OT: Book "The Kings of Big Spring"

[westx]

I finished this book yesterday and enjoyed the book very much. I don't necessarily recommend it to all because it isn't one of those books people like unless they have an interest in the subject matter. The subject matter here is oil and west Texas (and some farming). Bryan Mealer, who went to UT, is the author. He is in his 40s and was born and raised in Big Spring. He outlines his family's migration from the late 1800s to Texas. He covered the booms/busts/droughts, Spindletop, Santa Rita, Josh Cosden, Raymond Tollett, the rise and fall of Big Spring, the excesses of oil money, but mainly about his family as they struggled through the generations and everything going on around them. If anybody reads it, I wouldn't mind getting your thoughts.

 

[2300 Nueces]

I stopped to eat lunch at Subway in Big Spring not too long ago. The Subway was full of FBI and ATF agents...... My best guess was that I20 is a drug route or that the cartels use Big Spring for something.

 

[westx]

I stopped to eat lunch at Subway in Big Spring not too long ago. The Subway was full of FBI and ATF agents...... My best guess was that I20 is a drug route or that the cartels use Big Spring for something.

I would have liked to see Big Spring in its best days before the 70s. I drive past it when I travel to and from DFW/El Paso. It is about the ugliest town I have ever seen (No offense to anybody living there). The book talked about Hotel Settles and how impressive it was early on (1930s, I think) and even compared it to the New Yorker.

 

[2300 Nueces]

I would have liked to see Big Spring in its best days before the 70s. I drive past it when I travel to and from DFW/El Paso. It is about the ugliest town I have ever seen (No offense to anybody living there). The book talked about Hotel Settles and how impressive it was early on (1930s, I think) and even compared it to the New Yorker.

Big Spring reminds me of Mineral Wells. MW was a happening place pre 1970's. Anyway, West Texas oil money does not invest into the community anymore. It is probably due to the boom and bust cycle that oil has experienced over the years.

 

[JoeAg]

I am from Big Spring. The Settles has been completely refurbished and restored to its original form. It is awesome. It has always been a very rough town for its size. No offense taken as to aesthetics, but have you ever been through Lamesa or Snyder, or Odessa for that matter? My Dad worked at the refinery (formerly Cosden) for over 35 years. I understand it to be a VERY rough place now. I haven't lived there since the 90s but visited my parents all the time until they moved away to be close to us. I'll check the book out! Thanks!

 

[westx]

I am from Big Spring. The Settles has been completely refurbished and restored to its original form. It is awesome. It has always been a very rough town for its size. No offense taken as to aesthetics, but have you ever been through Lamesa or Snyder, or Odessa for that matter? My Dad worked at the refinery (formerly Cosden) for over 35 years. I understand it to be a VERY rough place now. I haven't lived there since the 90s but visited my parents all the time until they moved away to be close to us. I'll check the book out! Thanks!

Yes, I read that it was restored. But, unfortunately, a lot of the initial decor of the era was auctioned off and it was supposedly abandoned for many years along with the Petroleum building across the street. Cosden referred to that refinery as "The Jewel of the West". Pretty cool. BTW, I didn't know there used to be an Air Force base there.

 

[JoeAg]

Yes, Webb AFB. When it closed in the late 70's, it hurt the town a lot. When I was in high school we used to be able to get into the Settles and walk all the way to the top using the old stairs. it was completely abandoned for a long time.

 

[westx]

Yes, Webb AFB. When it closed in the late 70's, it hurt the town a lot. When I was in high school we used to be able to get into the Settles and walk all the way to the top using the old stairs. it was completely abandoned for a long time.

Does this guy look familiar. Quite a character. He lived 1000 mph and was a friend of Mealer's dad.

 

[FlourBluffHorn]

I finished this book yesterday and enjoyed the book very much. I don't necessarily recommend it to all because it isn't one of those books people like unless they have an interest in the subject matter. The subject matter here is oil and west Texas (and some farming). Bryan Mealer, who went to UT, is the author. He is in his 40s and was born and raised in Big Spring. He outlines his family's migration from the late 1800s to Texas. He covered the booms/busts/droughts, Spindletop, Santa Rita, Josh Cosden, Raymond Tollett, the rise and fall of Big Spring, the excesses of oil money, but mainly about his family as they struggled through the generations and everything going on around them. If anybody reads it, I wouldn't mind getting your thoughts.

Try reading Texas Ranger by Patterson, its not who you think done it

 

[ASURAM2010]

My father in law has businesses in Big Spring and we played them all growing up. That place, in my opinion, is a cesspool. The amount of drugs and gang activity in a town that small is mindblowing.

 

[JoeAg]

Always rough. Just didn't realize it growing up there. There used to be an amazing amount of wealth there also, even though all the aforementioned elements were there. Odessa is the most dangerous town in the state though and it ain't close.

 

[2300 Nueces]

Always rough. Just didn't realize it growing up there. There used to be an amazing amount of wealth there also, even though all the aforementioned elements were there. Odessa is the most dangerous town in the state though and it ain't close.

I don't know about the most dangerous in the state. Most of Dallas, Northside Ft. Worth, Most of Houston, East Austin, South SA and the border towns say hello. Odessa is a salty place.

 

[Scholz]

I am from Big Spring. ... but have you ever been through Lamesa or Snyder, or Odessa?

You missed mentioning Seminole and Denver City in your who's who of shitty West Texas towns.

 

[FlourBluffHorn]

hitchhiked from Hobbs to Austin when I came home from Army, that was the longest stretch of nothing I ever seen, waiting hrs for a ride , finally after 4 hrs a truck driver took me into Big springs and I got me a ****in Greyhound and said to hell with saving money, took me almost 2 days from Hobbs to outside BS

 

[freeper]

that was the longest stretch of nothing I ever seen,

I invite you to drive through any stretch of Nevada that doesn't contain Reno or Las Vegas sometime....and then revisit your feelings on the matter....

 

[JoeAg]

Haven't been through Denver City or Seminole in a long time. I would like to submit Pecos also.

 

[RoboCocks21]

Haven't been through Denver City or Seminole in a long time. I would like to submit Pecos also.

Hey don't talk about Pecos

 

[Scholz]

Muleshoe. Pecos has that cool rodeo at least.