Roy Mclendon

Born in 1932, Roy R.A. McLendon is a founding member of the Florida Highwaymen and was there at the beginning stages of the group along with Alfred Hair and Harold Newton. Mclendon was born in Georgia but later moved to Ft Pierce, FL with his family. He moved out at 18 and became neighbors with Harold Newton in Gifford, FL. Newton convinced him to start painting and Mclendon watched, studied, and took inspiration from Newton in his early days. Was said to not have been a fan of fast-painting and rather preferred to take his time with a painting and be a bit more detail driven. His work is featured in the Smithsonian https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/highwaymen-segregation-era-florida-artists-sold-and-often-painted-roadside    Roy McLendon passed away on March 3rd 2024.