Edward Lee Stone was born September 15, 1864, in Liberty, Virginia (now known as Bedford, VA) and died in 1938. After working for John P. Bell's printing company, Stone was promoted and eventually took over the business. He became a wealthy and prominent citizen of Roanoake through his business, the Stone Printing and Manufacturing Company. He also played an important role in his local community through various civic organizations and clubs.

Additional biographical information is available online: http://snaccooperative.org/view/60110172

Fay M. Thomas was born in Iowa aout 1891. Prior to 1920, he married Willie Mae. By 1920, the couple was living in Richmond, where Thomas mas managing a cafeteria. By 1930, they were in Roanoke, where Thomas was managing the Hotel Patrick Henry. The couple had at least one child around 1921. It is unknown how long they lived in Roanoke, but Thomas appears to have gone on to manage other hotels in Louisiana, New York, and Michigan by the early 1940s.