Page 38 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Lubbock Online Magazine

HONORING
SMALL BUSINESSES

Plumbers Shouldn’t

Make Wise Cracks

by Ted and Jody Wilson

very Thursday morning
at 6:30, a group of men
Egather in the showroom
of Roberts and Son Plumbing in
Plainview, for a time of reflection
on their walk with Christ and
sharing prayer concerns. This
ritual has been ongoing for
a quarter of a century. Ron
Roberts (not the KAMC weather
guru) is the owner and operator
of this business that serves
Plainview and the surrounding
area.

Ron and his wife, Melveta,
married just after graduating
high school in Plainview, August farmed on his own for another 15. their equipment over to the FHA
1967. I (Jody) have known Melveta They lived in Melveta’s parents’ and made provision to pay off the
Bennett since the first grade at Ash house and ran her hair salon remaining debt monthly. Over time,
Elementary in Plainview. She and business (Country Cutters) in a they were able to pay back every
Ron began dating in the seventh refurbished granary in their back dime.
grade. Apparently, they were yard. Ron’s father, Dee, suggested he
smitten with each other because they Beautiful twin daughters, Donya try plumbing. Dee had been in
began saving up for their wedding and Tonya, joined the family in the plumbing business from 1954
rings during their sophomore 1969. This family of four grew to 1980. Ron had worked for his
year. Ron, an outstanding athlete, in grace, even when the weather dad during his school years and
was offered a scholarship to play didn’t cooperate by offering had obtained his plumbing license.
baseball for Sul Ross University, but abundant harvests. Ron remembers Ron didn’t want to be a plumber,
instead of a bachelor’s degree, he those farming days much as I do but Dee said, “As long as there are
opted for a husband’s degree with - droughts broken by intermittent homes and people living in them,
the love of his life. hailstorms and the occasional 100- there will be the need for plumbing
They began their life together in the year flood. The weather that would professionals.”
rural community of Finney Switch, excite Ron Roberts, the Lubbock So, Ron took his dad’s advice, took
six miles north of Plainview. Ron meteorologist, pretty much did in over the Plainview business in 1985
worked for Melveta’s dad on the Ron Roberts, the Plainview farmer. and earned his Master License by
farm for a couple of years, then Finally, Ron and family turned

38 Lubbock Senior Link