Story and Photos by Jordan Albus

Entering through the front doors of the PCCA Sweetwater, Texas, warehouse office feels like stepping into a novel that tells the story of years past and future possibilities. History lines every wall. Down the main hallway, visitors find framed photos of milestone cotton bales that have passed through the warehouse’s doors, but they also find Victor Rubio Sr., who can tell you what happened on each day those photos were taken, from his very first bale to his witness of the millionth.

It is rare to see unwavering determination, dedication, passion, and strength personified. PCCA is fortunate to be supported by someone who carries those virtues with humility. Victor Rubio Sr. has worked at the Sweetwater warehouse for over four decades. He has been with PCCA through many changes, from technological advances and shifts in manpower to leadership and operational changes, but one thing has remained consistent: his steadfast eagerness to learn and work hard.

Rubio fondly remembers his first opportunity to work at PCCA. He began in an entry-level position, and as his time at PCCA progressed, he learned more about the warehouse.

“I started from the very bottom, and I worked through all the departments,” Rubio said. “I try to learn as much as possible – that’s how you keep moving. My supervisor later gave me the opportunity to be a lead man, and several employees to work with me.”

Rubio said that over the 47 years he has spent with PCCA, he is proud of everything he has accomplished, but the most rewarding part was being offered the role of supervisor. His experience with the company and the opportunities it provided over the years gave him a sound perspective on leadership. That perspective enables him to create the same ongoing opportunities for learning and development for his employees that he was given.

“We are human beings, and we’re not perfect,” Rubio said. “I try to help correct mistakes, and I just say, ‘I want you to learn from this’.”

Rubio’s ongoing dedication to PCCA is an inspiration to employees across every location, from South Texas to Kansas, and has also inspired his family. One of his children even followed in his footsteps.

Victor Rubio Jr.

With a smile on his face, Victor Rubio Jr. remembers watching his father work at the warehouse when it was the Rolling Plains Co-op Compress. He said it was his childhood dream to work there, just like his dad.

“Growing up, I’d always see my dad out here,” Junior said. “At school, I would always say, ‘I want to go work out there one day.”

Junior accomplished that childhood dream. He now works at the Sweetwater warehouse as a shipping supervisor. He said he not only appreciates the job but also considers the Sweetwater location one of his favorite parts of coming to work each day. He said he loves the open sky and the ability to see the landscape, which gives him a sense of belonging to something greater.

Junior said that even after almost seven years at the warehouse, the job has already offered him many learning opportunities. His first season on the job fell during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s only been about seven years, but I’ve seen a lot,” Junior said. “That very first season, we were hit with the pandemic, so it changed everything about how we had to work.”

While Junior has faced hardships during his time at the warehouse, he said he tries to mirror his father’s work ethic and approach to the job.

“I’ve learned to be patient. Sometimes there are times when things don’t go right, and you can’t let it get to you,” Junior said. “You have to find the best way to adapt, to find the good in it, and say, ‘how can we turn this around and make it better, or do better?’ That is something that I’ve learned from watching my dad adapt and deal with things over the years.”

The Rubio Family

In front of Rubio sits PCCA’s Common Thread – a 2011 issue of the employee newsletter. Its pages lay open, displaying photos of the people he has done all of this for. Staring at the story, he proudly explains that working at PCCA has allowed him to provide so much for his family, his wife Irma, and their three children, Junior, Leila, and Stephanie, over the years.

Rubio’s dedication to the job stems from a place he holds dear. He said he treats the company as if it were his own because doing his job well helps support his family. He said that while at PCCA, he has been able to put his kids through college, which has led them to their current careers. Junior graduated from Hardin Simmons University with a teaching degree and is now working at PCCA alongside his father. Leila graduated from medical school at Texas Tech University and completed a residency in Lubbock before becoming a doctor in Sweetwater. Stephanie completed cosmetology school and now owns and operates her own cosmetology business in Sweetwater.

“It’s been a steady presence throughout our childhood,” Junior said, mentioning his sisters. “We’ve seen the plant grow.

We’ve seen people come and go, but it’s remained a constant presence, providing for the family. As my dad said, he takes care of the job, and the job takes care of the family.”

Working Together

Rubio and Junior both said they enjoy working together. Still, they are there to get the job done correctly and efficiently. As they sit together in the conference room, it is apparent that the father and son share a great deal of love and respect for one another.

“When Junior started working here, I felt a lot more comfortable because he was working for the same company I have worked for,” Rubio said. “I respect my son’s job. If he needs help, I’ll help. If I need help, he helps me. We work together to get the job done.”

Junior said he is proud of how long his father has worked at PCCA. He admires Rubio not only as a father but also as a colleague. He says his dedication to PCCA and its farmers is unmatched.

“You don’t find that often in any kind of career,” Junior said. “I think that’s one of the things that stands out to me: that commitment. There are a lot of people who just do it for the paycheck. My dad says, ‘No, I care about the crop. I care about the farmers.’ He’s willing to give up his own free time to be out here some days and help people. It’s mentally and physically draining, and I think that’s something maybe a lot of people don’t realize — how taxing it is on a person, and how much he, without complaining, gives of himself to make sure that job gets done right.”

As Junior reflects on his father’s career, he expressed just how important Rubio’s impact has been.

“It’s been a career that’s grown with the times, seen the changes, adapted and come through,” Junior said. “He made not only himself, but the rest of the people around him better.”

The Future

Rubio is blessed to have the continued support of PCCA and his work at the warehouse. He said he plans to continue his career at PCCA and looks forward to more opportunities and continued learning.

“PCCA gave me a lot of opportunities,” Rubio said. “This company opened the door for me, so I’m going to stay. I’m going to keep learning.”

Based on the experience and wisdom Rubio has gained during his time with PCCA, he offers this advice to individuals who are just starting a career with the company:

“I encourage them to work for this place and do their best to learn and build a career, because at PCCA, they give you an opportunity to work. If you want to work, you can build a career with this company.”

As Victor Rubio Sr. and his son gaze at the photos lining the office hall, recalling the steady career that has shaped the Rubio family for 47 years, Rubio concludes he made the right choice in taking a job at PCCA many years ago.

“If I had to start all over again,” Rubio said decidedly, “I wouldn’t think twice about doing it.”