Lea Rowland

Redfield Georgia B. 

4/1/37 

words 

Lee Roland, State Administrator, 

Works Progress Administration, 

New Mexico 

[Lee?] Rowland was appointed W.P.A. State Administrator of New Mexico, by 
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in July 1935. 

Mr. Rowland is a Roswell man, has lived all his life in Roswell and received 
his education in the State of New Mexico. 

He is the son of Bort Rowland and Jennie Lea Rowland (now Mrs. John Ashinhust) 
the grandson of Judge Frank H. Lea - an early-day settler and builder of 
Roswell and the Pecos valley. 

Lee Roland was married February 1, 1921 to Mrs. Fay White Mayers. The couple 
have one child, a boy - Lee Rowland 2nd - born November 2, 1932. Cl8 - [?] - 
N. Mex.

Mr Rowland named for Judge Lee, (and like his grandfather was before him) is a 
loyal worker for the good of the state, and for the interests of the people of 
New Mexico. He is a prominent Mason, and Elk, and is a member of all the civic 
clubs active in the upbuilding and improvement of Roswell and Chaves County. 

His services have been invaluable to Roswell as City Engineer, and to New 
Mexico as State Highway Commissoner. 

SF 

Mr. Rowland rendered valuble service to his country during the World War with 
the 23rd Engineers, Highway Regiment Company 1, stationed in France, in charge 
of immediate rebuilding of roads and bridges when destroyed by the enemy. 

Many tributes of praise have been accorded Mr. Rowland for his selection of 
work projects which will be be lasting benefits for the State, as well as 
having provided work for many thousands of the needy. 

During the years 1935-36-37 there have been building and improvements of 
schools and public buildings with health and comfort the first consideration. 

Beautiful parks for diversion and memorials have been built and splendid 
construction of highways, furnishing work for hundreds of men. Innumerable 
thousands of garments have been made for the needy by women workers on sewing 
projects. 

The N.Y.A. is furnishing work and valuable training for the youth of New 
Mexico. 

The Carrie Tingley Hospital for Crippled Children, located at Hot Springs, 
Sierra County, New Mexico named for Mrs. Tngley, wife of Governor Clyde 
Tingley, instigated and sponsored by Governor Tingley and Lee Rowland, is 
probably most valuable of all institutions (built as a W.P.A. project) in 
benefit which will be derived from treatment here for little crippled children 
of the present and future generations of New Mexico. 

SF 

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There have been 104 completed work projects in District No 2 under the 
personal approval and supervision of Mr. Rowland, and Henry Johnson, Director 
of District No. 2 which comprises Chaves, Otero, Lincoln, Eddy, Curry, 
Roosevelt, DeBaca and Lea Counties. 

Forty-five projects have been discontinued and sixty now operating in District 
No 2 with 1,143 relief workers and 85 non-relief workers employed at the 
present time - April 1, 1937. 

Given in Interview - Jennie Lee Ashinhust, mother of Lea Rowland, 300 N. Penn. 
Ave. Roswell, New Mexico. 

Charles L. Allison, Jr. W.P.A. Bldg., Roswell, N. Mex. 

SF 

Credit: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project 
Collection.

Chaves

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