Sol Lindenbaum was born in 1915 to Louis S. and Hilda Lindenbaum of El Dorado, Kansas.  He grew up with sister, Sylvia, and brother, Robert, living at 109 S. Atchison.

Those who knew him said of Sol, “What a mind he had!”, “The most intelligent man I ever knew”, and “smartest fellow who ever lived in El Dorado”.

Sol’s parents were devout in their Judaism.  Out of respect for them, he did not send Christmas cards when he lived at home.  But he responded to any sent to him with a cordial letter.  Learning of this, a friend once told all of his friends to send him Christmas cards; as a result, it took him from Christmas to Easter to respond to the mountain of cards received.

After attending the University of Kansas on a Summerfield Scholarship, he went on to graduate from Harvard Law School.

While a student at Harvard, Lindenbaum happened to be in New York, so he went to see his benefactor to thank him for his support while Sol was at the University of Kansas.  Solon Summerfield later confided to his friends that of all the young people who had been Summerfield Scholars, Lindenbaum was the only one to have ever thanked him.

Returning to El Dorado after college, Lindenbaum practiced law.  He and his wife, Dorothy, lived at 431 N. Taylor.  Two children were born to them, Joan and David.

Sol’s friend and fellow El Dorado lawyer Charles Heilmann remembered that he had a frank, open countenance – he looked you squarely in the eye during conversation with a look that told you he was interested in you and what you had to say.  Lindenbaum was a man of honor and integrity, unpretentious, with a quiet confidence and dignity.

Lindenbaum served in active military service with the United States Army during World War II.  Following this, he served in the US Army Reserve for twenty years, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He died on October 25, 1994 in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived following retirement.  He was honored with burial in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

CONNECTION TO BUTLER COUNTY

Sol Lindenbaum attended local schools in El Dorado.  During his time at El Dorado High School, he served as senior class president.  He was also editor of the Wildcat News, the school’s newspaper, during the second semester.

In the Kansas state scholastic contests held in Emporia, Kansas during Sol’s years in high school, he earned an honorable mention in Algebra I and in English IX.  He placed third, earning a bronze medal, in English XI.

A member of the National Honor Society club at El Dorado High School, Lindenbaum seemed to live the club’s purpose out in his life, namely:  “to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in pupils of the El Dorado High School”.

Following graduation from the University of Kansas and Harvard Law School, Lindenbaum returned to El Dorado to practice law for a short time.  His law offices were in the Haines building downtown.

Sol enjoyed playing the violin; sometimes he met Charlie Heilmann in one of their offices in the evenings to play violin duets.  They often met in front of the Haines building during the workday, then repairing to Harry Pappas’ New York Restaurant for coffee and conversation.

Lindenbaum’s father worked in the oil well supply business, with El Dorado Iron & Supply Company located at 401 E. Central in El Dorado.
 

LEAVING THE AREA

Sol Lindenbaum was born El Dorado area.  After attending college, he returned to practice law.  But his work in El Dorado was interrupted with America’s entering World War II.  Sol left town to enlist in the army in 1940.

Even though he never again called El Dorado home, he often returned to visit family and friends, even after his mother moved to Wichita to live.  He maintained a correspondence with his close friends, Charles Heilmann, Deb and Frances Wallingford, and Archie Leben.