This Week in the West: Charles Colcord at the center of Oklahoma history

🤠This Week in the West 🎙️ Episode 42: Charles Colcord at the center of Oklahoma history

📢 Episode Summary: On this week’s episode we tackle the life of Charles Colcord. Colcord’s life reads like a frontier epic. Born in 1859, his early years were marked by illness, forcing his family to send him to Texas to recover. That move set him on a path toward cowboy life, the cattle trails, and eventually into the thick of the Oklahoma Land Run. His resilience carried him through personal and financial hardships, including the collapse of his family’s cattle business, pushing him toward new opportunities in the growing Oklahoma Territory.

Colcord’s role in shaping early Oklahoma City was pivotal. As the city’s first chief of police and later county sheriff, he worked alongside legendary lawmen like Bill Tilghman to rein in outlaws and establish order in the rough frontier town. His efforts in law enforcement were just the beginning—Colcord soon turned his energy toward development, investing in land, oil, and banking, becoming one of the city’s most influential figures.

Perhaps his most lasting contributions were in business and architecture. His part in discovering the Glenn Pool oil field cemented Oklahoma as a major energy hub. And in 1910, he built Oklahoma City’s first skyscraper, the Colcord Building, a 14-story landmark that symbolized progress and innovation. Beyond his business ventures, Colcord also championed cultural preservation, serving as longtime president of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How Charles Colcord rose from cowboy beginnings to become a key figure in Oklahoma City’s law enforcement, business, and development.
• The pivotal role Colcord played in discovering the Glenn Pool oil field, one of the largest in the world.
• How the Colcord Building became Oklahoma City’s first skyscraper and a symbol of the city’s growth.

👥 Behind the Scenes Host: Seth Spillman Producer: Chase Spivey Writer: Mike Koehler

🔗 Further research:

• Colcord’s biography from the Oklahoma Historical Society: https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=CO020
• An audio biography from VoicesOfOklahoma.com: https://voicesofoklahoma.com/interviews/colcord-charles/
• The Colcord Hotel: https://www.colcordhotel.com/

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