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2 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group Springboard CENTER Provided by Springboard Center DONATE TODAY Addiction affects every family in the Permian Basin whether directly or indirectly. It touches every industry, every income level. And when we help someone recover, we strengthen our whole region. If you care about the future of the Permian Basin, you need to care about recovery. Every life in recovery is one less drunk individual behind the wheel of car, it’s one less fatality on the side of the road, it’s one less desperate individual willing to do whatever it takes to get enough cash for their next fix. Each person they treat helps our community become a safer place for families and children. Thank you for helping Heal Lives and Restore Families. Together, we are making a difference. Springboard Center is the Permian Basin’s premier alcohol and drug treatment center. They deliver hope with accountability. It’s medically sound, spiritually grounded, and built around measurable results. They don’t just say someone’s doing better, they track it. Cravings go down. Completion rates go up. And their staff genuinely cares. They show up, even on hard days. That level of heart, backed by hard data, is rare. Being a nonprofit means their focus is on people, not profit. It allows them to keep treatment fees far lower than most private centers while still offering best-in-class care. But they can’t do it alone. It’s their donors who make the difference—who make sure cost never stands in the way of someone getting help. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of saving a life or helping a child get their parent back, this is your chance. Your gift to Springboard doesn’t just help someone recover—it helps a whole family heal.
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4 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group Contents 8OUR TOWN ODESSA Making a portrait of the city, one face at a time. 14 HOMETOWN HAPPENING Boys and Girls Clubs of the Permian Basin’s Sneaker Ball 18 A LIFE OF SERVICE, FAITH, AND MUSIC Greg Simmons is serving Odessa to the best of his God given abilities. 24 HOMETOWN HAPPENING Fueling Our Future Banquet and Awards Dinner 30 PRESERVING YESTERDAY, CELEBRATING TODAY, AND INSPIRING TOMORROW The White-Pool House Friends organization is on a mission to merge Odessa’s past with the present, for years to come. 38 LAW AND LITERATURE Officer Jo Alvarez has merged her career in Law enforcement with a passion for storytelling in her first novel, Terminal Justice. 46 BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES, ONE MATCH AT A TIME Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Permian Basin has been helping Littles dream big for 50 years. 52 4-H SPOTLIGHT Raelyn Clinton On the Cover 8 14 18 24 30 38 46
5 hometown living at its best All loans subject to credit and collateral approval. Contact lender for details. © 2025 American Momentum Bank | NMLS# 476902 | | ® Call, stop by or visit us at americanmomentum.bank Break New Ground with Momentum Whether you are building from the ground up, or purchasing a new home, count on the strength of Momentum from start to finish. Find construction financing options or customized mortgage solutions specifically designed to nail your next project. Melissa A. Baesa Assistant VP - Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS #216059 (432) 230-8270 mbaesa@americanmomentum.bank
6 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group Odessa Living Magazine© is published semi-annually by Hometown Media Group, LLC. hometownmedia.group 502 N Main Street PMB 116 | Weatherford, TX 76086 817.599.6167 | PROUDLY PRINTED IN THE USA All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice. WRITERS Sara Hook Connie Lewis Leonard Avery Pullin Haley Ragsdale Jessica Wesson PHOTOGRAPHER Angela Gonzales Photography COVER PHOTO Jennings Rodeo Photography H Hey there, Odessa! Lindsey Kruger Casey Perkins Executive Publisher Lindsey Kruger Marketing & Client Relations lindsey@hometownmedia.group Susan Avery Lead Creative Design Katie Audas Sales Account Executive katie@hometownmedia.group Camela Dietrich Accounts Receivable accounting@hometownmedia.group How are we already at the end of another year? The shorter days of winter, when the sun is down by 6PM and it seems like bedtime will never arrive, creates time, weather forced or welcomed, to slow down and reflect on the months that have passed so quickly. In what tends to be a very busy season, the shorter days seem to be a gentle reminder to turn off the to-do list, turn down the noise and be still. Don’t miss the blessing that is today rushing to prepare for tomorrow! So, cozy up in a warm blanket with some hot chocolate and read the winter issue, because it’s been dark outside for hours but it’s too early to go to bed! In it you’ll find stories of inspiration, influence and a feeling of togetherness as we reflect on 2025. To name a few, catch up on Odessa Hometown Happenings including the Sneaker Ball and Chamber Awards Banquet and get to know some of our community members and their stories like Greg Simmons and Jo Alvarez. Learn more about the Our Town Odessa art initiative and how the Big Brothers Big Sisters program is making a generational impact. Thanks to our partnering advertisers, our team is truly grateful we get to be a part of your lives. We hope you enjoy these last days of the year, connect with friends and family, and cherish the good memories while looking forward to what’s next! Here’s to an amazing winter and a happy start to the year, This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24 Haley Ragsdale Social Media Editor
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8 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group MAKING A PORTRAIT OF THE CITY, ONE FACE AT A TIME. Written by SARA HOOK | Photos provided by ODESSA ARTS Our Town ODESSA
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10 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group WWhile tourists remember places by their landmarks, their food, or their entertainment opportunities, a city is truly formed by its people. Local communities shape their own culture, and individuals are the ones who can make a rundown truck stop welcoming or a five-star hotel unpleasant. Odessa’s newest art project, Our Town, aims to celebrate that reality. Odessa Arts is organizing the program, led by executive director Randy Ham. It’s a two-year process, and the end result, Ham said, will be a picture of the city created by its people. “What we have is a portrait of Odessa, made by Odessa, that really celebrates not only the individuals but the collective community that makes our city what it is,” Ham said. Our Town Odessa stems from the wider project Our Town Everywhere. Our Town Everywhere hopes to give people everywhere a voice and a sense of connection through sharing art. Ham encountered the program during his first year as executive director for Odessa Arts, in 2014. He attended his very first arts conference: Americans for the Arts, in Nashville, Tennessee, and toured the Isle of Printing: the studio of Bryce McCloud, Our Town Everywhere’s founder. Ham thought the idea of Our Town was incredible. “I looked at Bryce and I said ‘I want to do this in Odessa,’” Ham said. “’I’m brand new at this job, I don’t know what I’m doing, but you’re going to get a call from me.’” As the major arts-funding agency in Odessa, Odessa Arts works hard to promote arts and humanities in the city. While they give out a lot of grants, they also manage several art programs and festivals each year. “I believe I have the best job in Odessa, because I get to dream of how to make our community better through visual art and music and theatre and dance and literature,” Ham said. “We get to make it happen.” A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make the festivals, plays, and programs come to life each year, and a multi-year project like Our Town Everywhere takes that even further. Ham believed Our Town had the potential for a lot of positive impact, and he wanted to do it justice. At the beginning of his tenure as executive director, new at his job and with a staff of one, he didn’t think it was feasible. Now, however, with a larger staff and several other big projects under his belt, Odessa Arts is ready to do Our Town justice—just in time for Odessa’s upcoming centennial. Two Our Town veterans flew in to train Odessa Arts
11 hometown living at its best and local artists on how to run the program: Bryce McCloud himself as well as Carlee Latimer, who ran an Our Town program in Madison, Wisconsin. Our Town is a two-phase project. Phase one heavily relies on community participation: between October of 2025 and September of 2026, Odessa Arts will set up booths at local events. There, using custom stamps, people can make a portrait of themselves. In return they get to choose a print of someone else’s portrait to take home. “Our goal is to collect about 25 portraits at each stop for a total of [about] a thousand over the course of 12 months,” Ham said. For phase two, Odessa Arts will select the portraits that they think best represent the community, giving the most diverse exhibit possible. Those portraits will be exhibited across Odessa during its centennial year, and some will be blown up to mural size for community art events. The goal, Ham said, is to foster connection in the community. “You’re going to get a portrait from somebody else that is a piece of art you could hang in your home or your office,” Ham said. “In addition to that, it’s a piece of the community.” Everyone is encouraged to participate, no matter how confident an artist they are. After all, the goal is to represent the entire city of Odessa—not just the professional artists. The custom stamps used will even the playing field, and every event will have an artist attending who can guide people through the process.
12 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group “We want whoever is facilitating to speak in the language of art, so that they can show people and tell people how to do this in a way that unlocks that hidden creativity that everybody has,” Ham said. “I don’t believe anyone’s not an artist. Everybody has some sort of skill or talent that can be harnessed.” Many people have come together to make Our Town a possibility. Alongside the artists and the staff of Odessa Arts are a number of volunteers, as well as businesses who have come alongside Odessa Arts to help fund the program. One of the first, Ham said, was Chevron. “They’re helping to fund Phase One and Phase Two and I think that’s amazing,” Ham said. “It’s great to have a partner like that.” Through the months of Phase One, Odessa Arts will need community members to share local events. They want to go places they may have never seen before, in order to reach as many people in Odessa as possible. Everyone will have an opportunity to participate, and to see who makes Odessa the amazing place it is. “It just reinforces the power of art to connect people, and to be a method of storytelling: and storytelling in itself is an art, but in a way that’s different,” Ham said. “It’s not an oral history, it’s a visual document of our city at this very moment.” Our Town is a unique program, and Ham said even the preparation has been eye-opening to him. The culmination of the project in 2027 will be something to look forward to. †
MIDLAND WINK CARLSBAD HOBBS POST BIG SPRING MERTZON OZONA SONORA KNOX CITY CARRIZO SPRINGS LAFAYETTE FRANKLIN PLEASANTON ALVIN FLORESVILLE BORGER PERRYTON BAKERSFIELD ROMANCE FAIRFIELD STERLING ALDERSON LINDSAY EDMOND HENNESSEY WOODWARD HUGOTON GARDEN CITY MEDICINE LODGE COLBY MCPHERSON GREAT BEND RUSSELL PLAINVILLE AZTEC DENVER GRAND JUNCTION ROOSEVELT ROCK SPRINGS CASPER THERMOPOLIS GILLETTE CHINOOK WILLISTON SIDNEY BAKER BOWMAN DICKINSON JOHNSTOWN EVANSTON BAIROIL ARTESIA GULF OF AMERICA DENTON MOHALL JASPER BROWNFIELD LOVINGTON ANDREWS MCALESTER QUINTER THE WOODLANDS 13 hometown living at its best
HOMETOWN Happenings
15 hometown living at its best On August 23, 2025, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Permian Basin’s Sneaker Ball brought attendees from across the Basin together for an event supporting over 6,000 youth who participate in the Club’s outside-of-school programs and youth sports. Boys and Girls Club of the Permian Basin provides a safe place for kids to have mentors, hot meals, educational programming, art, technology, sports, and so much more. Sneaker Ball brought club kids back to the event to greet donors through the creation of event decor and to share how their time at the club has impacted their lives. Midlanders, Odessans and beyond came together to see SNL’s longeststanding cast member, Kenan Thompson. Guests also enjoyed a unique meal of a ‘Good Burger’ style dinner, games, live & silent auction, watercolor artist, jewelry pull, and ended the evening with an after-party featuring DJ Bryan that kept the dance floor full until midnight. This extremely successful event helped raise over one million dollars for the local clubs in their mission to help young people become productive, caring, and responsible citizens by providing enriching experiences in a positive environment, all for just A DOLLAR A DAY. A huge thank you to the donors, committee members, BGC staff, and volunteers who made it possible for the BGCPB to serve more children in the community who truly need the club. Visit their website, BASINKIDS.ORG, for information on how you can help support the children of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Permian Basin. We hope to see you all at next year’s gala, Sneaker Ball: Part Deux 2026, on August 22, at the Odessa Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. Sneaker Photos provided by MK MEDIA, KATRINA LOCKHART AND MATTHEW SAMANIEGO BALL
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Written by JESSICA WESSON | Photos provided by GREG SIMMONS SERVICE, FAITH & MUSIC A LIFE OF 18 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group
19 hometown living at its best WWhen Greg Simmons and his wife moved to Odessa as newlyweds in 1990, they never imagined just how rooted their family would become in the West Texas community. Thirtyfive years later, Simmons has built a career, raised four children, welcomed his first grandchild, and dedicated much of his life to serving others. For nearly three decades, Simmons has held the role of Ector County Commissioner. It’s a position, he admits, he “just kind of fell into,” but one that quickly became a calling. “County commissioner is similar to a city council position, but for the county,” Simmons explained. “We set the tax rate and budget, and oversee things like the sheriff’s office, county jail, courthouse and road construction. Most of my time is spent on the finance side of running county government.” Greg Simmons is serving Odessa to the best of his God given abilities.
20 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group Simmons first ran for office 27 years ago and hasn’t looked back. “I was fortunate enough to win the first time I ran and have been re-elected seven times since,” he said. What began as a desire to “plug in and make a difference” has become one of his longest-standing commitments to Odessa. SERVING BEYOND GOVERNMENT But public service is only one part of Simmons’ story. Faith is woven through every role he takes on, from his professional life to his volunteer efforts. He serves as treasurer for the Permian Basin Mission Center, a faith-based nonprofit that provides food, clothing and emergency assistance to families in need. “It’s kind of like a mixture between a food bank and a Goodwill store,” Simmons said. “People can get groceries, pick out clothes for their kids or receive help with utility bills or rent if they’ve fallen behind. It’s really about being a lifeline for people who are struggling.” His heart for young people has also led him to serve as president of First Priority of the Permian Basin, a student-led Christian club network that spans nearly 60 campuses across West Texas. “Each campus sets its own agenda,” Simmons said. “Some meet for breakfast, some for lunch. The students pray together and learn leadership and evangelism skills. It’s about giving kids a place to share their faith and encourage one another. Our role as adults is just oversight—providing funding, volunteers and meals.” The program, which operates independently of school funding, has grown beyond Odessa into Midland, surrounding counties and even into Lubbock. Simmons credits its success to the hunger students have for community and encouragement. “It’s been well-received, and we’re always looking for ways to keep growing,” he said.
21 hometown living at its best BALANCING CAREERS AND COMMITMENTS Alongside these responsibilities, Simmons works full time as president of American Momentum Bank’s Odessa market. He oversees four branches and manages both commercial and consumer lending. “That’s my day job,” he said with a laugh. “But honestly, all of these roles take time during the day. It keeps me busy.” Despite the workload, Simmons has no regrets about pouring his energy into so many areas. For him, the motivation is simple: family and faith. “When I first started in public service, I had young kids,” he said. “I wanted to expand economic opportunities so that one day my kids wouldn’t have to leave Odessa for bigger cities just to find good jobs. And now, with a grandchild here, I see it all as an investment in future generations.” His faith, he added, has guided every step. “God has blessed me greatly, and I believe He’s placed me here for a purpose. I want people to know that’s my driving force—to do things that glorify Him and help my community.”
22 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group A MUSICAL OUTLET Outside of government, banking, and nonprofit work, Simmons has another passion: music. “Music’s been a part of my life since junior high,” he said. “I was in choir, part of a Christian rock band in high school, and I’ve always sung in church.” Nearly 20 years ago, Simmons and a group of fellow bankers started playing together for fun at a Christmas party. The band was such a hit they decided to keep going, performing under the tonguein-cheek name “Insufficient Funds.” “The people have changed some over the years, but we’ve been together for almost two decades now,” Simmons said. “We don’t play for money very often. Mostly, it’s weddings, community events or fundraisers where we donate our time. It’s just a way to have fun and, for me, a way to get away from the finance and numbers of my other jobs.” ROOTED IN ODESSA Looking back on the past 35 years, Simmons is grateful for the place he and his family have been able to call home. He and his wife raised their four children in Odessa, and now he hopes the community continues to thrive for generations to come. “Everybody wants the place they live to be successful and enjoyable,” he said. “For me, it’s about making sure Odessa is that kind of place, not just for my kids and grandkids, but for all families here.” From county government to nonprofit work, from banking to band practice, Greg Simmons’ life is a testament to the impact one person can have when they invest in both people and place. “I just want to be faithful to the purpose God has given me,” Simmons said. “And for me, that means serving Odessa in whatever way I can.” †
23 hometown living at its best Your home (and everyone in it) - In good hands. 432.312.6337 We get it: Inviting a complete stranger into your family’s home can be a little unsettling. That’s why when you’re expecting a visit from Billy Black HVAC, you’ll receive a dispatch notification via text, which includes your technician’s name and photo, along with their customer satisfaction score and a short bio. Rest assured, as you walk to your door, a fully vetted, highly-skilled and NATEcertified technician will be waiting on the other side. TACLB72497E
HOMETOWN Happenings
25 hometown living at its best The Odessa Chamber of Commerce hosted its highly anticipated Annual Banquet & Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Odessa Marriott Hotel. The evening brought together hundreds of local business leaders and elected officials for a night of celebration and networking. Centered on the theme "Fueling Our Future!", the dinner was highlighted by an inspiring roundtable discussion with Ross Perot, Jr., the newly elected Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board. Mr. Perot, renowned for founding the massive AllianceTexas development, shared his vision for economic growth and diversification. The banquet served as a platform to recognize the outstanding contributions of Odessa Chamber's incredible businesses and community leaders. Odessa Board Chair Shem Culpepper also passed along the gavel to incoming Chair, Jeff Meyers, and the new board was sworn in. The success of the 2025 Annual Banquet was made possible with the support of sponsors and members who attended. Your commitment ensures the continued vitality of the Odessa business community. Stay engaged and continue Fueling Our Future by attending upcoming Chamber functions and contributing to our local economic development initiatives. F UTURE Photos provided by Odessa Chamber of Commerce BANQUET & AWARDS DINNER Fueling Our
HOMETOWN Happenings
Shem Culpepper with First Basin Credit Union | Outgoing Board of Directors Chair Jeff Meyers with Habitat for Humanity | Incoming Board of Directors Chair Blake Monk & Savannah Woodward | Leadership Co-Chairs Diana Meza with Workforce Solutions of the Permian Basin | Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Chair Roberta Mapp with Chase Bank | Glen Atkins Ambassador of the Year Award Morgan Chelette | Young Professionals of Odessa Board Chair Kris Drake with Chevron | Outgoing Board of Director Ronny Haynes with Southwest Heritage Credit Union | Outgoing Board of Director Andrew Marshall with Sewell Family of Companies | Outgoing Board of Director Ekaterina Teltevskaya with Odessa Marriott Hotel & Conference Center | Outgoing Board of Director Individuals Honored 27 hometown living at its best
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30 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group The White-Pool House Friends organization is on a mission to merge Odessa’s past with the present, for years to come. Written by CONNIE LEWIS LEONARD | Photos provided by CHRIS MAYFIELD Preserving Yesterday, Celebrating Today & Inspiring Tomorrow
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32 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group HHave you ever dreamed of traveling back in time to the Old West in the 1880’s? When you step through the doors of the White-Pool House Museum, your dream comes alive. Authentically restored and furnished with period pieces from the White and Pool families as well as other generous benefactors, the house represents a piece of living history, built before Odessa became a town. It stands as a testament of the grit, determination, and resilience of the pioneer spirit. In an effort to attract settlers, the railroad promoted the “New Town of Odessa” as an “agricultural and health oasis.” In 1887, Charles White, a Quaker, sold his home and struggling grain business in Indiana and moved to the frontier of West Texas. Being a farmer, with a wife in poor health, it seemed the perfect place to start again for an ambitious man of 62 and his wife aged 57. White purchased one section of land (640 acres). He and his two sons built a two-story farmhouse. The outside walls are red brick with plaster masonry over wooden lattice boards inside. The rock-lined cellar is made of native caliche rock found on the West Texas Prairie. As experienced farmers, they installed windmills and an irrigation system. Other residents scoffed at their efforts, but they achieved great success with their crops of sorghum cane, cotton, a large vegetable garden, and a peach and pear orchard. Mr. White and one of his sons opened a general store. Further, Charles built eleven other houses in Odessa. After being kicked by a horse, Charles died on June 14, 1905, just short of turning 81. After her husband’s death, Lucy White moved with her son, Herbert to Mineral Wells, Texas.
The house changed hands several times until it was purchased by Oso Pool in 1923. After the discovery of Oil in Ector County in 1926, a tremendous influx of people created a housing shortage. Oso Pool was not directly involved in the oil business, but he turned his home into a profitable apartment building. Through extensive remodeling, such as partitioning the rooms, adding bathrooms, and closing in porches, Pool created a five-unit apartment from the original White house. The deed to the house remained in the Pool family until Oso Pool gave the house and six acres of land to Ector County for historical preservation. The Ector County Commissioners Court accepted the donation on June 12, 1978. The White-Pool House Friends, a non-profit organization formed in 1986 exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to preserve the historic heritage of the house. The White-Pool House is a Texas Antiquity, Texas Archaeological Landmark. It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The Museum is also a proud member of Texas Pecos Trails and Discover Odessa. The current windmill is not original, though the fan assembly has a history. The original windmill and tower were made of wood and did not survive. The fan assembly was rickety, and during a sudden windstorm, while Christine Holcomb, Executive at Large, was working outside, the blades became loose and began to fly everywhere like spears! The wooden Eclipse windmill fan assembly was restored, and the tower has been rebuilt, topped with the Chicago Aeromotor from the old Headlee’s Ranch windmill fan assembly. The White-Pool House is more than a reminder of the past. The event venue offers a beautiful, serene setting for important life events such as weddings, receptions, graduations, Quinceaneras, reunions and conferences. Ample space is available for eating, dancing, mingling, and photo ops around the beautiful grounds and in the home itself. The Victorian Bridal Ready Room may be used by the bridal party prior to the ceremony. “When we began hosting events we were constantly booked. There were only a few event venues in the area. Then, others began to put in event venues. At last count, there are more than 40! We stay busy, though. People like the idea that their venue fees are being used to preserve Odessa's only historic museum,” Christine said. Oil prices affect bookings, too. When oil dips, the phones begin to ring with concerns about whether or not the event will be able to pay for their rental. “We try to work with everyone to make their special day a success,” Christine said. To bring awareness of heritage, and in celebration of the 140th anniversary of the White-Pool House and the 100th anniversary of the city of Odessa, the White-Pool House conducted their first Essay and Art Contest in September. The prompt was to write about what life was like for Charles and Lucy White or Oso and Helen Pool in early Odessa. Could you live like that? What would you miss the most? The art contest was a portrayal of “Seeing the White-Pool House Through Your Eyes.” Ector County students were eligible to enter their specific age categories for a chance to win $100. Members of the community loved the contest and have asked to make it an annual event! “We have been so focused on trying to save the museum through revitalization efforts, that we have not been able to engage the community, other than through events and museum tours. This is our first event to engage the community in a different way,” Christine said. She is looking forward to future community collaborations that merge Odessa’s past with the present, for years to come. † To schedule a personal tour and for information about booking the venue for your event, email whitepoolhouse@outlook.com. 33 hometown living at its best
34 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group Art Contest Winners: 1. Joy Lewani, 2. Ben Perez, 3. Aria Cadena, 4. Alex Perez, 5. Erik Espino Essay Contest Winner: Faith Lewani 1 2 THE ART CONTEST WAS A PORTRAYAL OF “Seeing the White-Pool House Through Your Eyes.” ECTOR COUNTY STUDENTS WERE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER THEIR SPECIFIC AGE CATEGORIES FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $100. 5 3 4
Charles and Lucy White, two early Odessa settlers, left a noteworthy legacy. Their house, built in 1887, still stands on the highest point in Odessa. Their lifestyle, from their Quaker beliefs to their hard work and ethics, has left an impact on early Odessa. Moving from Indiana to Odessa and starting life all over again, led to many sacrifices and hardships for the Whites. But it also led to many opportunities. Life for Mr. and Mrs. Charles White was very different from life today. After the American Civil War, Mr. White's grain crop in Indiana was unsuccessful, which led the family to bankruptcy. Mrs. White and her husband, along with their two sons, Wilfred and Herbert, packed their belongings and moved to the young town of Odessa. Odessa was established several years before, in 1881, as a stop on the Texas and Pacific, or T&P, Railway. The railroad company sold many farmers land near the junction for low prices. Because of the railway's advertisement, many farmers poured into West Texas in the 1880s. Also, the railroad company marketed Odessa to be a health spa. Mrs. White was sickly, and needed a dry climate for her health. The White family moved for a few different reasons, and they found the perfect place to settle, right here in Odessa. Although records on this historic family are limited, Mrs. Lucy White would have likely helped support the family by doing many household chores. She would've cooked meals for her family. In comparison with our kitchens today, her kitchen was rather small, and she would not have had much space to cook. She would've also prepared meals without modern appliances, like potato peelers, crock pots, and can openers. Mrs. White wouldn't have had present-day cleaning products, such as disinfectant spray and paper towels. She probably cleaned her house with only vinegar, baking soda, tea, and water. She would've scrubbed everything by hand with a rag. Then, she probably had to wash the rags, along with all the family's clothes outside, as they had no indoor plumbing, by hand. She probably also sewed clothes for her family and made candles, as they did not have electricity, for light. Lucy White likely served her household well. Mrs. White was most likely accustomed to hard work. She even helped her husband and two sons build their house out of solid red brick in 1887! Despite the fact she was in her fifties or sixties, she probably spent any spare time she had helping her husband in the fields, and suffered and endured through many hours of back-breaking labor. Charles White owned six hundred and forty acres of land where he grew orchards and vegetable gardens. There was probably much to be plowed, planted, weeded, and picked. Mrs. White was likely glad to have her sons, so that they could all help their father work the land. The White family's crops were so successful that eventually Mr. White opened a mercantile. The mercantile probably served as the young town's only general store. Because they were Quakers and believed in integrity, the town probably trusted the Whites to be fair and honest business owners. Lucy White most likely assisted her husband in managing the mercantile. There she would have sold spices, fabrics, tools, and other household essentials. Despite the fact she was sickly, Mrs. White probably contributed much to her family. Living in the late 1800s would have been very difficult and different. The challenges of little medicine and little luxury would've been hard. With today's progressions, living in the 1800s seems almost impossible. The hardest thing about living and growing up in that time would have been not having the opportunities and education of today. Going to college and achieving the career you wanted would be extremely difficult and unlikely in the 1880s. At the time, most were just glad to make a living and survive another day. Still, there were very important experiences to be had in Lucy White's time. Like the chance of working dawn till dusk to earn the little you owned. There is a deep pride that you earn from selfsufficiency and working hard for everything that you have. And the experience of trusting in only God for protection, not friends or money. The life of trusting God fully was worth the hardships of the 1880s. Lucy White and her family's lives were very different from ours. Odessa was different. Their enduring and hardworking lifestyle was different. Their values on integrity and self-sufficiency were different. It would've been hard to live in the 1800s, but that lifestyle would've brought something unique and beneficial. There is much to be learned and gained from Mrs. White and her family's story. Though they weren't very well known, they left behind a piece of history that should not be forgotten. Lucy White and the Struggles of Early Odessa Written by Faith Lewani 35
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38 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group Written by AVERY PULLIN | Photos provided by JO ALVAREZ Though law enforcement is a second career for Jo Alvarez, it was always a dream that lingered in the back of her mind. With a push from a friend, Jo decided to pursue that dream in 2016 when she began the police academy with the City of Odessa. Her first role with the Odessa Police Department was patrolling the streets, and she gained valuable crime scene experience. This experience would ultimately shape her foundational understanding of law enforcement and give her skills she would use in her various roles. Patrolling streets, despite its great experience, was hard hours and shift work, especially for a mom. The concept of community policing appealed to Jo, and she transitioned into a campus officer position with Odessa College. In addition to working as a campus officer, she was able to pursue higher education. She finished her associate degree at Odessa College. Then due to a program designed for active law enforcement, Jo was able to graduate from Tarleton State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. At the same time, she revived the Crime Stoppers program at Odessa College which is still going today. After finishing her bachelor’s degree, Jo had a desire to keep pursuing higher education. She started her master’s degree at University of TexasPermian Basin and shortly thereafter became one Law enforcement officer, Jo Alvarez desires to build community and bring justice to families of victims. She has merged this desire with a passion for storytelling, publishing her first novel Terminal Justice in 2025. BEHIND the Badge LAW & iterature L
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40 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group of their campus officers. However, by this time she had dreams of teaching at the university level and wanted classroom experience. She spent the next year teaching 7th grade math, experience once again that would help shape her perspective and her career. With classroom experience, Jo was able to transition into a role as an instructor at Odessa College. Once back at Odessa College she was also able to assist with the police academy. Her desire to implement community policing efforts, teach young law enforcement officers, and study forensics were all coming together to form the LEO Jo was born to be. It was not long before Jo was recruited by industry connections who knew her work. She was hired by Midland ISD where she serves today as a sergeant overseeing 10 campuses. Connections, teamwork, and communication are integral to her work. Whether she has been a patrol officer with the city or a campus officer with an educational institution, it is evident that criminal justice and community building are passions for Jo Alvarez.
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42 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group In 2020 as the world battled against the COVID-19 pandemic, Jo found herself spending many hours at the hospital with her dad. During those long, quiet hours she began to develop ideas for a story that brought forensics into the spotlight. In her various roles she had always enjoyed studying forensics and collecting evidence. Whether she was on the streets or on a campus, securing a scene and working diligently to bring justice became a driving passion in Jo’s life. She took that passion, blended it with a heart for teaching, and began to write a novel. This year Jo published her first novel, Terminal Justice, with the support of her husband Rich who also has a law enforcement and military background. The hope was to provide a book that was accessible to most readers (in both English and Spanish) that provided understanding of forensic techniques. The novel follows James Aaron Musk, Jr. as he is discharged from the United Sates Air Force Academy and spirals into a life of serial crime. VOICE for the Victims
43 hometown living at its best To write the book Jo relied heavily on her experiences studying crime scenes and working to bring justice to families. It gives readers a chance to learn more about the reality of detective work and a glimpse into the minds of serial criminals. The book draws you in with its stark realities and keeps you hooked with the desire to learn why the criminal is committing these horrendous crimes. As Jo writes her second novel, she aims to bring in even more knowledge of forensics. When asked what drives her to write these novels or continue her career as a law enforcement officer, it is evident that Jo has a calling from God for this work. She points to Genesis 4:10 after Cain has killed Abel. The Lord asks Cain what he has done since Abel’s “blood is crying to Me from the ground.” Jo thinks about this verse at every crime scene and in every mention of such in her book. When Jo is able to secure a scene, collect clean fingerprints, and ultimately bring justice to a family, she finds beauty in the fact God made us with our biology down to our very fingerprints. This detail of humanity is a way in which the victim can cry out, and police officers (and authors) like Jo can hear them. They can fight for them. They can provide justice. † Terminal Justice by Jo Alvarez can be found on Amazon in English and Spanish. Follow her on Instagram @joalvarezbooks to stay up to date on her sequel coming soon!
45 hometown living at its best What are You Celebrating? VisitGranbury.com
46 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group Written by HALEY RAGSDALE | Photos by PAIGE IRENE PHOTOGRAPHY BUILDING Brighter Futures One Match at a Time Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Permian Basin is helping Littles dream big for 50 years.
47 hometown living at its best AA big lifetime impact for children of the Permian Basin starts with just a little bit of time. Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Permian Basin, has changed the life of children in our community for 50 years. “We have a Little in Odessa that was really struggling in school. He was matched with his Big who really prioritizes education, the Little’s grades shot up and he stopped getting in trouble at school,” said Kayla Minchew Executive Director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Permian Basin (BBBS). She went on to explain, “This program works, kids enrolled in BBBS are doing well.” The mentorship program works wonders, with hundreds of pairs of Bigs and Littles over the last 50 years. “Kids with a mentor are more likely to go to college and to earn more money over their lifetime. We see reduced crime rates and children make better choices by having these programs. We are creating safer and stronger communities when we have mentorship programs,” Minchew said. Big Brothers, Big Sisters is the only nonprofit that does one on one mentoring between a Big, a volunteer mentor and a Little, a child. The process of finding a mentorship match involves in person interviews, safety training and background checks.
48 odessa living magazine “It’s almost like a dating app where it takes all the needs, interests and traits and puts them in an algorithm and matches a Big with a Little. Then our team meets to discuss the best possible match. We want it to be a long-term match that hopefully leads to a lifelong friendship, so it’s not something we take lightly”, Minchew said. And when a perfect mentorship match is made, the results can truly change lives of both the Little and the Big, as Minchew explained. “One of our Littles said his Big helped him feel safe. That is huge for kids. He goes to all his baseball games and his programs at school. His Big is an engineer, and they do a lot of Legos together. It’s a sweet match.” This year, Minchew said they hope to have 100 matches, but are always in need of volunteers to serve. COVID really impacted their volunteer numbers, so they need to increase the amount of interested Bigs because currently 37 kids are waiting to be matched.
49 hometown living at its best There are several different mentorship programs that interested volunteers can get involved in, depending on the time commitment that works best. The first program is the community-based program where a Big takes out their Little to do something fun 4-6 hours a month. The second program is a schoolbased program where the Big goes to the child’s campus and hangs out at school. Lastly, the third program is a site-based program where Bigs go to the Boys and Girls Club to do things such as help with homework or play basketball for an hour a week. Minchew explained that the program not only helps children navigate their life, but adult volunteers are also impacted. “One of our Bigs in Odessa said it is so rewarding when she visits her Littles because they are so excited to see her. This Big is an artist, so she shares that with her Littles and figures out who they are and what they want to be,” Minchew said.
50 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Permian Basin started in 1975. To commemorate 50 years, many former Bigs and Littles gathered to celebrate on July 24th. Bigs talked about their matches and shared all the success of their Littles. “The impact is amazing, sometimes the Big is the only person the child has to talk to. Bigs can provide experiences that they might not have had before,” Minchew said. † To volunteer to be a Big or to sign up your child, visit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Permian Basins website at bbbspermianbasin.org and begin the application process.
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RAELYN CLINTON Photos provided by THE CLINTON FAMILY and by JENNINGS RODEO PHOTOGRAPHY 4-H SPOTLIGHT NAME: Raelyn Clinton, 16 GRADE: 11 PARENTS: Kema and Justin Clinton 4-H CLUB: Ector 4-H
53 hometown living at its best HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN THE 4-H AND PROJECTS? I have been a part of 4-H for around 8 years now. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT SHOWING? I enjoy the competitive nature of showing; it has taught me the responsibility of making sure my animals are in peak condition for top performance. It can be tiring, for example, coming home from track practice and riding all my horses, then feeding them, and on top of that, making sure that my schoolwork is done. WHAT 4-H AWARDS HAVE YOU WON? 2024 D6 Photography Contest’s Best of Category in Food and the Catch-all categories 4th place breakaway roping at the State 4-H horse show 2018 3rd place stakes at the State 4-H horse show 2018 District 6 4-H Horse Show Champion Mare 2019 District 6 4-H horse show champion, Gelding 2019 District 6 4-H horse show res. Champion barrels 2018 2024 State Best of Show Motion/ Action photography
HOW HAS BEING A PART OF 4-H PROGRAMS PREPARED YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE/GOALS? 4-H is helping me improve my leadership skills and helping me become a better public speaker. So, it is now easier for me to go up to people and just have a normal conversation without being so nervous or giving one-word answers. WHAT OTHER 4-H PROJECTS HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN? I have participated in Sewing, Photography, Horse project, and Leadership projects WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT JOINING 4-H TO PERSUADE THEM TO JOIN? I would tell them that they will learn valuable leadership skills, build confidence, and organizational skills. The 4 H’s stand for Head (knowledge), Heart (relating), Hands (community and vocal skills), and Health (well-being). These help you become a wellrounded individual. OTHER GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS YOU’RE INVOLVED IN? I participate in school sports, including track and field and crosscountry. I’m a member of both the Texas High School Rodeo Association and the American Quarter Horse Association. In those associations, I compete in barrels, breakaway, and cow horse. I’m the current Vice President of the Texas High School Rodeo Association Region 2. I’m a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well. WHO IS YOUR MENTOR? I think that my main mentors are my parents, who are always pushing me to be the best version of myself in and out of rodeoing. They have taught me how to be gracious and kind to the people around me. Also, more than anything, they have taught me to believe in myself and to dust myself off when I get knocked down. They have been there through everything, big or small. 54 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND WHAT WILL YOU STUDY? I want to go to Texas A&M College Station to study oral health to become a dental hygienist or maybe a dentist. TELL US A FUNNY STORY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WHILE CARING FOR YOUR ANIMAL OR DURING A COMPETITION. For some reason, when I was very young, I couldn’t remember the barrel pattern. So, my mom bribed me with a Snickers bar, and I haven’t missed a beat since. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS? I enjoy riding horses, taking pictures, traveling, fishing, hanging out with friends, and being with my family. ANY WORDS OF WISDOM TO SHARE? Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” I always look back on this verse when I’m going through a rough patch in my life.
56 odessa living magazine | hometownmedia.group We are currently seeking a Sales Account Executive for the Permian Basin! If you are: • ENERGETIC • SELF MOTIVATED • ENJOY MEETING PEOPLE Please send your resume to: casey@hometownmedia.group or call (817) 599-6167 to learn more. WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!! HEAR FROM YOU!! RESERVE YOUR GRADUATE ANNOUNCEMENT SPACE TODAY! Limited spacing available for our upcoming HOMETOWN GRADUATES SPECIAL SECTION Call 817.599.6167 or email lindsey@hometownmedia.group for info.
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