The long ride finally came to an end for Louis Bearden, who witnessed a lot of change while never losing his will to work during a career that spanned more than a half century.
It was way back in 1963 when Bearden accepted a job at a local farm supply store in Floydada. He had only moved to the community about five years earlier and was working as a milkman.
“I had a big route, and Lon Davis, who owned the farm supply store, had watched me work,” Bearden recalled. “He asked me if I had ever thought about running a farm supply, and I told him I had farmed with my dad and liked doing that. He said come see me, and I did.”
It marked the beginning of a long career that officially came to an end last week when a retirement party was held to recognize Bearden’s 52 years of service.
“There were 100 or so people there,” he said. “It was wonderful to see so many people.”
That first meeting with Davis became an opportunity Bearden just couldn’t walk away from, even as the farm supply store was purchased and changed hands through the years, eventually becoming Nutrien Ag Solutions.
“What makes Louis special is he is the type of guy who will go above and beyond to help people,” said Eddie Clark, the Floydada location manager who has known Bearden for about a dozen years. “His personality is one that you can’t help but like.”
The farm supply job originally required Bearden to sell fertilizer and chemicals to local producers preparing for each year. The operation slowly expanded with fertilizer shipped by railcar to numerous locations in Texas and Oklahoma.
“I always tried to do whatever they needed me to do,” Bearden said. “After Lon Davis hired me, he told me I could buy some stock whenever I wanted to. I went about two years and decided to buy some. A lot of people tried to hire me, but when you have stock in a company, it’s tough to quit.”
The store originally was purchased by a Plainview company in 2010, and one of the conditions was that Bearden, 70 years old at the time, would stay put to help ensure a smooth transition. As it turned out, Bearden stayed for 13 years.
“They said you’re going to have work another year or we’re not going to buy it,” Bearden recalled. “They asked me how long I was planning to work, and I said I wanted to until I was 90 years old. It didn’t quite work out as long as I promised. I worked 13 years for them, and I’m 83 years old. I call it work, and I didn’t mind because I owned part of the company and it was a good deal for me.”
Several years ago, the company changed its name to Nutrien Ag Solutions after merging with a large fertilizer company.
“I’ve had several folks say they have only seen Louis mad twice in all these years,” Clark said, “and I can say it must have been bad because I just can’t see him ever getting mad. Louis is just the type of man every man should try and be like.”
Bearden said he has always enjoyed hard work and looks forward to full, demanding days.
“My health has always been really good,” he said.
“I broke a kneecap last September and lost three months on that deal, but that’s the only bad deal like that I’ve ever had. I feel good when I get up in the morning, and I want to go to work. It’s something I’ve always done. My mother and daddy taught me how to work, and it just stuck with me, I guess.”
Of course, now Bearden said he won’t exactly be taking it easy.
“My wife has more jobs for me,” he joked, “so I’ll be busy in another way.”
On a more serious note, as Bearden looked back at the career he had enjoyed, he couldn’t help but be happy and grateful.
“I have had a wonderful time,” he said. “Nutrien is a good company with good people. My only advice for someone would be if you’re trying to start out, work every day, be ready to go to work, do what you’re told and then do some more. You’ll go a long way if you do.”
Bearden said he was also looking forward to spending time with his wife of 65 years and other family.
“We’ve traveled and seen about everything we want to see,” he said. “It’s been a good time. I have a wonderful woman, daughter and son. I’ve got some grandkids and some great-grandkids, and I’m going to have a big time with them.”
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