force in the Eufaula Lake Development Association.
Other organizations also benefited from his leadership. He was a charter member and second President of Checotah Chamber of Commerce where he served two terms and three two-years terms as Mayor. He was a member of Lions International, IOOF Lodge #20 and received his 60-year pin from Masonic Lodge #86. A lifelong member of the Methodist church, he served as a member and Chairman of the Administrative Board, Chairman of the Trustees, an Usher and a Sunday School Superintendent.