MID-CENTURY MODERN MASTERS

Are Wilson & Rowley masters of Dallas Mid-Century Modern architecture?  I think so, and after accounting for their body of work, I think you will too.

Rowley and Wilson formed Ju-Nel Homes, Inc February 4, 1959 after working with renowned modernist architect Howard Meyer.  Carolyn Clark's interview series with Meyer reveals a 'Texas Modernist' vein of style which emerged from Meyer's passion for both the softer Prairie style embraced by Wright balanced with the European Modernist movement fathered by Gropius.  One might argue MCM architecture is just that - Wright's Prairie School blended with European Modernism.

Inspired by Meyer and his "You let yourself go, and then you refine the design" approach, Rowley and Wilson sought to re-define residential living with a forward-thinking design ethos that would challenge the status quo of mediocre, conservative Dallas architecture.  In a word, organic may best describe the philosophy driving Rowley & Wilson's vision.  Open spaces, high ceilings, natural materials and large window openings bringing the natural world inside are tenets of the best Ju-Nel homes.

For Wright, we see two styles of design across his residential projects.  Prairie for an upper middle class client base, and Usonian for the middle class.  For Rowley & Wilson, we can see the same approach to driving sales to a more discerning client vs  designing for a more common client.  The Super Ju-Nel designation is meant to begin the discussion around categorizing the body of work into  a higher end segment as well as more modest designs and material choices for the 1960's middle class.

There are varying accounts of how long Rowley and Wilson stayed together.  According to Wilson and Rowley family sources, Rowley left Ju-Nel in 1963, and while it has been said that Rowley left the trade at this time, permits filed by Rowley in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 & 1967 indicate Rowley as the builder and or architect.  This  would seem to confirm that Rowley was still active past 1963.  It is unknown if Wilson was involved in any of these Rowley works, or if Rowley was involved in any of the Wilson or Ju-Nel works past 1966.  We do know that Rowley and his family lived in Japan from 1967 - 1971, and we can conclude that Rowley would not have been involved in any further works past 1967.

,The quest to find original images from the 1950's and 1960's has been arduous, and there is not much in the public domain.  Special thanks to ongoing collaboration with the Wilson and Rowley families, in particular, Jan Wilson Stovall, Donna Wilson Page and Brett Rowley.

Jan and Brett have graciously shared stories about, and pictures of their fathers and the business which will be published here.

This biography, courtesy of the Wilson family was written by Nelda before her passing in 2022.

Jack K. Wilson was born in Sulphur Springs, TX on February 9, 1925. He was the youngest of the ten children of Albert “Allie” and Nellie (Cocke) Wilson.  He served in WWII and was a member of the army involved with the liberation of the Philippines.  He married Nelda Leggett, the daughter of Leon and Gwen Leggett. They were the parents of Terry, Gary, Jan, and Donna. 

He descended from a long line of brick masons and contractors including his father, grandfather, and great grandfather. They were responsible for the construction of many buildings throughout Texas with some of the most notable being Llano County courthouse, Freestone County courthouse and the “Old Main” building at Sam Houston State University.

It might be said that WWII was an influence. At the end of the war he was 1 of 200 soldiers chosen for MacArthur’s Honor Guard. This was an elite unit selected to represent the United States in occupied Japan following the war.  There he was exposed to  Japanese style and he incorporated their use of earthly building materials and design into many of his houses. He was stationed at General MacArthur’s Headquarters which was located near the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 

After the war, Jack attended Texas A & M University on the GI bill. There he obtained multiple degrees in engineering and architecture. The GI Bill limited the time one could attend  so he took as many as 30 hours a semester to finish before it ran out.

At A & M, there was a community of  professors who were enthusing students with the new modern and contemporary design styles. He was exposed to the designs of Louis Sullivan, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright, another strong influence on his work. Jack’s family nicknamed him “The Fountainhead” which was also Wright’s nickname because of his creative designs.

After graduation, Howard Meyer hired him.  Howard Meyer was a premier contemporary architect in Dallas. Under the direction of Meyer, he assisted on the design of the Tobian Chapel at Temple Emanu-El and worked on 3525 Turtle Creek. There he also worked with Max M. Sandfield who was known for his mid-century modern designs. It was here he met Lyle Rowley who was also a member of the firm. They shared the same contemporary design philosophy and decided to go into business together. Thus, Ju-Nel Homes was born. 

Jack employed environmental practices long before it was politically correct. The lots he built on were lots that no one else wanted at the time because they were not functional for the slab foundations used on the ranch type homes of his era. He loved trees and would design around one rather than cut it down. He would orient the house and use windows to capitalize on advantageous sunlight exposures. He used a higher R factor of insulation than was customary at the time in order to cut down on utility costs. His houses had a three-foot overhang versus the usual eighteen-inch  to be more energy efficient. Many of his homes had galley kitchens because they were an efficient use of space and steps. 

Lyle left the firm in 1963 and Jack continued to design homes. He was often called “the Architect’s Architect”, as many architects would seek him out for the design and construction of their personal residence.  Leading contemporary architects, such as Pratt, Box, and Henderson, would employ him to do the construction of their designs because of his understanding. The largest home he designed was Mrs. Hazel Beckett’s in Sunnyvale, Texas. He was privileged to be chosen twice as a designer for the “World’s Fair Houses”.  He began doing predominantly commercial contracting in the 1970’s because of non-supportive banking institutions and the recession. He retired in the early 1980’s and moved to East Texas. Jack passed away in 1992.