Doug Nowell

Doug Nowell passed away peacefully on January 24, 2025. He was 81 years old. His family was by his side in the final days. Doug Nowell lived an extraordinary life of achievement, leadership and service. He was a master scuba diver who taught hundreds, a chili cook off world champion, a banker, pilot, bogie golfer, used car salesman, appliance shop owner, and the founder/owner of Angelo Archives.

Doug was born during World War II, September 1, 1943 in Olney, Texas. He was the first child of PFC

J.D. Nowell and the former Billye Geniva Roberson, aged 20 and 19. Doug would not get to meet his father for nine months as Airman Nowell was busy flying bombing missions in Africa and Italy. He learned of Doug’s birth by telegram:

“HAROLD DOUGLAS ARRIVED 8:45 AM

9 POUND 2 OUNCES BOY, EVERYTHING FINE.”

Doug was an industrious young boy; he mowed yards, collected bottles and hunted alligators to make extra money. He played football and coronet in the Bay City High School Band, graduating in 1961. He began attending McMurry College in Abilene where he married his first wife in 1963. A son, Douglas Scott, was born in 1964 and daughter, Briget Lee, in 1966. By then the couple had settled in Midland where Doug worked as a loan officer for Midland National Bank. The couple divorced in 1969 and Doug married the former Peggy Magdalene Atchley in 1970. They relocated to San Angelo, and have called it home for over 50 years.

Son Jeffrey Douglas was born in 1977. Doug, Peggy and his parents co-owned and operated Henry’s Appliance. They also owned and operated washer/dryers in dozens of San Angelo apartments and ran fireworks stands for over a decade.

Doug was a leading member of several fraternal organizations including the Midland West side Optimist Club and the San Angelo Jaycees, serving as president of both organizations. Additionally, he was a 32 degree Mason. Doug was long-time member and past president of the San Angelo Country Club and member of Bentwood Country Club for the past 15 years where he had many friends. He was an avid golfer who played in hundreds of tournaments, a collector of antique knives and a member of the Texas Historical Commission for decades.

Doug became a scuba diver in the late ‘80’s, eventually earning the title of master diver. He taught hundreds of students to dive, often organizing and leading trips to Del Rio and to the Carribean for his graduates. His dedication to preservation led to him working as a steward for the Texas Historical Commission. In 2021 he was given the James Wood Award for outstanding archaelogical stewardship after 20 years of service. Doug also used his diving expertise to help law enforcement locate drowning victims.

In 1983 Doug and partner Gary Golightly founded Angelo Archives on Warehouse Road. The business has expanded steadily over the past 40 years and is now housed in San Angelo’s Industrial Park under the management of his son, Jeffrey Nowell. Hundreds of San Angeloans worked for Doug over the past 50 years.

Doug is survived by his wife, Peggy and their son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Michele Nowell of San Angelo, son-in-law and daughter, Scott and Briget McAninch and son, Scott Nowell, of Midland, and sister Margo Johnson of Bourne and nephews J.Dean and Darren Moody and their wives, Michelle and Heather, of New Braunfels. He also leaves 6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Doug is preceded in death by his parents, J.D. Nowell and Billye Nowell - Hill.

There will be a memorial service held on February 8th at 2:00 PM at Harper Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be sent to Hospice of San Angelo at https://westtexasrehab.org/online-donation/