Roy E. LaGrone

Roy E. LaGrone
Born(1921-02-01)February 1, 1921
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedDecember 8, 1993(1993-12-08) (aged 72)
Somerset, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma materTuskegee Institute, University of Florence, Pratt Institute
Known forAviation, illustration

Roy Elmer LaGrone (February 1, 1922 – December 8, 1993) was an American art director and illustrator. He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Biography

LaGrone was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas,[1] on February 1, 1921. He studied at the Tuskegee Institute. Before graduating he was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1942.[2] During World War II LaGrone fought with the 332d Fighter Group (known as the Tuskegee Airmen) in Africa and Italy.[3]

He was discharged from military service in 1946. LaGrone remained in Italy for a time to study at the University of Florence.[4] He returned to the United States and completed his studies at the Pratt Institute, graduating in 1949.[5]

LaGrone's employment included art director for the magazine Amerika,[2] art director of the Rutgers University Medical School,[3] and creating historical images of the U.S. Air Force and the Tuskegee Airmen.[6] He was a member of the Society of Illustrators and created record covers and book jackets as a free-lance artist.[6]

LaGrone died at his home in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, on December 8, 1993.[3][7] In 1996, his artwork was featured in Tuskegee's Heroes: As Depicted in the Aviation Art of Roy E. La Grone which was published by MotorBooks International.[8][9] In 2001, he was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey.[5]

References

  1. ^ "LaGrone, Roy E." Artists of the World online. de Gruyter.
  2. ^ a b "Roy Lagrone - Biography". AskArt. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Saxon, Wolfgang. "Roy E. LaGrone, 72, A Tuskegee Airman And Ex-Art Director". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  4. ^ "The Art of Tuskegee Airman Roy LaGrone". Pine Bluff. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b "LaGrone Roy The Tenement Lovers". Swann Galleries. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Roy LaGrone immortalized Tuskegee Airmen through art". United States Air Force. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Roy E. LaGrone, 72, a retired…". Baltimore Sun. 16 December 1993. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  8. ^ Cooper, Charlie; Cooper, Ann; La Grone, Roy (1996). Tuskegee's heroes: featuring the aviation art of Roy LaGrone. Osceola, Wis: Motorbooks International Publishers & Wholesalers. ISBN 9780760302545.
  9. ^ Cooper, Charlie Cooper Ann (1996). "Tuskegee's Heroes". Google Books. Zenith Imprint. Retrieved 3 December 2024.