Page 41 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2018- Online Magazine

NATHAN TUBB

Levelland’s Hundred-Year

Hall of Famer
by Libby Tubb Thetford

athan Tubb was 13 years old in woman, Ida Jane Bowers, said, “Let’s
1933 when he was delivering the name it Levelland.” That stuck, and the
NLubbock Avalanche Journal on name was changed from Hockley City to
horseback. That day in February was the Levelland. Nathan is proud of the fact
coldest day on record with a low of -18 that his mother had a part in naming his
degrees in the little town of Levelland. hometown.
Snow was on the ground, and he was
bundled up in heavy clothes. Everything Nathan Tubb was born on May 8, 1918
was going fine until he got to the last in New Home, Texas, (Lynn County) to
throw of the day, when he forgot about a Howard and Lizzie Tubb. He had four
clothesline and rode right into it. It caught brothers and one sister. He is now 100 in it had to use barbed wire fences to be
him under his chin, and he fell to the years old and hopes to live many more guided back home. He also witnessed
ground. Fortunately, his horse didn’t run years. Nathan’s sharp memory makes prairie fires during high winds burning
away, but it was quite an effort for him to him quite the historian for Levelland and hundreds and even thousands of acres
get back on the horse. This is just one of Hockley County, and many people know of land. Communities helped other
the many stories the centenarian recalls he’s the one to ask about the area’s history. communities fight the fires. Every able-
growing up in Levelland. He remembers, as a young boy, carrying bodied person would turn out to fight
water from the windmill to his home grass fires with wet sacks, brooms or
two blocks east of the square where the whatever. The community flourished,
windmill was erected. Black-eyed peas and Nathan Tubb watched the town of
were planted on the square for families Levelland grow from only a courthouse
to gather and eat. He recalls going to and one store to a town of 13,000 people
the Yellow House Ranch, climbing the and the home to South Plains College.
cliffs, finding arrowheads and watching
the buffalo roam. He also states that the While in high school, he worked as a
windmill on the ranch was reported to be “soda jerk” in a drug store. He said it was
the tallest in the United States at the time! better than in the cotton fields, indoors
and cool, and sooner or later all the cute
The Great Depression and the droughts girls came in! Nathan also worked in Dr.
of that era were very difficult for early Phillip’s office, where he would sweep the
Levelland
families.
Nathan
remembers
a “black
duster”
rolling in
from the
The Tubb family was one of the first two northwest
to move to Levelland in October 1921. in 1935. The Seniors Thrive at Hickory Place.
It was called Hockley City at the time. wall of dirt
After a few more families had come, was almost Visit our vibrant community to meet our friendly residents,
it was suggested that the name of the straight dedicated care team, and learn about all the
town be changed as there was already up and a remarkable features and amenities we offer.
another Hockley City in Texas. The ladies hundred
were discussing the name change when feet high. Call 806-579-2787 Hickory Place
Nathan’s mother, Lizzie Tubb, mentioned The people to schedule your
Hickory Place
that the land was very level. Another caught out personalized tour Senior Living 717 South Alamo Road enlivant.com
Levelland, TX 79336
and lunch!
Senior Living 717 South Alamo Road enlivant.com 806-579-2787 | ALF #000511
Levelland, TX 79336
806-579-2787 | ALF #000511
Lubbock Senior Link 41