I received this story from Ryan Wall, who grew up in McAdoo, and now lives in Canyon, Texas, about 120 miles north-northwest of McAdoo (100 as the crow flies), up Highway 87.
I grew up in McAdoo, and wouldn’t trade it for the world. My younger days were spent riding around town with friends on bicycles. The game was cops and robbers or hide n seek. There were many more abandoned houses than there are now (more hiding spots). If that wasn’t the case, I was riding on the tractor with my stepdad.
As us kids grew older, we evolved to four wheelers and dirt bikes. Luis managed the COOP back then too. Luis could always make you smile, even if you didn’t want to. He kept the kids of McAdoo hyped up with cokes from the coke machine for 25 cents. I can’t remember how many times I was told to slow down by everyone in town.
Kids turned into teenagers which meant more school involvement. I once read, “one day you went inside and played with your friends for the last time,” and to me that was sad, but true. While attending Spur high school I focused on school and sports during the school year but was expected to help on the farm during the summer. I didn’t enjoy it at the time, but looking back it gives me a sense of pride coming from a family of farmers. Farming is tough work, and will humble you.
I worked for The Bub mentioned in earlier postings, plowing up wheat fields. Bub is a heck of a guy to work for. Bub will make you laugh without even trying to. I would be sitting on the tractor and see his white pickup bouncing across the field. I’d stop and see what he had to say. He’d make sure everything was going ok and give me a Coca Cola and Austin brand peanut butter crackers (best combo).
Bub is a basketball legend. Bub and my grandfather James Earl Van Meter would always show up to basketball games, letting me know to keep my elbow in and follow through. At that time a young high school kid is never wrong, but their advice meant the world to me.
In high school I would sit outside late at night, and you could see the constant stream of lights coming from Highway 82. Back then I was always curious where people were going, jealous in a way. Now that I’ve moved off and lived away from that environment, I miss it. I now live and work as a Fireman in Canyon, TX. I miss the peacefulness of McAdoo. Being able to see the stars without interference of streetlights. It was a blessing growing up in McAdoo. I had the opportunity to grow up with a freedom that many kids don’t have growing up in a city. McAdoo will always be home.
Thank you for stopping in at my hometown.