Lieutenant Tilley: WWII Army Portrait Colorized

Lamar State College is a two year school in Orange, Southeast Texas. And this year it is celebrating its first 50 years in education. These days, the College has nearly 3,000 students and offers courses in five divisions: liberal arts, mathematics and science, business and technology, education and allied health. It offers 30 technical programs and is a jewel to the town of Orange, the surrounding communities and the wider Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.

Lamar State College is also a school that remembers its history, and its modest beginnings in the former Tilley Elementary School (then an extension of Lamar University). Tilley Elementary commemorates a heroic young man named William Tilley who heeded his Nation's call and enlisted to serve in WWII. Tragically, lieutenant "Bill" Tilley became the first fatality from Orange, Texas in that terrible conflict.

The school needed a formal portrait of Lieutenant Tilley to grace their halls - but none was to be found. There was an old monochrome portrait – but it was not in great shape. Could the old photo be restored? Could it perhaps (gulp) be colorized? Which is where PhotoFixRestore came in! Working with Lamar State College we were able to make the photo restoration and, after some research to confirm colors for his Army uniform, add color to the old photo and bring it back to life. The College chose to have us print the portrait at 16" x 20" on super premium Epson "Exhibition Fiber" paper.

It's not all hard work and study at Lamar State College of course. The school just welcomed its first athletic team. And this being Southeast Texas and the school being located just above the gulf - with all its rivers and lakes and estuaries - that team is, of course, the fishing team. And their mascott? Tilley the Gator!

Many thanks to Amy Moore at Lamar College for allowing us to share this wonderful story.