"Did You Know This About Geary County History?”
By Dr. Ferrell Miller
Geary County Historical Society Board Member
“Lt. General Richard J. Seitz, A Soldier’s Leader”
The Geary County Historical Society is thankful for all of those currently serving and those who have served in our armed forces in commitment and dedication to our nation. Thank you so much for your service!!!
One of America’s and one of our own local heroes was Lt. General Richard J. Seitz. He was a soldier’s leader; a gentleman, who paid respect to all women; a supporter and ambassador for Junction City and Fort Riley and has been honored with the naming of Seitz Elementary School of Fort Riley and the VA Clinic in Junction City. General Seitz left us in 2013, but remains in the hearts and minds of many of us seven years after his passing.
He was born in Leavenworth, Kansas on February 18, 1918 and attended Kansas State University in 1939. Seitz foresaw WWII looming on the horizon and accepted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He rose rapidly in the ranks and as a Major in 1942 took command of the 2nd Battalion of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team. Later he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and was the Army’s youngest battalion commander. He served with the 517th in combat at Anzio, made the combat jump into the southern invasion of France in 1944 and in December of that year Seitz drew up Paris leave rosters for his men, when Hitler launched the Battle of the Bulge.
The 2nd Battalion and 7th Regiment of the Armored Division was united to form “Task Force Seitz”, which plugged the gaps on the north slope of the Bulge every time the Germans tried to make a breakout.
Over the 37 years of active duty General Seitz received numerous decorations and awards. He was committed to serving others and frequently attended deployment and returns from deployment ceremonies at Fort Riley to show support for our soldiers. The best way to describe the late Lt. General Richard J. Seitz is that he lived his life “Airborne all the way!” to the very end.
“The Dehner Company and LaShelle’s Shoe Store”
The Dehner Company grew to be known worldwide for the fit and look of their boots. The company had its beginnings in 1875 in Junction City, Kansas. The store was in the back of the building at 712 N. Washington St. It was in that German shoe repair shop that Carlton C. Dehner first noticed a pair of boots sitting in the back room. Dehner was so taken by the quality and workmanship of the boots he asked, John Teitzel, the cobbler, “Why don’t we put in a factory and make these more available?” That is how the Dehner boot line began. A factory was established on the second floor of the building at 108 W. Eighth Street, which was owned by The Daily Union newspaper.
During the early years, the company was busy supplying custom-made boots for the cavalry officers at Fort Riley. Military demand for quality footwear was high at the time and the Teitzel & Dehner boots were an instant hit. Business was brisk, but in 1914 Teitzel and Dehner, packed up and moved to Wichita, Kansas.
LaShelle’s Shoe Store, which was owned by Ralph LaShelle was later located at 108 W. Eighth. LaShelle’s not only sold shoes, but also Dehner Boots. Ralph’s son, Dan, was killed during the Bataan Death March in the Philippines during WWII. Ralph struggled emotionally with the passing of his son. Ralph’s other son, Bob, took on the responsibility of the shoe store and lived in the house at 105 W. Fourth Street, currently owned by Vic and Sandy Wong.
Ralph knew Dwight D. Eisenhower, Colonel Hiram Tuttle and George Patton, who would occasionally visit the store and purchase Dehner boots. The company, which had its roots in Junction City supplied boots for prominent horse people all over the country, including Ronald Reagan, who also wore breeches made in Junction City (purchased from Dick Jones). The Dehner boot was worn by Jackie Onassis since she was a little girl.
John York, who worked at the LaShelle’s Shoe Store in 1956 remembered a time when E.W. Rolfs, then President of Central National Bank, brought General I.D. White into the store. General White had served as the Commanding General (CG) of the 2nd Armor Division Europe, CG of the 4th Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, CG of the U.S. Army in the Pacific and Commandant of the Cavalry School at Fort Riley. Officers at the Cavalry School preferred and often purchased Dehner boots at LaShelle’s Shoe Store. The LaShelle family had the store until 1974.