SPOTLIGHT

Smalltown charm: A look into the heart of Levelland

by Hilary McNamara, associate editor

For most South Plains College students, Levelland is the Wal-Mart and the few restaurants that they venture to. But look deeper, as there is more beyond College Avenue.         

When looking further into what the city offers, one will realize that it is a “diamond in the rough.” To some, Levelland may seem relatively dull, but it is rich in history. Established in 1926, Levelland once had a windmill and a town garden where all the people went for food and water. The location of the town garden is now where the Hockley County Courthouse is located. Levelland has continued to blossom ever since, thanks in part to South Plains College. 

In a recent interview with the Plainsman Press, Levelland Mayor Hugh L. Bradley said that the college has benefited Levelland tremendously.

“Before World War II, there were no community colleges,” Bradley says. “In the early 1950s is when a group of people started to get this idea together. Many people thought it

 Now the college has more than 9,000 students enrolled annually.

“The college brings diversity to the community,” says Rick Osburn, city manager for Levelland.

On a lighter note, in November 1957, several motorists on various local highways spotted what appeared to be egg-shaped objects flying in the sky over Levelland that shut off their cars. Though, after some investigation, the United Air Force said that it was just a severe electrical storm.

UFOS were not what Levelland was trying to capitalize on though. Instead, the city chose the more artistic route. There are nine mosaics throughout the city on walls of various buildings. The mosaics were started in 1968 by Don Stroud, an art instructor at SPC who wanted to make art more visible in the community. He created the first mosaic on the Fine Arts Building on SPC’s Levelland campus called “Wild Horses.”

There are also two other mosaics located on the SPC campus, one on the Student Services Building and the other on the Biological Sciences Building. The most colorful mosaic is located on Adams Street. It is located across from the original minority student school and depicts the plight of minorities gaining acceptance into society.

“They are really unique; not every city has those,” Mayor Bradley said.

To help really unite the college and the city, Levelland is looking at putting in a multipurpose center.

“With the college’s rodeo program as strong as it is, that would certainly benefit the students, the college and the county,” Mayor Bradley says.

Levelland also offers a vast opportunity of outdoor activities. City Manager Rick Osburn recently told the Plainsman Press that there were “nine city parks including, one west of town that has a disc golf course and basketball courts.”

Osburn added that one thing that the city is looking forward to is building a skate park.

“For a town this small we have a lot going on,” Mayor Bradley says.

One thing is for sure with Mayor Bradley. “Those that commute instead of rushing back, should stick around for a little bit. Go down town, go to city hall and you may end up liking it.”

All photos by Laura Norris/Plainsman Press