Lake, Roy, 1923-2018

Variant names

Hide Profile

Roy H. Lake (1923-2018) was an African American civil servant, musician, and veteran of the United States Navy.

Lake was born May 6, 1923 in Jefferson, South Carolina to William and Sadie Lake. His family moved to Greensboro, N.C., and he attended James B. Dudley High School. In 1942, Lake was recruited to join the United States Navy B-1 Band as a clarinetist. The U.S. Navy B-1 Band was the first all-African American Navy Band during World War II. He was known to his fellow service members by the nickname "Bably Lake."

Following his service in the Navy, Lake attended North Carolina A&T State University and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. After graduating, Lake went on to work at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He eventually became the Chief of the Semi-conductor and Space Discharge Systems and Devices Division - the first time in the Patent Office's 125-year history a person of color served in that capacity. Lake retired in 1980.

Lake was married to Geraldine Lake and had five children: Winona, Michael, Stephen, Anita, and Lisa.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Roy Lake Oral History Interview, October 19, 2003 East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
referencedIn U.S. Navy B-1 Band Reunion Collection, 1977-2013 East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Profile of the members of the B-1 U.S. Navy Band of World War II, 1942-2001 East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
referencedIn United States Navy Pre-Flight School Band, Chapel Hill, North Carolina East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
Relation Name
associatedWith Albright, Alex person
associatedWith Gilmer, John, 1925-2014 person
associatedWith Herring, Wray Raphael, 1926-2010 person
associatedWith Holloway, Simeon O. person
associatedWith Morrow, Calvin F., 1924- person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf North Carolina A & T State University corporateBody
associatedWith Thurman, Abe, 1922-2016 person
memberOf United States. Navy corporateBody
memberOf United States Navy B-1 Band corporateBody
employeeOf United States. Patent and Trademark Office corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
South Carolina SC US
Greensboro NC US
Washington, D. C. DC US
Subject
African American musicians
African American sailors
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Electrical engineers
Sailors
Activity

Person

Birth 1923-05-06

Death 2018-01-02

Male

African Americans

English

Related Descriptions
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m43k0z

Ark ID: w6m43k0z

SNAC ID: 84164069