Coeina Anderson was born September 9, 1931 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Coeina was the second youngest of nine children.

As a child during the depression, Coeina, also known as Skeet, lead a simple life, raising animals, which led her to a lifelong passion for all animals. Her Father, True, was a musician and a concrete mason. Her Mother, Christi, also known as Moe, was both a “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II, and had a passion for cooking, which she passed to all her daughters.

When Coeina was a teenager, she married for the first time to Musician Gerald Bristow. In 1948, her eldest Son, Jerry, was born, which led Coeina to her true legacy… Assisting Children. For the rest of her life, she would be active in activities ranging from Cub Scouts, to the home room Mother Program, and being active with the Oklahoma City School Board. In 1965, she was the founding Den Mother of the Cub Scout Pack at Southern Hills Elementary in Oklahoma City.

Coeina married Andy in Wichita, Kansas on April 5, 1954.

Coeina was a lover of art and cooking, having the talent to participate as a professional ceramist although an amateur, in several ceramics shows and become an instructor.

After several years out of state, due to Andy’s declining health, they relocated back to Oklahoma City, coincidently, the day of the attacks on America in 2001. Coeina cared for Andy and started operating International Ventures. Upon Andy’s death in 2006, Coeina succeeded him as President. A position she held until her death from congestive heart failure on August 14, 2015, at the age of 83.

Andy and Skeet

Coeina J. "Skeet" Anderson

President Emeritus

Years in Office

​2006-2015

 Andy Anderson was born September 14, 1920 in Perry Oklahoma, and raised on a family farm in the nearby Noble County community of Bressie Flats.

Andy left home during the Great Depression and enlisted in the United States Army shortly before the beginning of World War II, in Marland, Oklahoma just outside Ponca City. When the Rangers were activated, Andy made the decision to volunteer for the first Ranger Battalion but was denied for health reasons. Not long after that, General James E Rudder created the second Ranger Battalion. Andy’s health situation had subsided, and he was approved for training in Ft. Lewis Washington.

On June 6, 1944, Andy was among 225 men who scaled the cliffs on Omaha beach at Pointe Du Hoc on the coast of Normandy, France. 90 survived. Upon reaching the top of the cliff, Andy was wounded. During the same gun fire, Andy’s Lieutenant was fatally wounded. Upon this event, Andy was awarded a battlefield commission and led the rest of the Battalion to victory… While still suffering from the wound. For his heroic actions, he was awarded three Bronze Stars, the Presidential Unit Merit Citation, and several other medals. He was also recommended for the Medal of Honor, but due to records being lost, the recommendation was denied. He was also credited with the Battle of the Bulge; however, he was in Cornwall, England recovering from his wounds.

Upon returning to the United States, Andy eventually was hired by Continental Oil Company (Now known as Conoco-Philips) in Ponca City. In1956 he became a stock broker for Floyd R. Burns, Inc. In 1960, Andy moved the family to Oklahoma City, where in 1963; he founded Combined Securities, Corp, later restructured as Anderson-Bryant & Co.

Andy was a political activist assisting the campaigns of many notable people such as Former Governors David Hall and George Nigh, The Late State Senator Cleeta John Rogers and others. Andy donated the state campaign headquarters for David Hall during his successful campaign for Governor in 1970.

In 1971, Andy founded International Ventures, Inc. and served as President until his death due to Alzheimer’s on October 31,2006 at the age of 86.

 

Biographies

 C.M. "Andy" Anderson

Founder and President Emeritus

years in office

1971-2006