(This is the second part of a two-part story on Sonny’s Feed in Brownfield, Texas)

Speedy brought his brother, Pete Lindsey in as a partner in 1960. It was later that year that tragedy struck Brownfield when the Goodpasture Elevator exploded. Pete and Speedy both remember working inside an air conditioner on the east side of the building when the explosion happened. They did not know what had happened initially and took off running. As they began to get their bearings about them, they started boarding up the south facing windows that had been blown out by the explosion across the street. Both men talked with sadness of hearing the screams for help of the man trapped in the top of the elevator as he awaited rescue. The Lindsey’s were not sure for hours whether or not there would be another explosion in the other end where the fertilizer was stored. Speedy states that he has always felt it was a miracle that there weren’t further explosions and he credits God with saving many lives that day. Pete states that afterwards, they began to grind the remaining grain for the elevator and each load had thousands of tiny rocks and concrete chunks in it. It was also at Sonny’s that Pete met his wife, Betty. Betty Green was working as a DE student while she was in school. Pete was in the military at that time, and was home on leave but there was a spark there! Later, Betty was working at Ross Ford and had bought herself a shiny Red Falcon and she met Pete again on the drag. The couple will celebrate their 50th Anniversary this year. So, many things grew at Sonny’s. Not just plants!

In 1972, the Lindsey brothers bought out Mr. Yancy. They began to change their business as the needs around them changed. Speedy points out that , “God took care of us. Every time one door would close, He would open another.” As their nursery business began to expand, they bought the old Boots’ Cafe on the west side and were able to expand the nursery area. As the business grew, Speedy began to be in charge of the feed side of things and Pete worked on the nursery end of it. Pete really took great delight in growing his own roses. Mary Green also hothoused many seedlings for the business.

Sonny’s was always known for friendly smiles and great customer service. In reference to this fact, Mary Lindsey stated, “We always felt that each one of our customers were special. We told every employee that the most important person in his life was the next person walking through the door.” Pete and Betty both felt that “the salt of the earth Speedy and Mary retired in 1993 due to Speedy’s health issues and sold the business to Pete. The years of being around the feed grinding and the dust and various other things in the air around Brownfield had wreaked havoc on Speedy’s lungs and it was a matter of life and death to remove themselves from the area for at least the harvest portion of the year. After Speedy’s retirement, Pete’s son Greg came aboard to help and opened the door for weed spraying as a new  service. Pete states that he thoroughly enjoyed working with family while in business at Sonny’s. He said, “I don’t remember any problems that we couldn’t handle and still remain family.” One person that should certainly be mentioned is Karen Brown, who has kept the books for Sonny’s for 40 years. No story of Sonny’s would be complete without mentioning the “fat cat” that rested on the counter when the mood suited him! Kids remember the baby chicks and that fat cat most of all!

As the business closes it’s doors after being open since 1947, it is with a sense of sadness that the Lindsey family views the place. “It was such a hub of activity for so long. Friends met there and visited there.” The Lindsey’s have served Great-Grandparents all the way down to the 4th generation coming in for help in the garden or feed for their animals. “We just want people to remember our place with a smile and the memories of the smells, the sights and certainly the people.” Well, Speedy, Mary, Pete, Betty, Greg and Karen, we will never forget Sonny’s Feed, Supply,  and Nursery Company. Thank you for your service to Terry County.

(More pictures of the store and the grounds are located on our website at towntalkradio.com)