The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
GEERS FUNERAL
 SET FOR FRIDAY
Pop Told Officials Fatal
 Race Was T0sBe His Last,sss

tMGMf11o, 1enu.p sfcp1' -' = As'AAS for the funeral of Edward F. (''Pop0 Geers. veteran reinsman, who was killed on the track at Wheeling, w. Va, yesterday when his horse stumbled and fell. were virtually complete today. The services will be held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wallace Cunning ham. with whom he had lived for a number of years, some time Friday. The body will arrive Friday morning and. the funeral. probably Twill occur Friday afternOonst k ~%5se z s..e-f; :
 Ifterment will be in the cemetery at Columbia, Tenn.
 "Pop" Geers had lived here for 20 years. He was known to thousands of people in this section who shared with him the joy of the victories he won on the track.
 When the news of his death was re- ceiyed late yesterday, a shadow was cast over the local sport world. Every where that men gathered could be heard expressions of sorrow at his pass ing. But this sorrow was not con fined to the ranks of sportsmen who admired Geers for his sportsmanship 1; it extended to every walk of life, and the death of the aged turfman was viewed more or less as a public ca 1 lamity.
 fsPop" Geers was noted here for his philanthropy and his kindness. His close friends are authority for the state ment that he spent a good portion of earnings in helping others, donating to various charities and providing for des- titute families and individuals. In many instances the heneficiaries of his generosity and kindness never know the name of the benefactor who aided them.
 Geers' record of more than 50 years on the race track is known to every follower of the great American sport. He won victories and he tasted defeat. In his time he drove some of the worlds most famous horses. His affection for horses and his steadfast devotion to racing, together with his well known record for clean sportsmanship, made him one of the picturesque figures of turfdom.
 HARTFORD, Conf, Sept. 4-The death of Pop" GeeFs came as & shock to Grand Circuit drivers and followers of the light harness sport here in at-
  the Connecticut fair.
 Death of the veteran driver and horseman turned what was to have been a celebration of the victory of Guy Richard, a horse owned by James F. Berry of this city at Readville last week, into a mournful gathering. There were present Thomas Murphy, Walter Cox, Lon Mcdonald, Walter Moore Ben White, Bill Crozier, several veteran turf followers and number of local horse lovers Most of those present had just learned of the death of Geers and several of the parry were completely overcome.
 "There will never be another like him." said Lon McDonald. His death will cause general sorrow wherever there is sulky racing"
 '.He had personality, homely and quaint sentiment and something that en- deared him to all," declared Walter Moore, while Walter Cox related some anecdotes of his first meeting with Geers and declared The was the great est driver that ever lived ;" 'that he was 20 years ahead of his time and knew more than any of us about driv- ing"
 A floral offering was ordered to be sent to Geers' home in Memphic from "Grand Circuit drivers and friends of Mir. Geers assembled in Hartford.'
 Geers had wo the Charteroak stake four times.
 WHEELING, WxYa., Sept. 4.-Ed- ward F. Pop" GeSsSi 43-year-old vet eran reinsman, h9s @iVen his last race
 Today the body df 1he dean of light harness drivers who was fatally injured yesterday when his mare, Miladie Guy, stumbled and fell hile rounding a turn in a race at the West Virginia state fair, was on it's way to his well-loved home in Tennessee. There at Columbia burial will be made alongside the gaves of his wife and son. -&f
 Pop" as the aged driver was affec- tionately known to American turf fol- lowers, had declared yesterdays race would be his last. He had said the same thing for the last several years, but this time he declared he meant it.
 "I'm just diving the old game one more whirl, boys, and then it's back to Memphis to stay" he said to track of- fcials prior to the race.