Lake, Roy, 1923-2018
Variant namesRoy 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.
| 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 |
Filters:
| 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
