Like any town with history, San Angelo has seen its share of ups and downs since its founding in the late 1800s: Its population ballooned, its Downtown – once a hub of activity – waned in popularity, then experienced a revival. Businesses came and went, but some stood the test of time, evolving to suit the ever-changing needs of the city and its residents. San Angelo is the colorful, cozy quilt; longtime businesses such as Olive’s Nursery are the small squares, all stitched together, that make it so unique. 

For decades, Tommy and Debbie Olive have been the face of Olive’s Nursery, the nearly 2-acre garden center nestled on the corner of Horn Road and Sherwood Way. Tommy’s grandfather, Walter Eric Olive, opened Olive’s Feed Store on Concho Avenue in 1942. But the business wasn’t lucrative as a feed store, so Olive found a grower and began selling bedding plants. Eventually, Tommy’s parents, John and Mary Olive, took over the business and began incorporating gifts and Christmas décor, which continue to be staples of the store. 

In between speaking with his employees and greeting customers who entered the store by name, Tommy – soft-spoken, slender, gray-haired and bespectacled, a hint of a smile perpetually on his lips – recently sat down for a face-to-face interview with Create Magazine as his wife, Debbie, bustled about the store. “We grew up in it, and what that means is we spent a lot of time here,” he said of Olive’s. “I have three older sisters, and we all did. I’ve always liked to be around people, and there weren’t any at home, so you came to work to be around people.” 

"I HAD A BURNING DESIRE TO SERVE HIM FULL TIME" - Tommy Olive

Tommy attended Texas Tech, earned a degree in engineering and went to work at Exxon. But his heart wasn’t in it, and he quit after two and a half years. Around that time, while living in Oklahoma City, he “fell in love with Jesus,” he said, adding, “I had a burning desire to serve Him full time. I said, ‘OK, God, either run with this, give it to someone else, or postpone it, but don’t let me burn here.’ After about two weeks it lessened. I applied for seminary but never went.” 

Tommy returned to San Angelo in 1976, and his parents phased themselves out of the business, with Tommy taking the reins. Though Tommy didn’t become a pastor, he said working at Olive’s still allows him to minister. “Every Christian is a minister,” he said. “Our mission is to meet the needs of the customer, and sometimes they come in and state what they think they need, and we oftentimes say, ‘That isn’t what you need.’” 

Olive’s offers coy fish and everything needed for water gardens, a plethora of indoor and outdoor plants in all sizes and colors, as well as pottery. “We also try to promote the organic side of growing plants because people are more successful that way,” Tommy said. 

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The Olives greet their customers by name and often can be found visiting with them one-on-one. “We try to make it a peaceful, inviting place. We pray for our customers. And we keep this station on,” Tommy said, pointing up at hidden speakers, where K-LOVE’s Christian music filtered through. “I try not to gripe. It’s a horrible thing to do. I don’t know how good (my employees) think I’m doing, but I try.” 

The couple has four grown children, but none is involved in the family business. “Moses had three careers,” Tommy mused. “I’m just 67 so I don’t know what the future holds. A few years ago we got tired, but we’re not tired anymore.” 

For now, Tommy and Debbie take life and their work one day at a time. They are members of The Life Church, and Tommy serves on the board of TLCA, is involved in a community Bible study and the Walk to Emmaus. 

Asked what he enjoys most about owning Olive’s Nursery, Tommy said he doesn’t have a simple answer. A bonus of the job is working all day with his wife, whom he loves and respects, and getting to go home together. “My greatest joy is the people, but I also have a strong need to be productive; this just fulfills that need,” he said. “And we have fun doing it.” 

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