Talbot Frederick Rothwell
Encyclopedia
Talbot Frederick Rothwell was born in West Virginia
on February 27, 1887 to T. J. and Mary Jane Cross Rothwell. Educated in the public schools of both his native state and Ohio
, he began his career in the oil fields and eventually moved to Saratoga, Texas
, where he found work with the production division of the Sun Oil Company. On August 13, 1913, he married Mabel Martha Lee, the daughter of Thomas Peter Lee
, and to this union, three daughters were born: Mary Elizabeth, Essie Lee, and Virginia Mae.
In 1914 he and Miles Franklin Yount
formed the Yount-Rothwell Oil Company, which later became the Yount-Lee Oil Company
, of which he became vice president and superintendent of production—and eventually its president.
Tal Rothwell had numerous business ties and held directorships on the boards of the Citizen National Bank of Sour Lake, Texas
, the First National Bank of Beaumont, the Lake Tool Company, and the Rex Supply Company of Sour Lake. A devoutly religious man with a gentle voice and calm demeanor, he rose as one of the leaders of the First Methodist Church of Beaumont, where he was steward and chairman of the finance committee, and the music committee. Once during the Depression, when the church needed $39,000 to complete an addition to the Sunday School building, the Rothwells contributed $30,000 to the cause. They also donated the Aeolian-Skinner
organ, and a new parsonage to First Methodist.
As a civic leader, Tal served on the Texas Y.M.C.A. board as a member-at-large; was vice president of the Community Chest board, and president of the board of directors of the Beaumont General Hospital, which later became St. Therese. As a devoted family man and humanitarian, he recognized the fact that some oil field roughnecks tended to drink away their paychecks immediately after receiving them. Due to a genuine concern that his employees’ families were not being adequately fed and clothed, at times he summoned the wives to Spindletop
and gave their husbands’ pay to them directly to ensure that they would at least have the opportunity to see the money first. This type of spirit prevailed within the Yount-Lee organization, and Rothwell, like the other company officers, contributed some of his personal income to other worthy causes, which included aid to the area’s needy families.
After the sale of the Yount-Lee Oil Company, Tal Rothwell maintained an office on the fifteenth floor of the San Jacinto Building
in Beaumont
, Texas
, where he looked after his family’s personal investments. He died at age sixty-two on December 16, 1949.
Afterward, Mabel donated the Rothwell Bible Chair and Wesley Foundation to Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar University
), and the dedication was held on February 8, 1953. However, while discussing the terms of her will with Marvin McClendon and Martin Davis, certified public accountants; Harry Garnham, the Rothwell business manager for years; and Ken Linsley, another connection to the estate, she died suddenly of a heart attack in her home on November 14 of that same year. Both “Papa Tal” and Mabel are buried at Beaumont’s Magnolia Cemetery.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
on February 27, 1887 to T. J. and Mary Jane Cross Rothwell. Educated in the public schools of both his native state and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, he began his career in the oil fields and eventually moved to Saratoga, Texas
Saratoga, Texas
Saratoga is an unincorporated community in Hardin County, Texas, United States. It is located thirty-eight miles northwest of Beaumont. The zip code is 77585.Saratoga is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, where he found work with the production division of the Sun Oil Company. On August 13, 1913, he married Mabel Martha Lee, the daughter of Thomas Peter Lee
Thomas Peter Lee
Born on March 19, 1871, in Petroleum, West Virginia to Alexander and Martha Jane Mount Lee, Thomas Peter Lee left school at the age of sixteen and went to work in the oil fields, first in his native state and then in Ohio...
, and to this union, three daughters were born: Mary Elizabeth, Essie Lee, and Virginia Mae.
In 1914 he and Miles Franklin Yount
Miles Franklin Yount
Born in Arkansas on January 31, 1880, Miles Franklin "Frank" Yount eventually came to head up one of the most successful, private oil companies in the United States. Although famous in later years as the "Godfather of Beaumont", Frank’s early life is shrouded in mystery...
formed the Yount-Rothwell Oil Company, which later became the Yount-Lee Oil Company
Yount-Lee Oil Company
The Yount-Lee Oil Company, founded in 1914, was the successor to the Yount-Rothwell Oil Company which had been formed earlier by Miles Franklin Yount and Talbot Frederick Rothwell. Yount headed up the new enterprise and counted among his partners Thomas Peter Lee, William Ellsworth Lee, Emerson...
, of which he became vice president and superintendent of production—and eventually its president.
Tal Rothwell had numerous business ties and held directorships on the boards of the Citizen National Bank of Sour Lake, Texas
Sour Lake, Texas
Sour Lake is a city in Hardin County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,813 at the 2010 census. It was originally named Sour Lake Springs, after the mineral-laden spring water that flowed into the nearby lake. The city is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical...
, the First National Bank of Beaumont, the Lake Tool Company, and the Rex Supply Company of Sour Lake. A devoutly religious man with a gentle voice and calm demeanor, he rose as one of the leaders of the First Methodist Church of Beaumont, where he was steward and chairman of the finance committee, and the music committee. Once during the Depression, when the church needed $39,000 to complete an addition to the Sunday School building, the Rothwells contributed $30,000 to the cause. They also donated the Aeolian-Skinner
Aeolian-Skinner
Æolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. — Æolian-Skinner of Boston, Massachusetts was an important American builder of a large number of notable pipe organs from its inception as the Skinner Organ Company in 1901 until its closure in 1972. Key figures were Ernest M. Skinner , Arthur Hudson Marks ,...
organ, and a new parsonage to First Methodist.
As a civic leader, Tal served on the Texas Y.M.C.A. board as a member-at-large; was vice president of the Community Chest board, and president of the board of directors of the Beaumont General Hospital, which later became St. Therese. As a devoted family man and humanitarian, he recognized the fact that some oil field roughnecks tended to drink away their paychecks immediately after receiving them. Due to a genuine concern that his employees’ families were not being adequately fed and clothed, at times he summoned the wives to Spindletop
Spindletop
Spindletop is a salt dome oil field located in the southern portion of Beaumont, Texas in the United States. The Spindletop dome was derived from the Louann Salt evaporite layer of the Jurassic geologic period. On January 10, 1901, a well at Spindletop struck oil . The new oil field soon produced...
and gave their husbands’ pay to them directly to ensure that they would at least have the opportunity to see the money first. This type of spirit prevailed within the Yount-Lee organization, and Rothwell, like the other company officers, contributed some of his personal income to other worthy causes, which included aid to the area’s needy families.
After the sale of the Yount-Lee Oil Company, Tal Rothwell maintained an office on the fifteenth floor of the San Jacinto Building
San Jacinto Building
The San Jacinto Building in Beaumont, Texas was built between 1921–1922 and was completed for the San Jacinto Life Insurance Company. The building is 15 stories tall and supports a large clock tower on top. Each dial is 17 feet in diameter. The building was altered in the 50's with the removal of a...
in Beaumont
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, where he looked after his family’s personal investments. He died at age sixty-two on December 16, 1949.
Afterward, Mabel donated the Rothwell Bible Chair and Wesley Foundation to Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
), and the dedication was held on February 8, 1953. However, while discussing the terms of her will with Marvin McClendon and Martin Davis, certified public accountants; Harry Garnham, the Rothwell business manager for years; and Ken Linsley, another connection to the estate, she died suddenly of a heart attack in her home on November 14 of that same year. Both “Papa Tal” and Mabel are buried at Beaumont’s Magnolia Cemetery.