Alba Heywood was born on April 9, 1859, and died on November 17, 1921. In addition to investing in Spindletop, he and his brothers discovered oil near Jennings, Louisiana in 1902. He was on the staff of Louisiana Governor N.C. Blanchard from 1904 to 1908. He was president of the Jennings Oil Co. Alba and his brother, W. Scott Heywood formed the San Benito Bank & Trust Company in 1908, and Alba served as president from its creation in 1908 to 1912.

Alba also served as a director of Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2. The Heywood brothers also owned an oil field near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and the Jennings Pipe Line. Sam Robertson included a Heywood Street on the original plat of San Benito.