Page 54 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021- Online Magazine

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Senior
Senior
Ralph Robertson

Proud of My Papa by Cambria Robertson

married, they had a baby boy,
Cody Randle Robertson, who is
my father. A year after they were
years, the married, Papa’s mother passed
family away, and Mimi and Papa took
constantly in five of Papa’s seven younger
moved to siblings, raising them until they
new places. were old enough to make lives
Olen and of their own. A few years before
Myrtie were my father was born in 1975, Papa
following work joined the Marine Corps. He
opportunities, spent 3½ years in the United State
and of course, Marine Corp and was honorably
they brought all discharged in 1978.
alph Randle Robertson, my seven children
Papa, has influenced my along with them. They moved to When Papa returned home from
Rlife in various ways, always places like California, New Mexico, the Marines, he went to work in the
pushing me to do my absolute Arizona, Utah, Florida, and then oilfield for Hobbs Well Service out
best. When I was asked to pick back home to the heart of Texas. of Rule, Texas. He worked there for
one person in my life who has Papa's family was extremely poor; 3-4 years and then got a pumping
influenced me, I knew exactly their house had dirt floors, and job for the next two years for Crown
whom to pick. My Papa has never the family, as a unit, worked out Central Oil Company. After he
failed to make any of us grandkids of labor camps daily. They never left Crown Central, he worked for
happy, and he has always kept a knew where their next meal would three years for KMA Well Service
smile on his face. Papa is the most come from. The family stayed at as an operator. During his time at
selfless and positive person I know! campsites while moving throughout KMA, my Papa, Mimi and my dad
He never has a frown, and he never these states until they settled in relocated to Quanah, Texas. Then
waivers. He is always there for the Madison community, which KMA sold to Well Solutions, and
everyone in my family, as well as was located in West Texas. While Papa continued to work for the
others. Papa always seems to know living in Madison, Texas, my Papa company. To be supportive of his
the right thing to say at exactly the attended the school there when he family, Papa also started pumping
right time. He never fails to make was a first-grade student. He then wells on the side to make extra
others around him happy, cracking transferred to Paint Creek ISD and money. After working for many
jokes and making everyone laugh. finished school up to his eleventh- years in the oilfield, Papa started
Family has always been his main grade year. While still attending an oil business of his own, LB
priority, but he has truly touched high school, Papa was an athlete Services. The company progressed
the lives of many others. playing multiple sports. One night, and grew, and eventually Papa
while playing Rochester, Texas in had to hire more employees. While
Ralph Randle was born on basketball, he met his future wife, still working with Well Solutions,
November 13, 1956 to Olen and Susan Lavonda McGhee. he went into business with his
Myrtie Robertson in a little town younger brother and started a
outside of Austin called Elgin, She came into my Papa's life; they company called STRC. They both
Texas. (If you have never had the fell in love, dated for two months continued to build the companies
famous Elgin sausage, you are and then got married on June 22, in multiple areas of oilfield work.
definitely missing out!) Papa is the 1974. Mimi and Papa are still Both businesses are thriving and
oldest child of seven siblings and married today. Yes, you read that flourishing to this day! My Papa
was the role model for the younger correctly: Papa was 16 and Mimi came from absolutely nothing, did
siblings from a very young age. was 14 when they tied the knot! not graduate high school, started
Throughout my Papa’s childhood Then five years after they were

54 Lubbock Senior Link