"Seeing a Need" Led to a Family Business
Lewis Broxson
"Seeing a need and finding a solution for that need" might have been the philosophy for the life of Lewis Albert Broxson.
Lewis was born in Venus, Texas, a little south of Dallas, in 1914. He was the seventh of ten children. The family moved to Quitaque in 1932 and he graduated high school that year.
In 1934, he married Violet Opal Bedwell. She was born in 1932, the third of seven children.
The first year the couple wass married, they made their home in Fairmount and farmed with Lewis' brother, Jack. In 1935, they moved to a farm in Quitaque where their first child, Lewis Edwin, was born, but died at birth.
To provide for his family, Lewis worked at a service station. In 1937, their second child, Bobby was born and in 1939, a daughter, Norma Louise, joined the family.
The family moved to Amarillo in 1942, where Lewis took a machinist course and worked at the Amarillo Air Force Base. In 1943, he joined the Civil Service and worked in the shipyards at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Eighteen months later, he returned to Texas, and became co-owner of a grocery store in Quitaque. He sold his interest in the store in 1947 and moved to Cactus to work for Phillips Chemical Company.
Lewis was born in Venus, Texas, a little south of Dallas, in 1914. He was the seventh of ten children. The family moved to Quitaque in 1932 and he graduated high school that year.
In 1934, he married Violet Opal Bedwell. She was born in 1932, the third of seven children.
The first year the couple wass married, they made their home in Fairmount and farmed with Lewis' brother, Jack. In 1935, they moved to a farm in Quitaque where their first child, Lewis Edwin, was born, but died at birth.
To provide for his family, Lewis worked at a service station. In 1937, their second child, Bobby was born and in 1939, a daughter, Norma Louise, joined the family.
The family moved to Amarillo in 1942, where Lewis took a machinist course and worked at the Amarillo Air Force Base. In 1943, he joined the Civil Service and worked in the shipyards at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Eighteen months later, he returned to Texas, and became co-owner of a grocery store in Quitaque. He sold his interest in the store in 1947 and moved to Cactus to work for Phillips Chemical Company.
Opal Broxson
A couple of years later, his life started a new direction -- a direction that would effect not only his and Opal's lives, but the lives of his children and even grandchildren. He realized a need for the small town and decided he could help. He turned the living room of his home into a store for small appliances and hardware.
As the business grew, he purchased a government building in Dalhart, moved it to Cactus and moved his business into the new building.
In 1950, he decided to leave his job at Phillips Chemical. He purchased Fred Carter Furniture Store at 315 S. Main in Sunray, driving back and forth from Cactus every day. In 1951, the family moved to a permanent home in Sunray. Their moving days were over.
In July of 1956, the family was on a week's vacation in Colorado. Lewis felt the need to return home so he could cast his vote in a liquor election on Saturday. The following morning, Sunday, July 29, the Sunray Volunteer Fire Department was called to assist with a fire at the Shamrock Plant south of town. Lewis was a member of the fire department and was one of the 19 killed in a tank explosion at the plant that morning.
Bobby had just complete his freshman year at Wayland Baptist College and stayed out of school the following year to help his mother at the store. Louise was a senior at Sunray High School when school started that fall. The fall of 1957, both were students at Wayland Baptist College. Bobby came home in 1958 to work at the store full-time and to help with an expansion his mother wanted. Other expansions have been added to the store over the years and today Bobby is fulfilling the need that his father felt many years before.
The year 1958 was a busy year for Bobby. He was married on October 10, 1958 to Donna Reynolds. They are parents of three children, Bruce, Annette, and Lance. All three children and some of the grandchildren have worked at the store, making it truly a "family-owned local business, filling a need in a small town."
As the business grew, he purchased a government building in Dalhart, moved it to Cactus and moved his business into the new building.
In 1950, he decided to leave his job at Phillips Chemical. He purchased Fred Carter Furniture Store at 315 S. Main in Sunray, driving back and forth from Cactus every day. In 1951, the family moved to a permanent home in Sunray. Their moving days were over.
In July of 1956, the family was on a week's vacation in Colorado. Lewis felt the need to return home so he could cast his vote in a liquor election on Saturday. The following morning, Sunday, July 29, the Sunray Volunteer Fire Department was called to assist with a fire at the Shamrock Plant south of town. Lewis was a member of the fire department and was one of the 19 killed in a tank explosion at the plant that morning.
Bobby had just complete his freshman year at Wayland Baptist College and stayed out of school the following year to help his mother at the store. Louise was a senior at Sunray High School when school started that fall. The fall of 1957, both were students at Wayland Baptist College. Bobby came home in 1958 to work at the store full-time and to help with an expansion his mother wanted. Other expansions have been added to the store over the years and today Bobby is fulfilling the need that his father felt many years before.
The year 1958 was a busy year for Bobby. He was married on October 10, 1958 to Donna Reynolds. They are parents of three children, Bruce, Annette, and Lance. All three children and some of the grandchildren have worked at the store, making it truly a "family-owned local business, filling a need in a small town."