North Texas Home Builders Association

O.W. Ayers, Bill Rowland honored by Homebuilders By Lee Grace

 

 

O.W. Ayers and Bill Rowland were inducted into the Housing Hall of Honor at the November membership luncheon of the North Texas Home Builders Association Thursday, Nov. 3 at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel.

Ayers, owner of The Lantern House, and Rowland, longtime home builder and co-owner of Rowland & Donnell Homes, were inducted by Wayne Pharries, representing the 2011 Board of Governors. A native of Wichita Falls, O.W. Ayers attended Austin elementary, Reagan Junior High and graduated from Wichita Falls High School. He served in the Naval Reserve in the Korean War. In 1951 he married his high school sweetheart, Edith, at First Baptist Church. They have been faithful members ever since.

Prior to opening The Lantern House, Ayers worked at United Electric and Cummins Supply. In 1971, he was approached by his banker, Willard Still, his friend and attorney, Milburn Nutt, and Don Barnhart, owner of the local Pepsi bottling company. They wanted to partner with him in starting a new lighting center.

The Lantern House opened on Sept. 1, 1971 in the Call Field Shopping Center. Ayers was a 25 percent partner, store manager, stock boy, clerk, janitor, et al. His skills, work ethic, and character grew the business. The store later moved to a larger location on McNiel and, in 1985, moved across the street to its present location. During the years, he bought out his partners and brought his sons, Tommy and Mike, into the business. Edith also remains a prominent member of the staff along with Deena Awbrey who has worked at The Lantern House for 35 years.

Ayers has been active in the community and the home builders association. He has been a huge supporter of the Parade of Homes, donated products to Habitat for Humanity, participated in numerous trade shows and product shows, and always given of his time and money to support builder projects.

Additionally, Ayers started coaching football at the Boys Club in 1954. In 1957 he presented the idea of teaming with Toys for Tots and renaming the Boys Club football championship the Toy Bowl. Ironically, his team won the first Toy Bowl game. He also coached basketball and baseball for the YMCA for many years.

Ayers served on the first Football Advisory Committee for the Boys Club in 1959. He also served and chaired the Boys Club Operational board of directors, he coached until 2001, and thus spent 47 years helping and coaching the youth of our community.

Ayers and his wife, Edith, recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The Lantern House also celebrated its 40th anniversary of standing behind its motto of “quality at a Price you can Afford.”

Bill Rowland was born in Wichita Falls but moved to Paris, Texas, before his second birthday. After graduating from high school, he returned to Wichita Falls in 1946. He attended Midwestern University and Texas Tech, earning a degree in petroleum geology in 1951. Returning again to Wichita Falls, he was employed as a sales engineer with Collins Company, a Carrier air conditioning sales and service company.

He became a member of the Wichita County Home Builders Association in 1957. During that time he worked at United Electric before venturing into home sales with Tom Hill and Bob Seabury. Rowland began his own real estate and home building business in 1967, building his first home in Southwinds Addition.

In 1969, he went into partnership with Elvin Dudley. In 1983, he formed a new partnership with his son, Bobby Rowland, and Blanche Donnell. Twenty-eight years later, Rowland & Donnell Real Estate and Rowland & Donnell Homes remain very successful companies.

Rowland was active in the association from the start, serving on committees, as an officer, and as a director. He was elected president in 1971, again in 1985, and a third time in 1999. When there has been a committee meeting, an association event or function, Rowland has always been there when needed by the association. He has made a positive different in the home building industry of North Texas.

Additionally, Rowland is a director of American National Bank, a Salvation Army Life Member, a member of the Optimist Club for 52 years, a Sunday School teacher at First United Methodist Church for 22 years where he also served two terms as chairman of the board. Rowland also has served the community helping the Golden Gloves and Camp programs of the Boys and Girls Club, serving on the Wichita County Irrigation District for more than 20 years, and giving his time to the Wichita Falls Plumbing, Planning & Zoning, and Electrical boards. He also served The Beacon Lighthouse for the Blind and on the Wichita Falls Centennial Committee.

He was Realtor of the Year in 1976, Builder of the Year in 1981, Realtor Silver Service Award winner in 2000, and Realtor Emeritus in 2010.

He was active in the creation of several subdivisions including Expressway Village, Horseshoe Bend Estates, Briargate Estates, and Chaparral Trails.

Both O.W. Ayers and Bill Rowland are well-respected leaders in the home building and real estate community and highly deserving of the Housing Hall of Honor awards.

 

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