Clayton - Person Sheet
Clayton - Person Sheet
NameBEALL, Jean
Birth Date1922
Birth PlaceGreenwood, Jackson County, Florida
FlagsNeel Lineage
Misc. Notes
The late “Mr. Roy” Beall recognized for philanthropy
Chipola Newsletter
January 27 - February 2, 2003

The late Roy B. Beall, a founding father of Chipola Junior College, has been recognized for his outstanding philanthropy by The Council for Resource Development, a national organization.

CRD presented Regional and State Benefactor Awards to Mr. Roy in recognition of his contributions and commitment to Chipola and the establishment of the Roy B. Beall Scholarship Endowment offered through the Chipola Junior College Foundation.

The purpose of the CRD Benefactor Award is to recognize outstanding contributions to community colleges. The award em- bodies the ideals of philanthropy, leadership and volunteerism in the service of community, technical and junior colleges.

The family of Roy B. Beall attended the recent Benefactor Banquet in Washington, DC. In attendance were: Jean Beall Neel, daughter; grandchildren Dana Neel Cobb, Kitty Neel Myers, Sharon Beall Mason, and Roy Burns Beall, III; great-grandchildren Jenny Cobb Steever, Kitty Cobb and Roseann Mason.

At the ceremony a representative of the family said: “Our grandfather’s life passion and commitment was educational excel- lence and access for everyone. It is especially gratifying, many years after he passed away, that he is being honored for that pas- sion and commitment today.”

Chipola president Dr. Gene Prough, said, “During his lifetime, Beall exemplified all of the traits of an outstanding benefactor. He gave not only his financial support to Chipola, but he also was a steadfast leader and long-time volunteer.”

Beall’s relationship with Chipola began in 1946 when a group
of business leaders met to discuss the possibility of opening a private college for students in the area. In the summer of 1947, Chipola opened its doors on the campus of the old Marianna Army Base. Beall was one of the founders and also served as Chairman of the Board for many years. During his 23 years of continuous ser- vice to Chipola, he never missed a single meeting of any board or agency on which he served. His early leadership at Chipola was instrumental in developing the college into the successful institu- tion it is today from its humble beginnings as a small private college with barely enough funds to exist.

In 1983, Beall approached Chipola officials about sponsoring a scholarship drive that would support the top two academic stu- dents and top academic athlete from each of Jackson County’s six high schools. His idea was to award each with a one-year scholar- ship to begin their pursuit of higher education. He raised the money single-handedly and expanded the program the next year to include all five of the counties within the college’s district. This initial fundraising effort has grown into a scholarship endowment bear- ing his name with an account balance of over $122,000.
Spouses
1NEEL, Edward Daniel , Granduncle
Birth Date3 Mar 1922
Birth PlaceGreenwood, Jackson County, Florida
Death Date30 Sep 1991 Age: 69
Death PlacePanama City, Bay County, Florida
FlagsNeel Lineage
FatherNEEL, Henry Grady Woodfin (1892-1968)
MotherWESTER, Leetha Ruth (1902-1989)
Misc. Notes
The Florida Cattleman and Livestock Journal, August 1981
E.D. "Buddy" Neel of Chipley, a native of Jackson County, newly elected president of the Florida Cattlemen's Association, is the twenty-fifth cattleman named to head the association; and like some before him, is a fourth generation cattleman, a fifth generation when including the original family settlers in the Carolinas, who also raised livestock.
Through the years his family has been engaged in the cattle business and other segments of agriculture. Neel's great-grandfather, William Mitchel Cox Neel, moved to Florida in 1834 when it was a territory. He came from Decatur County, Georgia, and settled at Neel's Landing on the Chattahoochee River where he owned and operated the ferry, a mercantile store, grist mill, a hotel and had extensive farming operations in the area along with running range cattle. Additionally, he was a Justice of the Peace in the territory which included both Florida and Georgia. He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention and traveled by horseback to Port St. Joe, where it was held.
Neel noted his great-grandfather kept a diary throughout his lifetime which contains some interesting historical facts pertaining to the cattle industry. An example showed he trailed a herd of cattle to Columbus, Georgia, where a group was sold for $7.12 per head to be payable around "the first of the year." He also sold 10 head for cash to a local doctor for $8.00 per head.
Neel's grandfather, Henry Clay Neel, was a school teacher, a county judge and served several terms in the state legislature. Neel's father, Henry Grady Neel, was engaged in the livestock business both at the producer and marketing level in Greenwood for many years.
ChildrenDana
 Joe
Last Modified 3 Apr 2019Created 22 May 2023 by Robert Avent