Roy Owen West was born in Vermillion County, Illinois, on October 27, 1868. He became a lawyer, practicing law in Chicago. Active in Republican politics, West was a member of the Illinois State Republican Convention (1904-1914) and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention (1908, 1912, 1916, 1928). He served on the National Republican Committee (1912-1916, 1928-1932).President Coolidge appointed him to succeed Hubert Work as Secretary of the Interior and he served in that position from 1928 to 1929. West died in Chicago on November 29, 1958.