Lester Karow was born in Savannah on June 25, 1885. A banker by trade, he also served in the military during both World Wars, at one point attaining the rank of major. His main organizational affiliations centered around horses and equestrian sports, but he was a member of other Savannah organizations and served as the president of the Georgia Historical Society from 1963-1964. Karow died on June 22, 1968, and is buried in Greenwich, Va.