COACH, RICHARD J. (22 July 1866-4 July 1922) founded the R.J. Coach Detective Service Co., which was based in Cleveland for 23 years and had offices in 15 major cities in the U.S. Richard was born in Galveston, Texas, the son of Jacob and Charlotte Pole Coach both of whom had come to this country from Austria. He entered the detective business in 1884 and was well established by the time he arrived in Cleveland in 1899. The agency, which was located in the Coach Building at 1301-05 Prospect Ave., was incorporated in 1904, specializing in service to corporations. Agency advertisements made it clear that no divorce cases would be accepted. The firm also had offices in New York, Cincinnati, Chicago, Pittsburg, Kansas City and Denver among others. In the early 1920s Coach, who resided in Cleveland, consolidated his company with the Keystone Secret Service Bureau, and William Bidlingmyer became principal and general manager of both companies.
Coach, who was married, died in Cleveland and was buried at WOODLAND CEMETERY.