Fred Garrison (Plainview)

Fred Garrison, 81, died Sunday, June 10, 2007 at his home after a lengthy illness with Parkinson’s disease. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at the First Baptist Church Sanctuary with Dr. Travis Hart officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Fred Royce Garrison was born March 13, 1926 in Silverton, Texas to Charles and Dolly Garrison. He graduated from Silverton High School and served with the United States Army during W.W. II. He attended North Texas University and Wayland Baptist College where he graduated with a business degree and played basketball for the then Wayland Jackrabbits (currently the Pioneers). In 1950, Garrison entered into the wholesale petroleum business with his father in Silverton, Texas. He moved to Plainview in 1954 where he operated a service station and butane delivery company. In 1960, he founded Fred Garrison Oil Company as a distributor of Texaco petroleum products. The company continues to operate as Allstar Fuel throughout North Central and West Texas under family ownership and management. Garrison was active in industry affairs, serving on the board of directors of the National Association of Texaco Wholesalers, and as a regional vice president of the Texas Oil Marketers Association. He also served as the first chairman of the National Council of Texaco Wholesalers, formed in the 1970’s to represent independent Texaco distributors nationwide to Texaco management. He served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank and the State National Bank of Plainview. Garrison was active in civic affairs throughout his life. He was recipient of many awards, participated in numerous fund raising efforts and held several positions of service in his community. He was a member and president of the Plainview Noon Optimist Club, the 1967-68 Optimist of the Year, and former coach and long time sponsor of a team in their summer baseball program. Garrison was a president, campaign chairman, and served on the budget committee and board of directors of the Plainview Area United Way, a president and board member of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce, a founding board member and vice-president of the Plainview Industrial Foundation, a president and director of the Plainview Stock show, and a director of the Plainview Rodeo Association. He received the Silver Spur Award from the Hale County 4H organization for his long time support of the Plainview Stock show where he traditionally sponsored and hosted a barbeque for the buyers. Fred Garrison Oil Company continues to do so today. An avid supporter of the Boy Scout program, Garrison received the prestigious Silver Beaver Award from the South Plains Council in 1970 for long time service. He was an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 221, a member of the Executive Board of the South Plains Council, was inducted into the Haynes District Hall of Fame, and served as a Friends of Scouting Fund Raising Chairman for the Haynes District. Garrison was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Masonic Lodge 709, and served as an officer of the Association of Former Students at Wayland Baptist College. He was also involved in many fund raising projects for the college. A private pilot, Garrison often donated his time and airplane to fly local patients and families for medical care to hospitals in Dallas and Houston. He was also known for his stone ground corn meal which he ground on an antique mill. Fred Garrison was married to Marion DeLoyce Barrett on June 5, 1949 in Plainview and resided in Plainview most of his adult life. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marion; three children, Gary of Bridgeport, Texas; Victor and wife Cathy of Lincoln, New Mexico; and Gina Solomon and husband Richard of Springfield, Illinois; six grand children, Mark and Dylan Garrison of Bridgeport; Ryan Garrison and wife Kristin, of Moraga, California; Megan Garrison of Rancho Cucamonga, California; Adam and Kimberly Solomon of Springfield, Illinois; and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Cleo Pipkin of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas and Charline Bruce of Lubbock. His parents and three brothers, Keltz, Clay Blanton, and Coleman, preceded him in death. The family suggests memorials to The First Baptist Church of Plainview, 205 W. 8th Street, Plainview, TX 79072; South Plains Council of the Boy Scouts, 30 Briercroft Office Park, Lubbock, TX 79412; or the West Texas Parkinsonism Society, 3610 22nd. Street, Lubbock, TX 79410.