Daniel Lawrence Coleman

Daniel Lawrence Coleman (Dan), former General Manager of Armco Steel Ashland Works, passed away peacefully at his home with his daughter in Lexington, Kentucky on Friday, April 3, 2020, at the age of 96. He said it was a perfect life.

He was born in Montgomery, West Virginia and spent many years in the mountains of West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky with his family. In his young life, he lived in Aflex, Kentucky and graduated from Williamson High School, which was a mile down the road and across the Tug River from his home. Dan and his brother were drafted into the service not long after his graduation.

Dan was a veteran of World War II. He entered the Army Air Force in July of 1942 and trained as a bombardier, navigator, and gunner. He served a year and a half in the Pacific theater with the Seventh Air Force. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Presidential Unit Citation. He was also given the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with three battle stars and the American Theater Ribbon. He would tell the stories of his fellow servicemen, the places he was stationed like Kwajalein, Okinawa, and Marshall Islands, and the battles he flew over Iwo Jima, China, and Japan. When he was discharged in December of 1945, he was a First Lieutenant. Even though the tragedies of war were forever etched in his memory, he continued to pursue his self-proclaimed perfect life.

He enrolled in the University of Kentucky in 1945 and, not long after, he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. He met his future bride, Ann, at a circus themed sorority party. The tale is legendary of how their love story began. His pick-up line to her was, “Are there any tigers in this circus?” Her simple response was, “Come on and I will show you.” They were married in Ann’s hometown of Bradenton, Florida on December 27, 1946. At the time of his passing, she was holding his hand, his bride of 73 years.

Dan was a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He returned to West Virginia after graduation with his wife and infant daughter to find work in the coal mines where he was raised. He needed to support his family and mining wages were the best he could find in the plentiful labor supply after the soldiers of WW II graduated using their GI Bill benefits. He worked in mines for the Leckie Coal Company in Anjean, Roseann, and Aflex where he held different positions, including Assistant Mine Superintendent. He had promised his wife they would stay one year, but it was not until 1953 that they left.

There were many twists of fate for this extraordinary man. The day he was driving to Cincinnati to look for work, which would bring him and his young family out of the coal mines, he picked up a hitchhiker who needed a ride to Ashland, Kentucky. Dan remembered a news article discussing the steel mill, and he decided to stay the night and walk into Armco the next day to apply for a job. A week later, he was hired. Dan joined Armco in 1953 as a draftsman in the engineering department. After advancing to the position of electrical engineer, he was moved to the Maintenance Department. He eventually became Superintendent of Maintenance Shops and later of the Maintenance Operating Department. In 1972 his path changed as he rose to the General Manager of Armco Steel Ashland Works.

There were many outstanding milestones during his career at Armco. But of all his accomplishments, he would say that it was the men and women in the mill that meant the most to him. He would talk of the people who worked with him by their first name and would know of their family and their hardships because he walked the mill each day. It is said that he had an open-door policy for every worker and that he was admired for that and for his respect and dignity for his fellow man. He retired in January of 1985 and was celebrated by many as one of the greatest men they had ever known.

Throughout his lifetime Dan served more than his family and country. His volunteer work included the Executive Committee of the Tri-State Area Council of the Boy Scouts, and those efforts included work on the Camp Verity grounds. He was an instrumental figure in the Paramount Arts Center from the first years when he was handed the responsibility of replacing the old roof. Armco also selected the aged marquee restoration for its Founder’s Day community project. Along with the Armco Maintenance Department and the many men and women who left their families on Saturdays to assist with the project, Dan applied his talents to allow the bright lights to shine in Ashland all these decades later. The electrical drawings on file at the Paramount were drafted in his hand. Related to the formation of the Paramount, Dan served on the board of the newly created Foundation for the Tri-State Community. He served for many years in the South Ashland Lions Club, on the boards of the 2nd National Bank, the First Bank and Trust Co. and First American Bank. He served on the King’s Daughter’s Hospital board which also led to his role of heading the initiative to bring Ambulance service to Boyd County and later, to Greenup County. He served as President of Bellefonte Country Club and oversaw construction of the current swimming pool. He had many stories to tell about the challenges of that project. Dan supported business in many ways, including as a member of the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce and served the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce as the Chairman of the Board in 1980-81 and as Chairman of the Executive Committee in 1981-82. Of all his volunteer work, it is known by many that his personal favorite was his time at Wildwood Park with his fellow Armco Retirees and Directors. He enjoyed those years, fiercely protecting his job of cutting the prime rib, and eating the fine food his friends so masterfully prepared.

Dan’s personal life included years fishing on Lake Erie with his friends. He also bowled, although he never spoke of his skill level. He spent many of his retired years as the Grandfather who would walk, babysit, cook breakfast, and watch over his beloved family. Every Sunday he would pick up either his grandchildren or fellow church members and take them to Sunday School or church service at the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, Kentucky, where he was a member. Regardless of who his passengers were that day, donuts were always present. Whenever the opportunity arose, he would be in his workshop, creating something beautiful or functional, or fixing broken things. His engineering mind and mechanical aptitudes were gifts from his father which he passed on to his children.

Dan is survived by his wife Annie Estelle Gullett Coleman of Lexington, Kentucky, his children, Barbara C. (Michael) Curtis of Lexington, Kentucky, Daniel W. (Wynee) Coleman of Basalt, Colorado, Nancy C. Compton of Ashland, Kentucky, Lee L. (JoAnn) Coleman of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Christy C. Reaves of Midway, Kentucky; his grandchildren Brooke Carmichael, Kati (Jared) Prickett, Amy (Jerry) Dickerson, Alex Coleman, Bryce Coleman, Brian (Nevada) Ange, Shane Goldsborough, Michelle (Nick) Kilby, Johnathan (Jackie) Coleman, Ben (Allison) Coleman, Andy Coleman, Elizabeth (Dustin) Zwick, Jean Anne Zwick, John Reaves, Kathryn Reaves, Daniel Reaves, and David Reaves; his great-grandchildren Elijah Whitt, Ryder Prickett, Jagger Prickett, Skylar Belle Prickett, Baylar Kate Prickett, Creston Robinette, Brooke (Jonathan) Yanik, Luke Dickerson, Macy Dickerson, Taylor Ange, Claire Ange, Harper Rose Kilby, Alden Coleman, Juliann Coleman, Matthan Coleman, Eli Coleman, Reu Coleman, and Jaiden Burton; his nieces Alice (Ralph) Schepp, Amy (John) Reilly, and Lydia Jane (Robert) Morris; and nephews Doug (Joan) Foley and Jack Foley.

He is preceded in death by his son, Theodore A. Coleman; his grandchildren Richard Coleman, Allison Ange, and Chris Curtis; his brothers Richard M. Coleman and Jack Coleman; his sister Frances (Flip) Coleman; his parents, Willis W. Coleman and Nina House Coleman; his step-mothers Mabel Coleman and Josephine Perkins Coleman.

Because of his humble nature, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, gifts in honor of his legacy be sent to the Benevolence Fund at Members Choice Credit Union, which will directly support Armco/AK Steel Connected Families, c/o Members Choice Credit Union, P.O. Box 1468, Ashland, Kentucky 41105.

Services will be held in the future when restrictions are lifted from the complications of the world health crisis through Steen Funeral Home of Ashland, Kentucky.

To share a remembrance of Dan or to express a condolence to his family, please visit: www.steenfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.