Volume 10 , Issue 25

1926 Woods County Lanman Triplets

Last weekend we shared a news clipping of Woods County, Oklahoma's triplets that were born to Mr. & Mrs. Guy W. Lanman, of Alva, Oklahoma. As we browsed The Oklahoman archives online this week, we found the following dated issue with more information on the Guy Lanman triplets that were born the Summer of 1926, in July. The following information was found in the 1938 March 21, page 2, of The Okahoman.

Triplets But Not Three of A Kind
The caption under the photo reads: "The Lanman boys -- These three brothers -- Dick, bottom; Paul next, and Lee on top of the pile --- were nearest alike when they were born on the same day in July, 1926. In the ensuing 11 1/2 years they have become more and more individuals -- not the three of a kind which people usually expect in triplets. They are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Guy W. Lanman, 5903 NW 50th."

Triplet Boys Are Different Though Alike
Now this business of having triplets has its advantages -- and its disadvantages. As Mrs. Guy W. Lanman, 5903 Northwest Fiftieth Street, who has had 11-1/2 years experience in rearing her Dick, Paul and Lee.

For instance, how do you keep their clothes separate? Back in the diaper stage, that wasn't so much of a problem. But now the boys like to wear their own clothes.

So -- Mrs. Lanman has worked out a color scheme. Their sport shirts are orange for Dick, yellow for Paul and red for Lee.

The Lanman boys are surprisingly different in their natures and appearance for triplets. There is about seven pounds difference in their weights, with Richard at the top and Lee at the bottom -- the same order of their weights at birth.

Richard (Dick, of course), the big fellow, is the worker of the trio. He is the standby, when it comes to chores around home, especially gardening which he loves.

Paul counts on his personality, rather than his industriousness. "He gets out of more work," his brothers says.

Lee makes up for his comparative lack in size, by his brain work, He is the one who thinks up the things to do.

"He's always figuring something out." said Mrs. Lanman. "I think he's the most curious and inventive of the three."

The triplets are not inseparable. At the Putnam City school, where they all are in the sixth grade, each has his own particular chum -- and girl friend. Paul, they say, the medium sized Lanman with the winning personality, is especially strong in the girl-friend line.

So there you are -- triplets who don't look alike, act alike nor dress alike.
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