Hoke Alexander Rowan, Jr.was born June 29, 1920 in Jacksonville, Alabama to Lucile H. and Hoke A. Rowan. He grew up working in his father’s drugstore. He obtained Eagle Scout with Bronze, Gold, and Silver Palms. He graduated from Jacksonville High School and the University of Alabama in 1942 with a degree in Chemistry and Metallurgy Engineering. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Following college, he was recruited to work for the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It was there that the product for the Atomic Bomb was transferred to Los Alamos, New Mexico over his signature. Here, he met and married Julia Lewis of Mississippi, who was also a chemist in his Lab. Following World War II, he became Chief Chemist of Jefferson Chemical Company, a subsidiary of Texaco in Port Arthur, Taxes. After 10 years, in 1956, he relocated his family to Atlanta, GA as a partner with his brother, John Rowan, in the distribution of commercial laundry and dry cleaning equipment. Since 1975, as President of Southern Automatic Company, he owned and developed commercial real estate properties. As a member of Cherokee Town and Country Club, he enjoyed golf and became an avid tennis player since the early 1970s. He loved his Thursday LMTU (Let Me Tell You) and tennis trips with his great friends at Cherokee. In recent years he joined Silver Wings, a group of men who received a pilot’s license at least 25 years ago. Hoke was an active member of St. James United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board and as an Usher since 1960. Hoke was a loyal supporter of the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team. He and Julia enjoyed world travelling, annually, where he excelled in photography. Deep gratitude is expressed by the family to the caregivers at Lenbrook, Melanie, Michelle and Jennifer for the loyal care and support. Survivors include his daughter Diane Rowan Drake (Lee), and son, Randal K. Rowan, DDS of Atlanta, grandson Matthew L. Drake (Taryn) and great-grandsons Hayden Hoke Drake and Grayson Lee Drake, brother Robert J. Rowan (Barbara) of Jacksonville, AL and sister-in-law Hannah Rowan of Madison, GA. Hoke is preceded in death by his devoted wife of 69 years, Julia Lewis Rowan, and his brother John F. Rowan. Memorial Services celebrating Hoke’s life will be held on Friday, March 9, 2018 at St. James Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m. with a reception thereafter in the church parlor. Prior to the memorial the family will have gathered for a private interment at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. James UMC, 4400 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
