Page 36 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2026 - Online Magazine

LEVELLAND HISTORY
who renamed it Rutherford-Able
Dry Goods. The partners later sold it
to “The Fair” Department Stores.
When Ray decided retirement did
not suit him, he and Raymond Able
opened Watson and Able Sporting
Goods. Ray was an avid hunter
who had collected specimens of
every North American big game
animal. The mounted trophies
were displayed prominently in the
store (and now have a home in The
Museum of Texas Tech.)
Ray was also an active member of
the community, serving in various
roles. He was a charter member of
the Levelland Rotary Club, president
of the Chamber of Commerce, and
mayor from 1942 to 1946.
After the arrival of their daughter,
Patsy Rae, Georgia changed her
status to part-time. She still worked
on Saturdays as that was the day
all the farmers came to town. The
storeowners recognized a trend with
the frugal farmers. They would come
in and shop, without purchasing,
all day. They would compare
36 Lubbock Senior Link
merchandise and prices at Credit cards weren’t invented
all the stores and have a yet, but a few regular customers
picnic lunch on the Court could sign a written “bill of goods”
House Square. When the and pay monthly. The store was
evening movie started at open from 8 AM to 8 PM Monday
the Wallace Theater, they through Saturday and had “sack
would be in line to buy boys” who took the groceries to
tickets. After the movie, the customers car. He would have
they would return to the groceries delivered to shut-ins at no
stores to purchase the items charge. The checkers and the “sack
they needed and could boys” became good friends with
afford. the customers and exchanged local
gossip at each visit.
Later, when Patsy was
older, she also spent O L was drafted into the Navy in
Saturdays at the store. She 1944. After training, he was sent
and Gerald Don Able, to the Admiralty Islands where he
Raymond’s son, would served as a communications officer
each be paid a quarter. for the duration of the war. After the
They looked forward to war, he returned to Levelland and
Saturdays which started resumed operation of his grocery
at the Wallace where they store.
would buy popcorn and
watch the weekly newsreel and a O L and Gertrude were members
Saturday morning movie, such as of the Methodist Church, which
The Perils of Pauline, Sky King, or a they attended regularly. He served
cowboy serial starring Gene Autry on the church board and Gertrude
or Roy Rogers. Then they would go was active in the Fellowship Class
next door to the five-and-dime and and played the organ and piano for
purchase a coloring book or a small church services and events.
toy—all with the two quarters.
O L served on the Levelland City
Ray and Georgia made a good life Council from1953 to ‘54 and as
in Levelland, became important mayor from 1954 to ‘57. While he
members of the community, and was on the city council, a blizzard
never regretted their move. hit West Texas, and the highway to
Lubbock was impassable for several
Ray’s brother O L and his wife days. He arranged for a shipment of
Gertrude came from Boswell to milk and groceries to be delivered
Levelland in 1934. They purchased to Levelland by train, which could
the “Red and White” grocery store get through the snow and ice. That
from Carrie and Wiliam Givan and enabled the grocery stores to stock
moved it to the west side of the their shelves with basic groceries
square, next door to Watson Dry for the Levelland citizens. He also
Goods. Initially, they lived in the served on the School Board from the
upstairs loft of the store. They had late 1950s to mid-1960s. O L retired
two children, Oliver Lee, born in in 1972 and sold his store to Evans
1938, and Jeannine born in 1940. Grocery.
Since Levelland was growing toward The impact the Watson family had
the west, he bought land on Houston on Levelland is undeniable, and
St. and Avenue M, constructed a the evidence of their influence and
building, and moved the store there. legacy remains to this day.