Profiles of Prominent Citizens

George Rhoan Gowen, Jr.
Attorney At Law, Ford Dealer, Business Executive

Written June 9, 1950

A native of neighboring Camden County, George Rhoan Gowen, Jr. was born there on July 9 in 1907. He has however been a resident of Charlton County since early youth, his family having moved to this county when he was only twelve years old, first settling at Newell.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. George R. Gowen, Sr., later moved to Folkston and the family has since resided in this city. His father is a grandson of William Gowen the original settler of the Gowen family in this area, who came here from South Carolina in the early days of the county, living west of Cornhouse Creek.

Barney J. Gowen, father of George R. Gowen, Sr., and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, settled in Camden County where the Senior Mr. Gowen was born and reared. The family for many years was widely regarded as one of the leading families in Camden County and is still prominent in the affairs of that county through B.A. Gowen, one of its leading business men, another son of George R. Gowen, Sr.

While well advanced in years, both the parents of George R. Gowen, Jr. are still living and in good health, being numbered among Folkstonís best-loved residents. Having moved here in early youth the subject of this sketch obtained most of his elementary education in the public schools of this county. Completing his studies here in 1926 he entered The Citadel, noted military college at Charleston, S.C. where he was a student for two years.

Returning to Folkston Mr. Gowen entered the law office of Col. A.S. McQueen as a student, being admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1932. After this he actively practiced law here in association with Col. McQueen until 1937, since which time he has carried on a limited practice in connection with his extensive business interests, having but very little time to devote to his law practice.

In 1932 Mr. Gowen established a stave mill in this city, operating a successful stave manufacturing business for several years until the introduction of steel drums made the stave barrel obsolete in the naval stores industry. Through the years he has also acquired extensive real estate holdings owning considerable city property as well as timber lands.

In 1941 in association with Theo Dinkins, Mr. Gowen took over the local Ford agency under the firm name Folkston Motor Company after which they built the modern brick building on the highway now occupied by that concern. Soon thereafter the concern was also made local sales agent for the Standard Oil Co. In 1945 Mr. Gowen bought the interest of Mr. Dinkins in the business and has since been the sole owner and manager of the extensive enterprise numbered among the cityís largest and most successful business concerns.

In addition to the duties imposed by the various business activities, Mr. Gowen has found time to render valuable public service for the city and county. He served for a number of years as Folkstonís city attorney and for the past ten or twelve years has been a member of Charlton Countyís Democratic Executive Committee, being the present Chairman of that board. He is also an active worker for the progress and advancement of the city and county.

During World War Two he served as Government Appeal Agent for draftees in Charlton County.

On May 8, 1932 Mr. Gowen was united in marriage to Miss Evelyn Shackelford. To this union has been born one son, George Rhoan III, who was a member of the 1950 graduating class of Charlton County High School. They also have a daughter and a son by adoption, Lurlene, four years old and Brian, age three. Mr. and Mrs. Gowen are both members of the Methodist Church and are held in the highest esteem among a wide circle of friends.

June 9, 1950

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