Lale, Max Sims

Army officer, journalist, historian. Born 1916 in Shawnee, Okla.; graduated Univ. of Okla. 1938; married Georgiana Aspley 1938. While at university, Lale was a member of R.O.T.C and trained in artillery tactics and logistics. He volunteered for military service in 1940 and, in 1944, achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel while attached to the 401st Field Artillery Group in Europe. After the war, he served in the military reserves with the 49th Armored Division Field Artillery, Texas National Guard. Lale was associated with several East Texas newspapers and was a partner in an insurance agency in Marshall, Texas. In 1961, he became manager of communications and public relations for Thiokol Corporation, the operating contractor for the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant in Marshall. He retired in 1975. After the 1982 death of Georgiana Lale, he married Lloyd May "Cissy" Stewart in 1983.

Max Sims Lale, artillery officer, journalist, publisher, author, and historian, was born August 31, 1916, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He graduated from Shawnee High School in 1932. While attending the University of Oklahoma from 1934 to 1938 he was a member of the R.O.T.C. specializing in the tactics of artillery bombardment. Lale graduated in 1938 with a degree in journalism. He received a reserve commission as a second lieutenant in 1938 and in 1940 volunteered for a one-year active tour of duty. Before the end of World War II, Max Lale would achieve the rank of Lt. Colonel with the 401st Field Artillery Group. Lale continued his association with the Texas National Guard as the commanding officer of the 647th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 49th Armored Division.

In civilian life Lale was editor of the Sapulpa Democrat News, 1938-1940, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma; staff member on the Marshall News-Messenger, 1946-1954, in Marshall, Texas; publisher of the Greenville Banner, 1954-1958, in Greenville, Texas; was a partner in the Littlejohn and Son Insurance Agency, 1958-1961, in Marshall, Texas; and was Manager of Communications and Public Relations for Thiokol Corporation (operating contractor of Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant), 1961-1975, in Marshall, Texas.

Lale was active in civic and religious activities in Marshall and Greenville, such as the Marshall Optimist Club, Marshall Jaycees, Greenville Rotary Club, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Greenville, Texas. He was involved with the American Red Cross in Marshall, the Harrison County United Fund, the Marshall Chamber of Commerce, and the Marshall, Texas City Commission.

Lale was involved with a number of historical associations: he was past president of the Texas State Historical Association (1991-1992) and member of the Executive Council; member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; member of the Oklahoma Historical Society; and Fellow, the East Texas Historical Association.

Lale also published books, articles, and reviews. His books include: As It Was in the Beginning, Marshall Cemetery, Marshall, Texas, and Basic Installation History, Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant . His articles appeared in the East Texas Historical Journal, Military History of Texas and the Southwest, and the Southwestern Historical Quarterly . Several of his book reviews were published in the Daily Oklahoman, Southwestern Historical Quarterly, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram . He wrote many papers for historical societies, groups, and professional associations.