Pickering Family Foundation History
The Pickering Family Foundation was established in 2007 by Raymond and Lucille Pickering, who, along with their three sons—David, Jay, and Don—sought to express their faith through community service and give back to their cherished community of Lubbock, Texas, and its surrounding areas.
Raised in small, rural farming communities, agriculture significantly influenced Raymond and Lucille’s journey. As the son of a sanitation worker, Raymond was determined to pursue education while serving small West Texas communities. He joined the Army under the GI Bill and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. After returning home, he married Lucille and started working in the back of a machine shop while attending Texas Tech.
With an entrepreneurial spirit, Raymond became a visionary in the irrigation industry, building and operating several successful manufacturing companies that now have a global impact. He and Lucille attributed their success to their faith, family, dedication to education, and the chance to engage in community service.
Raymond was a dedicated Mason for fifty years and served on the local hospital board for several years. Lucille devoted more than twenty years as a hospital volunteer, earning the title of “Volunteer of the Year.” She also spent countless hours serving with the Lubbock Women’s Club and her church.
The Pickering Family Foundation continues to play a vital role in the legacy of four generations of the Pickering family. Today, their sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren uphold this legacy by serving others and managing their giving with purpose. Many family members remain active in community service and serve on boards in the areas where they live and work, embodying a shared commitment to faith, service, and generosity.