Dates: 1961-1982
Size: .5 cubic feet
Access: Open for research
Collection Number: Special Collections #46

Processed by: Charlotte A. Holliman

Biographical Note

Roy H. Towell was born in Seguin, Texas on June 17, 1915. He graduated from Eagle Lake High School and moved to Houston to attend the University of Houston where he worked during the day and attended classes at night.

Roy received his B.S. degree in Engineering in June, 1940. He then moved to Beaumont, Texas as owner and operator of All Right Parking Lots on Pearl and Liberty. On November 17, 1940 Roy married Juanita Marian Brown at the Methodist Church in Eagle Lake, Texas. They continued to live and work in Beaumont for over 50 years.

During World War II Roy worked at the shipyard as an electrician. Roy sold the parking lot business in 1951 and he and Juanita owned and operated the snack wagon at the corner of Pearl and Liberty where they were well known for serving the best hotdogs as well as an assortment of other treats such as frozen custard and hot peanuts. They continued this business until 1979 when they retired.

In 1988 Roy wrote and published a book about the Towell family genealogy and history entitled Isaac Towell and His Family 1764 – 1990.

Scope and Content

The collection is comprised of photographs and slides of Lamar homecoming parades, Spindletop Boom Days and miscellaneous images such as Halloween, Christmas and downtown Beaumont from 1961-82.

Provenance

The collection was donated to the Mary and John Gray Library in 2006 by Cindy Sheen, daughter of Roy H. Towell. Jr.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Roy H. Towell, Jr. Photograph Collection, Special Collections, Lamar University.