SAM JAMES LONGWELL
Sam James Longwell, b June 20,1914 in St. Louis, Missouri - was an only
child of Sam John and Alice (Doak) Longwell. He attended schools in St. Louis
County, moving to Harlingen, Texas in 1932. There he engaged in farming for a
short time with an uncle, and in addition, he designed and painted commercial
advertisements. In 1935, Sam was employed by the Rio 3:rande Hardware Store and
remained there until he entered active service in the U.S. Army on July 23,
1942, during World War II. He was assigned to the Signal Service Corps and after
extensive electronic training, served in the European Theater of Operations.
After discharge from the service as a Technical Sergeant in 1945, Sam returned
to Harlingen and went into business there. He owned and operated the Long- well
Appliance Sales and Service for twenty-three years.
On January 15, 1941 in Rosebud, Falls County, Texas, Sam James Longwell
was married in the of the bride's parents to Evelyn Clark, b July 23,1916
in Rosebud - a daughter of James Alvin and Katherine Ann Dobson (Williams)
Clark.
Evelyn graduated from Rosebud High School in 1933, and from Texas College
of Art and Industries (now A&I University) at Kingsville, Texas - receiving a
Master of Science degree in Psychology. She did post graduate work at A&I, Pan
American College (now University) at Edinburg, Texas, and Lamar University in
Beaumont, Texas. She worked in the field of education for thirty-five years - 14
as an elementary teacher, and 21 years as a school counselor.
In 1967, Sam began work for a major construction company based in
Houston, moving there in 1972, and continued in that work until his retirement
in 1980. Evelyn retired in June 1981. They had purchased the Henslee at 507
North Second Street in Rosebud in 1972, and after renovation and retirement,
they moved to Rosebud, where they now reside. Their - the Henslee House -
was granted a Texas Historical Marker in 1985.
Sam has been a member of the American Legion, Post 205 for over
twenty-five years - and served as a Post Commander. He was especially interested
in the Legion's "Boy's State Program." Evelyn is a life member of Texas State
Teachers Association, a member of Texas Association for Counseling and
Development; and she has served as president of The Wednesday Study Club of
Rosebud. She is a member of Beta Nu Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma Society
International; and the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 205, Harlingen, Texas.
She is a member of First Baptist Church; and both Sam and Evelyn are members of
Falls County Historical Commission and the Rosebud Community Sesquicentennial
Committee.
Sam James and Evelyn (Clark) Longwell have two daughters:
Catherine Clark Longwell, b November 14, 1947 in Raymondville, Texas,
attended public schools in Harlingen, Texas and received a B.S. degree from
Texas Arts and Industries University, Kingsville, Texas on May 28, 1969. In
August 1969, she married Kenneth Alton Sherman, and their daughter, Kristin
Anise Sherman, was born April 15, 1970. Catherine Clark (Longwell) Sherman
married second on December 29, 1974 to Richard Meredith Lemons, and their two
sons are: Richard Matthew Lemons, b August 10, 1978; and James Patrick Lemons, b
March 7, 1980. The Lemons family reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sammye Louella Longwell, b June 20, 1951 in Raymondville, Texas on her
father's birthday, at- tended schools in Harlingen, Texas and then San Jacinto
Junior College. She married first on December 18, 1974 to Curtis Winston
Blessitt; and married second on February 14, 1981 to Giles Coulter Berry, Jr.,
who had a son, David Berry, b March 20, 1975 in Houston, Texas, by a previous
marriage. The Berry Family resides in Houston, where they are engaged in
business.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 285 column 2 and page 286 column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.
