Boyd County KyArchives Obituaries.....Gallaher, A. Frank January 31, 1987
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Anna Giunta http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005901 June 22, 2009, 6:38 pm

Daily Independent, 2 Feb. 1987
A. Frank Gallaher, 74, founder of Gallaher's Market in South Ashland, died 
Saturday on Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean after suffering an apparent 
heart attack while on a vacation trip.

Mr. Gallaher was born in the Oakview community now part of S. Ashland on July 
22, 1912, a son of the late George Thomas and Margie Thomas Gallaher.  He was a 
member of First Christian Church and a Kentucky Colonel.

Except for a three year stint in the Navy during WW II, he spent his entire 
life in the area where he was born and created the largest business in the 
neighborhood.  He was recognized as a man who devoted himself to his business.

He grew up within a block of the site of the present store, and with his four 
brothers made deliveries from an ice-house operated by his father.  He played 
as a linebacker and drop-kicker for the Ashland Tomcat football teams of 1930-
32, and served as a trainer for the basketball team and sometime coach for the 
Ashland Kittens.

After finishing school, he joined C. H. Parsons Co. in the drapery department, 
where he met his brother-in-law-to-be, M. J. Christian.  He worked as an agent 
for Prudential Insurance Co. before he was drafted during the war.  He spent 
his service aboard a landing ship (LST 1015) in the Pacific theater, 
participating in four invasions.

On his return, he rejoined Prudential, prospered, and entered the coal 
business, which caused him a severe financial setback.  With Christian as an 
investor, he followed a trend of the times and built Stadium Drive-Inn in 
1947.  In a piecemeal fashion, the restaurant added segments to become 
Gallaher's Little Giant, forerunner of the present store.

He and Christian also participated in opening Topping-Christian Interiors.

Gallaher suffered a second major setback in January 1963 when the store burned, 
but reopened three months later on the same site, still associating with the 
Creasey Co., but this time with the larger Gateway chain of stores.

The store doubled its size in the 1970s, and he continued in management until 
1980, and still worked regularly, half a day.  Chain designation was dropped in 
1986.

Survivors include his wife, Bethel Christian Gallaher; two sons, Jack F. 
Gallaher of Ashland and Dr. Christopher Gallaher of Morehead; one daughter, 
Mrs. Gail Diaz of N. Hollywood, CA; six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete, pending arrival of the family from Grand 
Cayman.  Services will be at First Christian Church.  The body will be brought 
to Steen Funeral Home-Ashland Capel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the building fund of First 
Christian Church.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/boyd/obits/g/gallaher4201gob.txt

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