In January of 1960, Thomas Mason purchased a farm near Friona, in the Texas Panhandle. The old farmhouse most likely constructed in the 1920’s, and situated on the half section of land. He was almost like a young pioneer trying to get established in the farming business. How enjoyable could that be without a suitable partner? Living on the farm alone was about to change. He learned from his neighbors across the road that there was a single girl who lived with her parents up the road about a ½ mile at a neighboring farm.

On the evening of February 10th, 1960 Thomas showed up at the O’Brian farm to meet this young girl he had heard about. When she heard someone knocking on the door, she thought it was a neighbor coming to check on her dad. Mr. O’Brian had broken his leg that day. She was not too worried about having curlers in her hair. It was no doubt one of her dad’s friends at the door. But she was wrong… It was a young suitor who had come to call on her. Apparently the presence of curlers in her hair did not scare him off, because he came back for again…

There is little information about what happened over the ensuing months. One of their first dates was to a high school play put on by the drama students in the nearby town of Dimmitt. Rumor has it that Thomas was seen driving his 1957 Chevy with someone sitting very close to him in the seat during the spring of 1960. I suspect the rumor of a two headed driver is indeed true. On June 10th, 1960 Thomas married that girl he went to call on only a few months earlier. Barbara O’Brian became Barbara Mason on that summer day in a simple ceremony that was held in the living room of the preacher’s home in Friona.

They began their married life on that farm that Mr. Mason purchased with the help of his father in the winter of 1960. In the spring of 1961, a daughter was born. And then 14 months later another daughter came along. In 1967, still another girl was born. And then 14 years after the birth of the first girl, a fourth daughter was added to the family in 1975.

They raised those four girls in that same farmhouse out in the country. They sent all of them to college. Each of them finished their degrees. One by one the girls married and son-in-law’s entered the picture. Unfortunately none of the daughters married a farmer! But even son-in-law’s have at least one redeeming quality. Thomas and Barbara have enjoyed 10 grandchildren over the past 22 years.

Fifty years later they are still together. Fifty years later they are still living in the same house and farming the same land. For fifty years they have endured all of the ups and downs of life on the farm. There have been good crop years and there have years that have been thin. They have been a constant encouragement to their relatives, neighbors, and friends.

I realize that romances today are most likely more complicated than the four month courtship that Tom and Barbara experienced in 1960. But I can’t help but think that good things happen when two people totally commit themselves to one person in marriage. The stability and consistency they have offered to everyone around them will be a blessing for generations to come. In fact their influence will likely reach far beyond the span of their lifetimes.

I am a little partial to the young couple who met on February 10th, 1960. Their first daughter, who was born in 1961, became my wife almost 26 years ago. I am one of four non-farming son-in-law’s. It is not like I have gotten totally off the hook. I have done my share of plowing, working cattle, and going to farm sales over the years.

How could I be more grateful for two people who remain totally committed to each other after 50 years. They have been a blessing to me in ways I could not begin to list. If marriages are going to thrive, there is a crying need for mentors to look up to. More on this special couple tomorrow…