This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
From Truck Driver to Chief of Staff Surgeon
A. Albert Coates grew from a 19 year old truck driver hauling uranium ore in the Black Hills to a 43 year old orthopedic surgeon and chief of staff at St. Luke's Hospital. After a severe 1957 crash left him with burns and months in hospital, he shifted to medicine, pursuing pre med at Dakota Wesleyan and the University of South Dakota, earning an honors medical degree from Kansas in 1966. He served in the Navy, returned to Cedar Rapids, and joined Linn County Orthopedists in 1974 with a focus on sports medicine. He credits his recovery period with shaping his career and affirming medicine as his calling.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Albert Coates
Dr. Coates
St. Luke’s Hospital
Black Hills
South Dakota
Coates
Wyoming
Hot Springs
S.D
Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell
University of South Dakota
University of Kansas
Cedar Rapids
Ivory Tower
Navy
University of South Carolina
Linn County
John McIvor
St. Luke’s