Hall of Fame

 



edward f. geers

Year of Birth: 
1851
Immortal: 
Yes
DriverTrainer: 
Yes
Driver: 
Yes
Elected as Immortal: 
1958
Year of Death: 
1924
Biography: 

"Pop" Geers was born on a farm near Lebanon, Tennessee in 1851. At the age of twenty he won his first race with Little Dave to wagon in 3:04, and four years later opened his own stable at Major Brown's Swell Stock Farm in Springhill, Tennessee. His first star was Mattie Hunter 2:12 1/2, who, in July 1879, gave Geers his first world record. Brown Hal 2:12 1/2 and Hal Pointer brought Geers to the forefront in 1889 and he continued in 1890 with Hal Pointer to set a mark of 2:09 3/4. Geers raced Robert J. to his time of 2:01 1/2 in 1894. When the bike wheel was introduced, Geers was one of the pioneers to use it and to prove it. He drove many champions during the remainder of his career. "The Silent Man," Pop Geers died as a result of a racing accident at Wheeling, West Virginia on September 3, 1924, which, ironically, had been proclaimed "Geers Day" at the West Virginia State Fair.

Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals