Oil City's Coach - Earl Davis Nolan (1907-1987)

Just as William F. Bozeman is "Oil City's Principal," Earl Davis Nolan is "Oil City's Coach." With the exception of three years served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Chief Petty Officer during World War II, Coach Nolan coached sports and taught math at the school from 1937 until his retirement in 1969,  During his tenure, his football teams won the Class B Northwest Louisiana Championship three times; in 1939, 1946, and 1948. They were also 1954 district champs in the final year of the high school. Several of his players won individual honors, and some went on to play sports in college or professionally.

Coach Earl Nolan (1952)

Early Life And College

Originally from Oak Ridge, LA, he was born to Jesse Jones and Mollie Stokes Nolan on 12-Jan-1907. Coach was a member of the Oak Ridge High School basketball team that had an amazing run - winning state titles in 1924, 1926, and 1927; and losing to eventual champion Urania in the semifinals in 1925. Also of note, they made the finals in 1928, the year after his departure; but lost to Bienville (who they had previously beaten twice) for the state crown. This was when there was a single tournament for all classes.

1924 Champions:

Shreveport Times 11-May-1924, Page 24

He and several team members were named to the 1926 All-State team, including guard Thomas "Dude" Files (first team) and center Gabe Hamby (second). Older brother Jesse received honorable mention. 

Baton Rouge 08-Mar-1926, Page 10

The 1926 (pictured below) and 1927 teams were invited to a national tournament held in Chicago that included many state champions from around the country.

Times 28-Mar-1926, Page 16

In the main tournament, they lost to eventual finalist Fargo, North Dakota; but later won third place in the consolation bracket, beating Canton, Illinois. Earlier on the losers side, they had defeated Omaha, Nebraska. Earl received accolades for his play in a piece published nationally, though he was misidentified as Edward. He also received honorable mention to the All-Tournament team.

Times 04-Apr-1926, Page 25

Again state champs in 1927, Oak Ridge accepted an invitation to return to the national tournament. 

Times 29-Mar-1927, Page 13

The 1927 trip unfortunately resulted in a quick two-and-out as they lost to to Maury of Norfolk, Virginia 21-15 in the first round, then fell 26-17 to Duval of Jacksonville, Florida in the consolation bracket.

He initially attended Louisiana State University before transferring to Centenary College in Shreveport, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball.

Shown at LSU.

1928 LSU Gumbo (Yearbook)

Later at Centenary.

Earl Nolan - Centenary Football
1929

Earl Nolan - Centenary Basketball 1932

Source: Centenary College Yoncopin (yearbook)

Coach played during the heyday of Centenary football, when the Gents played and frequently beat teams that are household names of major college football. During his career (1929-1931), the team had a record of 19-9-2, with wins over Arkansas, Baylor (3), and Iowa; while also tying Texas.

Source: Centenary Yearly Results 1925-1929, Centenary Yearly Results - 1930-1934

Below he runs for a gain against the Baylor Bears in a game played in Shreveport in 1930. However on this play he broke his collarbone and was out for the remainder of the season. Note at the time, wearing a helmet was optional. 

Source: Shreveport Times 26-Oct-1930

His nickname was "Little Boy Blue" and after the Baylor injury, a fan lamented his loss to the team by writing a poem.

Source: Centenary College Library Archive

While at Centenary, he married the former Margaret Burton....

1932 Centenary Yoncopin (yearbook)

.....and graduated in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

1932 Centenary Yoncopin (yearbook)

Success At Oil City High

Shown below are the 1939 Northwest Louisiana Class B Champion Oil City Oilers, as they were then known. Coach Nolan is far left wearing the "C" letter sweater. The team won the Northwest Louisiana Championship 20-19 over Cotton Valley, but lost the following week 12-0 to Clarks in a game played at Brown Stadium in Monroe. Local merchants had chartered a train so students and fans could attend.

Margaret Pace Weaver Bateman collection

In 1946, the now Oil City Tigers were undefeated during the regular season and again became Northwest Louisiana Champs. Unfortunately, during the playoffs they were beaten 46-12 by the eventual state champion Tallulah Trojans.

His 1948 squad returned to the playoffs, again facing nemesis Tallulah. In a game played at neighboring Vivian's larger stadium, they tied the again eventual champion Trojans 26-26, but lost on first downs 23-14.

Source: 1949 Oil City Bengal (yearbook)

Coach Nolan lectures his team (1951)

His final high school team, quarterbacked by son Earl Jr., posted a successful 7-2-1 season in 1954, and won the District 1-B Championship before falling to Dubach 34-6 in the playoffs.

Junior High And Beyond

After  Oil City and other area high schools were consolidated into North Caddo beginning in the fall of 1955, Coach Nolan continued to coach sports and teach at the remaining junior high. Among the accomplishments during this era was the 1964 Tiger football team that completed a perfect 6-0 record, while holding opponents scoreless the entire season.

L-R, Front: Troy Stubblefield, Don Vaughn, Dennis Batts, Toby Tolbert
Middle: Terry McKnight, Pat Weaver, Gil Beck, Kenny Fedd, Roger Sanders, Larry Kirby, Rex McKnight
Back: Coach Earl Nolan, John King, Billy Allen, Joe Arnold, William Maleby, Arch Henderson,
Bobby Paris, Danny Tennis

In addition to Earl Jr., Coach and Mrs. Nolan had a daughter, Margaret, who was North Caddo's first homecoming queen in 1956; and a younger son, Johnny. 

The town of Oil City recognized 25-May-1969 as "Earl Nolan Day" to honor the retiring coach, with a special luncheon and celebration at the school.

Times 25-May-1969, Page 4-D

Coach Nolan passed away in May-1987.

Notable Players And Honors

Over his tenure, several of his players earned post-season honors, or later played college or professional sports  including:

All-State - First Team (football, unless noted): Billy Allen (football (1968), baseball (1969), North Caddo), Pat Lewis (1939), Edgar Beene (1954), Earl Nolan, Jr. (1954), Mike Durham (1966, North Caddo, basketball), Ronald Barber (1971, North Caddo)

All-State - Second Team: Raymond Wyatt (1939)

All-State - Honorable Mention: J. W. Green (1939), Daryl Bickham (1939), Wayne Bagley (1954), J. E. Cagle (1954), Thomas Mandina (1954)

College (football, unless noted): Jerry Arledge (La Tech, and head coach of perennial power West Monroe High), Ronald Barber (LSU), Claude Carrigan (La Tech), Billy Cooper (La Tech), Mike Durham (La Tech, Basketball), Thomas Mandina (Texas A&M-Commerce), George Riley (Kilgore (Jr. College All-American) and Texas A&M-Commerce), B. H. Weaver (La. Tech), John "Teakus" Weaver (Northwestern State, University of Louisiana at Monroe)

Professional (baseball): Claude White (Shreveport Sports)

His coaching and teaching also impacted untold other athletes who also played for him, as well as the regular students who attended his classes.

Also see Memorable Athletes, Coaches, Personalities, and Teams.

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William Franklin "Bill" Bozeman (1903-1994)

Oil City school has had numerous principals over the years, but in truth there is only one Oil City principal. In a career spanning 40 years, Mr. Bozeman served first as teacher and coach; and then as principal of the high school and later junior high until his retirement in the late 1960s.

W. F. Bozeman (1948)

The son of William Pitt and Celesta Eliza Franklin Bozeman, "Bill" was born 18-Jan-1903 in Belmont (Sabine Parish), Louisiana. Per his obituary, he began his career at Oil City upon graduating from Centenary College in 1928..

Shown here as a senior at Centenary.

William Franklin Bozeman
Bachelor of Arts 1928

Mr. Bozeman was a member of the 1927 Centenary football team that went undefeated while beating Southwestern Conference teams Southern Methodist, Baylor, Rice, and Texas Christian; as well as Louisville. This was during the heyday of Centenary football.

Source: Glory Years of Football, Centenary College of Louisiana, 1922-1942 (2000)

W. F. Bozeman
 Centenary Football 1927

Source: 1928 Centenary College Yoncopin (Yearbook)

He became principal upon the departure of predecessor Roy Evans, who left to become assistant principal at C. E. Byrd High School in Shreveport.

The following picture from a March 1939 Educators conference held at Louisiana State Normal College shows Mr. Bozeman and five other North Caddo area high school principals.

W. F. Bozeman (Oil City), 3rd Row, 5th from left
J. W. Freeman (Hosston) , Back Row, 3rd from left
C. L. Mackey (Vivian), Front Row, 3rd from left
G. M. Middleton (Ida), Front Row, 7th from left
J. T. Ratliff (Belcher), 2nd Row, 5th from left
Lloyd E. Walker (Mooringsport), Front Row, 4th from left

Of note, prior to becoming principal at Mooringsport, Mr. Walker had also once been principal and football coach at Oil City.

William F. Bozeman (1946)

Below is a biographical profile found in a Bozeman family history:

William Franklin (Bozeman) was a twin and the only living boy. A finer specimen of a man I have never seen. The other twin was born dead. It almost broke his parents hearts to give up that little darling baby. They wanted it to live so badly. They had never had any boys. As a rule most Bozeman families have as many or more boys than girls.

William is called "Bill". When he was growing up everyone knew him as "Willie." Most Bozemans have a habit of nicknaming their children. He is a tall, large, fine looking man with a pleasing personality. I can truly say one of the finest men I ever knew. He is always the same wherever and whenever you meet him. If he ever gets out of sorts, no one knows it (unlike the Bozemans.) He had a hard struggle and a determination in his younger life to get an education.

Working his way to help defray expenses, I once heard him remark that his father always urged him, "Son get an education WHATEVER YOU DO." He was about 14 when his father was killed while plowing in their field. Bill was near by. He attended public School at Belmont, Louisiana and later Pleasant Hill High School. From there he went to Stonewall, Louisiana and lived in the home of a couple that let him milk cows for his room and board; also he was janitor of the school to help defray expenses. Such a determination, I have never known, finally he entered and finished Byrd High School of Shreveport, Louisiana. He won a scholarship to Louisiana State University in the field of Agriculture but not caring to enter that school, he did not accept it. This was while he attended Centenary College. He finished there and while there his answers to questions and the questions that he could ask stumped some of the college professors.

His dear mother received several letters from different men of higher learning telling her of her son's brilliant mind. He is now principal of Oil City, Louisiana High School. He has been there for a number of years, and just how well he is liked there speaks for itself. He has a lovely family. He is a Methodist and a Christian. He married Marguerite Courtney, a school teacher and to them were born two children: 1. Marguerite, born September 5, 1930 and 2. Billie Vie, born July 22,1942.

(1) Marguerite, is 5' 6" weighs about 120. She has beautiful hair and pretty eyes. She is said to be a  "carbon copy" of her father. She was honor student in High School. She graduated from Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, Louisiana in June, 1951. At the present she is in California with her Aunt Victoria.

(2) Billie Vic is in school at her hometown, Oil City, Louisiana. I would say she resembles the Franklins more than the Bozemans. She is a very pretty and sweet little girl.

Source: Sketches of the Bozeman Family by Loraine Bozeman Walker (1956)

William F. Bozeman (1965)

History of Oil City, La. School 1910-1955, by Maggie Smith Warren and Willa McCord (1977)


After the death of his first wife, Marguerite Courtney (1905-1968), herself a teacher; he married another long-tenured Oil City school teacher Lillie Mae Averre Stone (1907-1985).

Marguerite Courtney Bozeman

Lillie Mae Averre Stone Bozeman

Upon his death on 09-Jan-1994, the Caddo Parish School Board issued the following proclamation:

Agenda Item No. 20

Resolution - William Franklin Bozeman (Former Principal at Oil City Elementary. The board approved a resolution recognizing services to the children of Caddo Parish by the late Mr. William Franklin Bozeman, former principal at Oil City Elementary School. Mr. Byerley read the resolution aloud.

R E S 0 L U T I 0 N

In Honor of the life of 

MR. WILLIAM FRANKLIN BOZEMAN 

WHEREAS, the late William Franklin Bozeman served the children of Caddo Parish for forty years, and 

WHEREAS, he directly touched the lives of students as a classroom teacher and coach; and 

WHEREAS, he moved up the education ladder to become principal at Oil City School; and 

WHEREAS, Mr. Bozeman was a respected and recognized educator who gave unselfishly to serve 

students in Caddo Parish, 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Caddo Parish School Board express sympathy to his daughters, Mrs. Marquerite Cherry and Mrs. Billie Wilcox; and the entire 

Bozeman Family.

January 19, 1994 

Caddo Parish School Board Meeting Minutes, 19-Jan-1994


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