George W. Tolan Sr.
Cite this Page
"George W. Tolan Sr.," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/765.
- Position
- Chauffeur
- Years in President's House
- circa 1924 – 1961
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
- George William Tolan Sr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 5, 1896. (1) During World War I, Tolan was a private first class in the 811th Aero Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corps. (2) After the war, he worked as a machinist in a Washington, D.C. garage. (3) During Calvin Coolidge’s presidency, Tolan was hired as a chauffeur at the White House, and he went on to work there for five presidents. (4) Typically, Tolan drove for the president’s staff or White House visitors, but “sometimes he would pinch hit for the Presidential chauffeurs” as needed. His fondest memory was driving Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) during King George VI’s State Visit in 1939. (5) Tolan retired from the White House at some point during the Eisenhower years. (6) He died on April 24, 1962, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. (7)
- (1) George William Tolan in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, National Archives at St. Louis; St Louis, MO, USA; World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) For the District of Columbia; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 069, Ancestry.com.
(2) George William Tolan in the Pennsylvania, U.S., World War I Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948, Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., World War I Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
(3) George W Folan in the 1920 United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: T625_206; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 45, Ancestry.com.
(4) 1924 is the first year that his occupation is listed as “chauffeur” on the D.C. directory, so we have estimated this as his start date. Boyd’s Directory of the District of Columbia (R. L. Polk and Co., 1924) pg. 1408.
(5) Frances Leighton, “White House Chauffeur,” The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA), January 14, 1962, pg. 180; "Roster of White House Employees, Revised, April 1, 1944," Folder: Investigative Case Files, 1934-1945, Records of the United States Secret Service, 1933-1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York; “Payroll for Personal Services November 18, 1945 to December 1, 1945” Garage List, Records of the White House Office: Records Relating to Accounts, Purchases and Personnel, Harry S. Truman Library; “White House Auto Hit,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), February 17, 1931, pg. 6.
(6) Frances Leighton, “White House Chauffeur,” The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA), January 14, 1962, pg. 180.
(7) “Tolan, George W.” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), April 25, 1962, pg. 36. - Birthplace
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA