When we hear the word retirement, we swiftly shift our thoughts to free-time, leisure trips, taking up new hobbies or indulging in old ones. Very seldomly we think about what it took to get there. Randy Bigbee is on the brink of closing the professional cycle and embarking on one of the most desired stages of life.
Randy was born in the small community of Veribest, 9 miles east of San Angelo, Texas to Jesse and Hazel Bigbee. He went to school in several places because his father was a Baptist preacher, who pastored churches in several small towns during his childhood.
He recalls his first job as picking cotton at the age of eight, and his first hourly job during high school at a hardware store on Saturdays. He attended High School in Bloomburg Texas and college at Howard Payne University in Brownwood where he worked for a florist and nursery. It was after graduating college when he was offered a job at Dallas Nursery Garden Center that he developed his love for plants and landscaping. He enrolled in Richland College in Dallas and studied Horticulture and landscaping. He became a Texas Certified Nursery Professional in 1977 and obtained the Texas Irrigation License in 1980 and moved to Brenham, Texas and worked for Ellison’s Nursery and Garden Center for four years before starting his own business, Bigbee & Associates Landscape and Irrigation Contractor. Randy has also held a Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester License for several years. He has held many titles, from business owner to nursery sales, nursery manager, landscape designer, landscape consultant, and enhancement estimator. In July of 2006, he became part of the Westco Grounds Maintenance team, where he has spent the remainder of his career.
A notable project that Randy is very proud of to have been involved with was the designing of the Barbara Bush Rose Garden located at The George HW Bush Presidential Library in College Station. From the design to completion, Randy truly enjoyed his participation and considers this a most memorable experience.
Together with this wife Cheri of 23 years, they have 4 kids and 4 grandkids. When asked what he has enjoyed most about his career, Randy commented “It’s all been rewarding, whether dealing with people or plant material, both can fool you and give you much joy. But seeing a project complete and a very satisfied client is the most rewarding.” And while at Westco “working with the people in this team” is what he expressed he enjoyed the most.
Randy has been an integral part of Westco Grounds Maintenance for the past 15 years. We are thankful for the contributions he has made to the company, but most of all for his friendship, leadership, and commitment to serving others. While he will be missed by all of us at Westco, he certainly deserves the fresh air of the Hill country. When asked what his plans are for his free time Randy said “I’ve got lots of homestead projects put off for some time and they are calling, LOUDLY! He also plans to do some traveling and he has a gardening spot picked out to work on.
By: Elena Gonzalez
Westco Grounds Maintenance, LLC