Page 44 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Lubbock Online Magazine

HONORING
SMALL BUSINESSES

From West Africa

to West Texas

by Sam Foncham

enior Link has always valued “I was born
the Importance of “story”. Each and raised in
Sindividual’s journey is unique Cameroon,
and therefore worth discovering. When West Africa
we pay attention, we may find that we some 60
share common paths and enjoy similar years ago, the
memories with many of our West Texas third of nine
neighbors. Or we might find out that children. My
someone we know has had a much father was
different experience in their trips around a registered
the sun. Our ability to appreciate the nurse and
significance of someone else’s journey my mother, a
is one of the most important factors in homemaker.
“linking” us together. Eight of us
have at least
This is the story of Sam Foncham, a a college
first-generation transplant from Africa, degree,
and how he came to earn multiple which is not
degrees from Texas Tech and establish so common
a thriving small business in the city. In from an African family of our age. Research Center and the peasant
his own words: farmers. I loved my profession, the
“I graduated with people and the place.
an associate degree “In July 1986, I married my dear
in Cameroon in 1982 Stella. [I was] at the peak of my
and was planning to life, but I had just been admitted to
continue my education Texas Tech University for the spring
in neighboring semester of 1987. I had to choose.
Nigeria. However, My gut feeling told me that it was
I was given a job by time to give up my position and my
the Cameroonian possessions.
government as Chief
of an Agricultural “One requirement for admission
Extension Service. My was financial responsibility. All
staff of 15 and I were the money I had in the bank in
the link between the Cameroon was $12,000, which was

44 Lubbock Senior Link