Sam Louis Attebury

1930 - 2011

Sam Louis Attebury, 80, of Amarillo died Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Amarillo with Dr. Howard K. Batson officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to Another Chance House, 209 S. Jackson, Amarillo, Texas 79101; Martha's Home, 1204 S.W. 18th Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79102; The Sam Attebury Memorial Scholarship, in care of WTAMU Ag Department, Box 60766, Canyon, Texas 79016; a charity or scholarship of choice. Sam Louis Attebury was born July 27, 1930, to Arnold Gentry Attebury and Lula Vivian Dunn Attebury in Amarillo. He attended Wolflin Elementary School, Elizabeth Nixon Junior High and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1948. He was in ROTC and was co-captain of the Sandie football team in 1947 and also made the all-district team. Sam went on to the University of Oklahoma and received a BBA in finance in 1952. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while at OU. Sam joined the United States Air Force and served from August 1952 until August 1954 and continued in the Air Force Reserves until 1966. In his military career he was promoted from second lieutenant to captain and received the National Defense Service Medal. While stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, he attended a Christmas party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gillis Johnson. Sam loved to meet and talk to meet new people, including the Johnsons' oldest daughter, Julianne. Soon Sam made the smartest proposal of his life, which led to their wedding on April 14, 1956, and a marriage that lasted until Julianne's death on May 29, 2008. Sam returned to Amarillo and joined his father and brother in the grain storage business. Attebury Grain, LLC, is the fifth-largest independent grain storage company in the nation, with over 60 operating facilities and over 160 million bushels of storage space in country elevators, terminals and subterminals located in the Panhandle, North Texas, southern Oklahoma and New Mexico. Sam built the company on hard work, good service and dedicated employees. Those assets contributed to the company's reputation, provided a service and a market for the farmers, and contributed to American agriculture's ability to feed the nation and the world. Sam served in the following capacities for the Panhandle Grain & Feed Association: vice president, 1961-62; president, 1962-63; and director, 1963-64 and 1969-71. He served as a director of the National Grain & Feed Association from 1965-1971. The Transportation, Elevator and Grain Merchants Association members honored Sam with the association's Lifetime Achievement Award on Jan. 28, 2010. In accepting the award, Sam said the company had been successful in coping with times of adversity and was able to expand when there was an opportunity. In characteristic humility, he praised his talented management staff for their abilities to recognize changes and grow with them. In April 2010, the Texas Grain & Feed Association also honored Sam with its highest honor, The Lone Star Award, for service and achievement in the industry. He served as a director of the association from 1970-1972. He remained active in the business until his health declined but he still had his passion for the grain business and regularly attended board meetings until his passing. He also inherited a passion for land from his father. Sam started Rockrose Development, a land development company, which started and grew the Westover Park, Westover Village, The Colonies and City View subdivisions. Sam strongly believed that hard work is important to successful business and a productive life, in part so you are tired at the end of the day, sleep well at night and don't have time to get into trouble. Sam loved his family and also loved to help other people; he especially liked to give people and churches an opportunity to grow, serve and prosper, which he did on many occasions. Sam loved to make a deal and especially loved making a good deal. In his prime he played handball, racquetball and jogged. He was a big tease and loved a good practical joke. Sam had several nicknames during his life, including "Little Preacher" and the most well known of all, "Good Sam." Although Sam considered himself average and said he was a "plodder," he had a wonderful memory and truly tried to think all things through to their fullest extent. The family wishes to express heart-felt appreciation to Janice Van Note, all the nurses and doctors, BSA Hospice and the Goodcare Health Services for caring for Sam at home and during his last days, and all the employees, family and friends who have worked for, loved and supported Sam and his family throughout the years and especially throughout these last few weeks. Sam was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Julianne Johnson Attebury; a daughter, Josephine Estella Attebury; an infant granddaughter, Julianne Noel Prescott; his brother, William Hugh "Bill" Attebury; and a brother-in-law, Graham Purcell. Survivors: Daughter, Suzanne Boyce and husband, William C. Boyce, of Amarillo; grandsons, Zane Calum Prescott and William C. Boyce Jr., both of Amarillo; sister, Nancy Attebury Purcell of Wichita Falls; sisters-in-law, Joyce Attebury of Amarillo, Estella Johnson of Fort Worth and Josephine Franzheim of Dallas; 10 precious nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren; and several close cousins.