The Curious Case of Georgia Riddle

Georgia Riddle, age 11

While trolling eBay for items relating to Omaha history, I came across the sale of a photo from press archives of a young woman named Georgia Riddle. I didn't pay much attention to the picture, but the description "1952 Press Photo Georgia Lena Riddle Expelled From Omaha School By School Board" caught my attention.

Now what would a young lady - a school girl, really - do to get expelled by the school board in 1952? Did she show a bit too much ankle? Perhaps she said "damn" and the unforgivable curse was enough to send her to reformatory school?

My curiosity was piqued so I did a bit of research in the story. There wasn't a lot to go on, but it was an interesting story even with little meat to go on.

The facts of the case are this:


Kermit Riddle, his wife, daughter and young son had moved from Kentucky to East Omaha sometime in 1951, living at 2511 N. 23rd Street, today the site of the Omaha Correctional Center. Around the same time, Clinton Jones had also moved from Kentucky to East Omaha, whom the Riddles had "slightly known," boarding with the Riddles since March, 1952.

Kermit Riddle with his son and wife

In September, 1952, their 12 year old daughter Georgia Riddle married Clinton Jones, aged 31, before Justice of the Peace Charles A. Thomas in Lake Manawa, Iowa. Her mother told the Omaha World-Herald that the two "begged and begged for three weeks to let them get married." Mrs. Riddle finally relented, providing they continue to live with the Riddle family. "We thought [Clinton] was a nice guy and had confidence in him." Charles Jones said that the couple had brought a marriage license with them, issued at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse, giving her age as 14, which was the minimum age at which a girl could be married in Iowa and that she had the required consent of her parents. Both parents were witnesses for the ceremony.

In December, 1952, Georgia and Clinton had moved out, only taking some of their clothing and a copy of the marriage license from the three-room Riddle home and her parents had not seen them since. It was later reported that they were headed to Albany, Kentucky.

Pershing School, East Omaha (1960s)

Georgia's birth certificate showed she had been born April 29, 1940 in Parnell, Kentucky. The principal of Pershing School said she was in the 7th grade and her records showed passing marks. When he learned that she was married, he and other members of the school board decided she could no longer continue going to classes. "We did not think she would be a good influence on the other children," he reported.

Little can be reported from this point. The Omaha World-Herald reported that in May, 1956, Georgia Riddle petitioned the court for an annulment, which was granted on December 1, 1956. In June, 1957, a Georgia Riddle, age 19, was listed as having married to a Dennis Pyle, aged 28. Is this the same Georgia Riddle? In 1957, she would have been 17. It is not impossible that a 17 might be construed as a 19. Or she may simply have lied about her age.

From there, Georgia Riddle-Pyle falls off the map. A November, 1957 note in the World-Herald on residents who received income tax refunds for 1956 still lists her as living at 2511 N. 23rd Street in East Omaha, but the record grows cold from that point.

Did Georgia finish high school? Did she live happily ever after? Did Georgia and Dennis move out of town?
Unfortunately, she goes from being a Pyle back to a riddle.

Sources:

Omaha World-Herald, September 23, 1952
Omaha World-Herald, December 7, 1952
Omaha World-Herald, December 9, 1952
Omaha World-Herald, May 17, 1956
Omaha World-Herald, December 1, 1956
Omaha World-Herald, June 11, 1957
Omaha World-Herald, November 15, 1957