Page 45 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Lubbock Online Magazine

HONORING SMALL BUSINESSES

what was required for tuition, fees “My wife graduated in 1994, while I major universities. Juanita, 31, is an
and living expenses for a year. An was still working toward a PhD. Her MD resident in Chicago. To God be
additional $3,000 was expected for first job was at Methodist Hospital, the glory!”
any dependent, so my wife could not (now Covenant Health System).
accompany me. I started Sam and Co. Trees and
Landscaping in 1995 as a part-time Sam calls his story “A Journey of Faith”
“I arrived in Lubbock in job, and our third child, Damon, was and he can list many circumstances
January 1987. My first job was born in 1996.We were still on student that bear that out. His and Stella’s
as a dishwasher at one of Tech’s visas. I finally defended my PhD at presence in our community has only
cafeterias. The minimum wage then Texas Tech in November 1998. One enriched it. Their contribution over the
was $3.35 per hour, (about $70/week) week earlier, we got some wonderful last 33 years is immeasurable when you
but, after one year, I had earned news. We had applied for permanent consider how far they have come, all they
just enough for my wife to join me residency status through the US visa have accomplished, and how far their
in Lubbock. It was not easy on us program that provides green cards to influence will travel through the lives of
financially. I was not receiving any only 100,000 people globally, and we their outstanding children. Lubbock is
financial support from home, and were chosen! (Ed. Note: Every year, blessed to have them.
I was ineligible for most college millions of people from around the world
scholarships. Despite the challenges, apply for the program, known as the U.S.
we started a family, even though my diversity lottery, which currently grants
wife was enrolled in school as well. just 50,000 visas per year to immigrants
That is where faith came in. from nations that are underrepresented

“I began throwing newspapers for in the US.) It was like winning the
the Lubbock Avalanche Journal. I made real lottery! We had struggled for a
another $1000/mon. working from 4 - long time, but we know everything
6AM while keeping my dishwashing happens in God’s perfect timing.
job. Our first daughter, Juanita, was “Spiritually, I am a Christian. We
born in 1989. It was a miracle that we joined Covenant Presbyterian
were able to pay all our medical bills. Church in Lubbock in 1998. I was the
Our second child, Melanie, was born first person of color there but was
in 1991. well-received. I have served as an
“Managing time was critical. Being elder and as chairperson of building
a father, husband, breadwinner and and grounds.
student was quite challenging. My “God has blessed us with three
wife was in the RN/BSN program highly gifted and talented children.
at Texas Tech, while I was in the In high school, Melanie was a state
Plant and Soil Science Department. champion in
I arranged most of my classes on Punt, Pass and
Tuesdays and Thursdays and in the Kick and a 6A
evening, and my wife concentrated state champion
hers on Mondays, Wednesdays and in soccer. All
Fridays. The cafeteria job was mostly our kids were
in the evenings and on weekends. If starters in
we had an open weekend, we took different sports
the kids to the park to play while we at the university
studied. We were grateful that the level. All have
city of Lubbock had over 50 parks. degrees from

Lubbock Senior Link 45