Tom Britt came to Wheeler in 1913 with his parents. They raised livestock and camped out (chuck wagon, etc) when they gathered cattle. Their houses had no electricity or running water. There is still an outhouse and a cistern at his old house, on the Britt Ranch today.
He supported the community, the churches, schools and children’s sports his entire life. He especially loved baseball and coached little league. As a young, married adult, he was active on a “semi pro” league that played on Sundays from town to town. He served on local hospital boards, school boards, church boards, water boards and even the draft board of WW2. He was an avid supporter in every way and aspect of the community.
“What I loved about him was his acceptance of people, race, creed, and religion. He was before his time when it came to accepting diversity,” another relative stated.
He was considered one of Wheeler County’s early pioneers, and was a quiet, patient and humble man.
There has yet been anyone that didn’t love and respect him. Being respected by peers in the community, even when politics were polar opposite, he never looked for contention. He valued education and the written word, and was very articulate. Generous with his time and always willing to support when a need arose, most often anonymously. This and so much more was the contributing factor as to why the Kiwanis Club chose to name the baseball park after him, after his passing. A man of integrity, honest in his dealings, hard worker, efficient, devoutly religious, disciplined and valued the family in every way.
At his funeral, a nephew stated “Uncle Tom lived his life with a goal of ‘How do I get to Heaven?’ “ and that sums up the man that has his priorities straight.
“What I loved about him was his acceptance of people, race, creed, and religion. He was before his time when it came to accepting diversity,” another relative stated.
One man, making a difference in this small corner of the world and leaving a legacy that we all can benefit from and value a gift that continues to give to our community.
Give what you can, when you can, as often as you can, and leave a legacy for generations to come. You can make a difference.
What Does Wheeler Sports intend to do with Tom Britt Memorial Park?
We are currently working with our architect to update our master park plan, allowing us to work on different phases as we seek funding. With the importance of providing a space for our sporting events, tournaments, and a place for our community to gather. The park provides a unique space and quality of life for Wheeler County residents to enjoy for years to come.
Our goal is to reach $75,000 to finish up with the sprinkler system and get straight into raising funds for a concession stand and permanent restrooms out at Tom Britt Memorial Park!
We can't wait for the day we no longer have to rent port-a-potties and will have a nice facility to provide concessions, restrooms, shade and seating. There are several phases in the works and we look forward to sharing them with you in the upcoming weeks.
You Can Get a Closer Look at our Plans 👇