Temple, Arthur, Sr.

Born on April 20, 1894 in Texarkana, Arthur Temple, Sr. lived his life surrounded by his family and his family’s businesses. His father T.L.L. Temple started Southern Pine Lumber Company in 1893 by purchasing land in Angelina County, Texas and Arthur succeeded him as leader of the family and the business. Arthur Temple, Sr. was educated in Texarkana and at Barnard School in New York City and graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Arts in 1916. Later that year, he started work at Southern Pine Lumber Company and married Katherine Robson Sage of New York City on November 20, 1916. Arthur and Katherine Temple had 2 children, Ann Whitney Temple (1917-2007) and Arthur Temple, Jr. (1920-2006). As a lifelong member of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Texarkana, Mr. Temple was serving as Senior Warden of the Vestry at the time of his death on November 28, 1951. His son, Arthur Temple, Jr. always believed that the stress of leading a company and its employees through the Great Depression contributed to his father’s ill health and ultimately, his death at the relatively young age of 57.