Page 78 - Speedhorse March 2019

A MASTER BUILDER
Charles “Doc” Graham builds much more than just successful businesses
by Diane Rice
A passion for building drives entrepreneurs in their ventures. Some build skyscrapers; some build technology; some build homes; some, communities. Anything that can be dreamed can be built.
In his 86 years, Charles Graham, DVM, has dreamed and built more than a dozen highly successful, mostly agriculture-related businesses. But, he’s built more than just money-making, people-employing units of commerce. Along the way, through his inward nurturing nature and generous spirit, although they come in
a colorful, say-it-like-it-is package, he has mentored and built people as well.
“He’s a hell of a businessman, but I’ve found that he typically gets involved in something because somebody asks him for help,” says attorney Gordon Johnson of Kyle, Texas, who considers Doc a second father.
His Formative Years
Charles Graham entered the world on July 13, 1932, in Thorndale, Texas. The oldest child
of Wesley Graham, a farmer, and Iva Lee Clark Graham, a teacher and school
administrator, Doc grew up working hard. His roots and his passion laid
in agriculture.
His en
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on the b
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says. “My teacher would make me turn it in when I came into the classroom and I’d pick it back up when I went to get on the bus.”
His love for veterinary medicine also kicked in then. “A friend’s brother, Dr. Titsworth,
knew I was interested and every time he passed through Thorndale, he’d pick me up and we’d
go treat milk fevers and ketosis and things like that,” Doc says. “I listened when he talked to the farmers, and I kept a notebook where I’d write what he did to treat the animals. I read lots of magazines and books, and I’ve still got a lot of instruments that I actually made down here in a room in a cow barn. I made a calf puller and it took me forever to make that ratchet with a file!”
t m
m me
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,”
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h he e
“There have been people in my life who, like Doc,
have seemed rough because they’ve led a rough life. He’s worked his entire life and it’s been outdoors and hard labor. But a gentler man, I don’t know.” – Gordon Johnson
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