Donald LeRoy Hoke was born 5 Sep 1902 in Ohio to Wilford W Hoke (1876-1915) & Hettie May Coins (1879-1939).
Inmate #33453 Leavenworth Federal Prison
Rec: 8 June 1929
Crime: Robbery
Term: 15 Years
Here are a few of his prison records
Here are a few newspaper articles
Here are a few more longer ones
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29266333/donald_leroy_hoke/
Donald has a very long criminal career, but he has a softer side to him as you will see in this letter to his mother.
All these records I obtained online from the National Archives.
Donald was married to Marie C Meier (1902-1976) they had three daughters Dora, Donna & Delores Hoke.
He was a Prison trustee:
He escaped from prison as the newspaper articles explained and he mentions to his mother in the letter he wrote her that the Warden gives him some of his good time back.
I made Donald a tree on Ancestry and found a couple others but they had nothing on theirs about his crimes, I did reach out to one who had a very complete tree with excellent research, to let her know what I all found and she is welcome to anything I have.
I do not see Donald as a bad man, just selfish and too lazy to get a real job was easier to rob places and he loved the thrill of it.
He was still committing crimes at age 50 I found a newspaper clipping dated 1953, he and another man were wanted in Georgia for burglary and safe cracking.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34753006/donald_leroy_hoke/
1954 he was again in trouble, 9 robberies and some burglaries.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34753117/donald_leroy_hoke/
This was the last year I found any criminal activity. I am sure there was more or he did a very long stretch in prison.
Donald died 14 Oct 1976 in Ross, Ohio.
Here is the link to his Find a Grave Memorial. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139500376/donald-l_-hoke
Inmate #33453 Leavenworth Federal Prison
Rec: 8 June 1929
Crime: Robbery
Term: 15 Years
Here are a few of his prison records
Here are a few newspaper articles
Here is the article so you can read it better
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29266333/donald_leroy_hoke/
Donald has a very long criminal career, but he has a softer side to him as you will see in this letter to his mother.
Here are a few more letters he wrote that were in his prison file
He was a Prison trustee:
His Employment History
I do not see Donald as a bad man, just selfish and too lazy to get a real job was easier to rob places and he loved the thrill of it.
He was still committing crimes at age 50 I found a newspaper clipping dated 1953, he and another man were wanted in Georgia for burglary and safe cracking.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34753006/donald_leroy_hoke/
1954 he was again in trouble, 9 robberies and some burglaries.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34753117/donald_leroy_hoke/
This was the last year I found any criminal activity. I am sure there was more or he did a very long stretch in prison.
Donald died 14 Oct 1976 in Ross, Ohio.
Here is the link to his Find a Grave Memorial. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139500376/donald-l_-hoke
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