BOLES FEED COMPANY Inc.
K
STORY AND PHOTOS BY LEON ALDRIDGE
en and Cecilia Boles’ path to a
lifetime in the feed store business was
a direct trip.
Both of the Shelby County natives grew up
on farms in farming families with a history and
tradition in the agricultural way of life: a lifestyle
in which they remain today operating a farm with
six chicken houses. For them to have pursued a
career in the feed and farm supply business was a
natural choice. “It’s the way of life we grew up in,”
Cecilia said with a smile.
The path to their present feed store location,
however, was a route with a few turns here and
there. Following graduation from Center High
School, Cecilia went to Stephen F. Austin State
University where she earned a degree in business.
Ken attended SFA for two years followed by
five years as manager for Toledo Automotive in
San Augustine before getting into the agricultural
field with Gold Kist, a poultry supply business
ultimately purchased by Holly Farms.
The next step in that career path was about to
take him to Alabama with Gold Kist when he and
Cecilia learned that a local ag business was for
sale.
After talking it over, rather than move, Ken and
his bride of just three years bought an established
feed and farm store from Cecil Massey located on
the corner of Shelbyville Street and Martin Luther
King Boulevard in East Center. Their first day of
business as the new proprietors was August 1,
1983.
They remained in that location working from
early to late and most of the day on Saturday for
the next 11 years. “We both stayed busy,” said
Cecilia. “I even drove to Shreveport picking up
loads of feed when needed.”
“We raised our kids in the feed store,” Ken
added, pointing behind the counter to his
daughter Anna Boles Lee. “She used to ride her
tricycle in that store.” In 1988 Ken and Cecelia
bought another feed store in Timpson which they
eventually sold to a young man who had worked
for them through high school.
In January of 1994, the Boles sold their Center
business to a group of local investors. “I really
didn’t want to sell it,” Ken said. “But they kept on
trying to get me to sell it to them, so I did.”
The new owners moved the business a few
blocks up Shelbyville Street toward town into an
old tractor dealership building where it operated
for a few years before eventually closing.
In 2000, they bought the business where they
are located today at 101 Porter Street in Center
from Cecilia’s brother, Roscoe McSwain. They
followed that in 2002 with the purchase of a feed
store on South Street in Nacogdoches which
they later sold to their daughter Anna and her
husband, Justin Lee, in 2012.
Both Ken and Cecilia point to their ability
to work together as a factor in their success,
something their daughter Anna confirms. “She
does her thing and he does his thing, and it
works,” said Anna. “They just have that rare
ability of working together as a married couple.”
The Boles point to another key to success and
what differentiates them from other feed and
farm supply stores: “Confidence in our products,”
Ken said without hesitation. “I don’t carry it if I
don’t think it’s a good product. I just sell things I
would buy and use myself.” Cecilia added just as
quickly, “We’re here all the time. And Ken may
not have all the answers but if he doesn’t, he will
get the answer.”
“I’ve parked my pickup in the same place for
all these years,” Ken said pointing to the front of
the store. “When they see my truck, they know
I’m here.” Adding her thoughts, Anna said, “I
hear people talking about how daddy is always
at the same level all the time, always the same
person and always ready to help customers.”
Asked what they personally enjoyed about
the business and what has kept them in it for
this long, Ken said, “It’s a good way of life. It’s
provided us with a good living, and our customers
are good people.” Picking up where Ken left off,
Cecilia added, “Farmers and ranchers are what
I call, ‘salt of the earth,’ kind of people. They
AT A GLANCE
WHAT:
Boles Feed Company, Inc.
WHO:
Owned by
Ken & Cecilia Boles
WHERE:
101 Porter St,
Center, TX 75935
913 South Street
Nacogdoches, TX 75964
WHEN:
Monday-Friday
7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday
7 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Sunday - Closed
PHONE:
Center
(936) 598-3061
Nacogdoches
936-564-2671
FACEBOOK:
@BolesFeedCompanyInc
Business MATTERS | 2020 Spring Edition
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