2924 i.
Bradford Lee COWGILL (Private).
+2925 ii.
Lawrence Hardwick COWGILL.
+2926 iii.
George Benjamin COWGILL.2594. Benjamin Lee COWGILL
(10) was born in 1925. He died in
1992 in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. He served in the military in South
Pacific. Served for 2 1/2 years during World War II and was awarded the Bronze
Star and a Presidential Unit Citation. He was the co-founder and President of
Southern Supply Company, a building supply materials firm that served Lexington
and Central Kentucky for 43 years.
He co-founded Southern Supply Company in 1948 and managed the business until
his retirement in 1991. On the 25th anniversary of the business his 35 employees
presented him a plaque calling him "The man who places people above profit".
During the course of his business career he served as President of Home Builders
Association of Lexington, President of the Central Kentucky Lumber Dealers Association,
President of the Better Business Bureau of Central Kentucky, and Vice-President
of the Blue Ridge Assembly of Southern YMCAs.
He was active in the YMCA of Central Kentucky throughout his life, serving a
total of 44 years on its Board of Directors and 20 years on its Board of Trustees,
including two terms as President. He was a recipient of the Red Triangle Award,
the highest honor bestowed by the YMCA, and also served as a Director of the
Blue Ridge Assembly of Southern YMCAs.
He also served on the Boards of Directors of the Greater Lexington Chamber of
Commerce, the United Way of the Bluegrass, the Kentucky State Fair and Exposition
Center, and the Mountain Laurel Festival. He was a 25-year member of the Lexington
Rotary Club and was instrumental in the creation of Rotary's SPOKE program for
Kentucky high school students.
He was a Charter Member and First Chairman of the Board of Crestwood Christian
Church, where he served as an Elder until his death. He also served for 22 years
on the Board of Trustees of the Lexington Theological Seminary.
Former Kentucky Governor Edward T. Breathitt was a friend and one of the five
who presented a eulogy at his funeral.
He was married to Sue BRADFORD in 1948. Benjamin Lee
COWGILL and Sue BRADFORD had the following children:
2924 i.
Bradford Lee COWGILL (Private).
+2925 ii.
Lawrence Hardwick COWGILL.
+2926 iii.
George Benjamin COWGILL.
Return to Table of Contents