Dr. Will Coleman, Sr.
Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A native Texan, Will Coleman (1882-1953) grew up caring for livestock on the Robert Witherspoon Ranch in Chatfield (12 miles northeast). His family moved to Corsicana in 1899; in 1911, Coleman graduated from the McGills University School of Veterinary Science in Montreal, Canada, and received his license to practice in Texas nine years later. By 1925, he had established his own veterinary clinic in Corsicana. One of the first black veterinarians in the area, Dr. Will Coleman lived at this site with his wife, Mattie, and their 12 children. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Will Coleman (1882–1953) grew up tending livestock on a Navarro County ranch before his family moved to Corsicana in 1899. He trained in veterinary science in Montreal, earned his Texas license, and by 1925 had opened his own clinic—becoming one of the first Black veterinarians in the region. He raised twelve children with his wife Mattie at this site.
Why it matters
Coleman's career illustrates how African Americans built professional lives and pillar families in the segregated South, opening doors in fields that had long excluded them.
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Related people
- · Will Coleman
- · Mattie Coleman
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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