COUNTY LIFE
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
“It’s not what you know, it’s what you do with what you know.”
Enid Justin
That quote epitomizes the drive of Enid Justin, who founded Nocona Boot Company in 1925 shocking her family who predicted it would fail, but stayed true to her vision creating a company that endured for nearly 75 years.
Author and historian Carol A. Lipscomb uses that quote to open chapter one of her new book, “The Lady Makes Boots,” the first biography of Enid Justin. Using archival material along with personal interviews with Justin family members and boot company employees, Lipscomb has created a multi-faceted story of a pioneering business woman who did things her own way breaking through societal norms to create a multi-million dollar corporation.
Lipscomb released her new book, in late November hosting numerous book signing events in the area. The wife of the late Nocona area businessman, Richard Lipscomb, the couple spent the last 20 years living in Fort Worth, but the couple raised their family in Nocona for nearly 20 years.
Richard grew up in Nocona and met Carol when they were in college. They married after graduation and after living in Arlington a few years moved to Nocona in 1979 when Richard purchased the Chevrolet/Oldsmobile/Buick dealership.
“We lived here 18 years raising our boys, Rik, Kelly and Clark. There are still so many people here I love and am happy to see when I visit,” said Carol.
While she had earned a degree in history, it was not until her boys went off to college she decided to return to school to pursue her PhD. Once completed she taught for a while at the University of North Texas, but then decided to become an independent historian to research and write on her own.
Miss Enid’s biography is not her first foray into being an author. She worked with well-known historian Robert S. Weddle to create “After the Massacre,” a historical review of the San Saba Spanish expedition.
Read the full feature including a few excerpts from the new book in the mid-week Bowie News.
It has been quite a busy few days at the Montague County Youth Fair with schedule changes, juggling of events and trying to cope with the unexpected snow storm. However, the youth fair always rolls on thanks to the dedicated volunteers, coordinators, parents and students.
Friday the rabbit how starts at 10 a.m., with heifer and steer show at 2 p.m. Ag. mech. check-in at 6 p.m. with that show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Swine will move into the barn later today with its show at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday the home economics silent auction will start at 6 p.m. and run to 9 p.m. in the show barn. Showmanship buckles will be presented at 6 p.m. in the barn followed by leadership day awards. The premium sale is at 6:30 p.m. Make plans to come out and support these hard working kids and families.
See all the winners in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – Poultry show photo taken by Rashonda Hobbs of Unfazed Creations, official photographer for the youth fair. Make sure and check out her photos.
When we were going through my grandmother’s house in Nocona after it sold, I found a few neat keepsakes, but the biggest treasure I thought I had found was her biscuit cutter. I was so excited to show my mother (her daughter) and just knew she would be happy it was found and would still be used after all this time.
My mother, however, had a different thought about my precious biscuit cutter. She said, “Suzanne, you know that biscuit cutter is just an old tomato paste can that has both ends cut out.”
I was still no less delighted with my cutter. I continue to use it today. My husband has bought me vintage, new and fancier cutters, but this cutter is something I go back to time and again.
My Memaw was recruited to be a lunch lady from 1952 to 1958 at Nocona Elementary, back when lunches were cooked, not “fixed.” Lenora Brown Burnett was an excellent cook and everyone knew it. She went on to work at the Nocona Major Clinic kitchen from 1958 to 1969.
You could only use shortcuts if you knew how to do it the long way. That is how I still approach cooking. You can only use a cake mix if you know how to make a cake with lots of ingredients, time and effort.
Read Suzanne’s Love & Luck column in the Thursday Bowie News on the On the Table page.
Top photo – Grandmother’s biscuit cutter and hand written recipes. (Photo by Suzanne Storey)
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