Alumni at heart: Tim and Brooke Wells

BY KELLAN BYARS

Multimedia Journalist

Tarleton State University alumni are an integral part of the university. Leaders, business owners and community members carry Tarleton’s values far beyond campus.

Their dedication keeps the Tarleton spirit alive, shaping Stephenville and strengthening the bond between generations of Texans. Few examples embody that connection more clearly than alumni Tim and Brooke Wells.

From their days as new Tarleton students and active members of the Purple Poo to their lives now as business owners and active alumni, the Wells have carried Tarleton’s sense of pride, purpose and community into everything they do.

Both Tim and Brooke graduated from the College of Business at Tarleton. Tim graduated in 1994 with an agricultural business degree and Brooke in 2005 with a degree in business administration.

One of the most defining experiences for both was being chosen for the Purple Poo, Tarleton’s oldest spirit organization known for its mystery, creativity and service.

“Being asked to be in it was a total surprise,” Tim said. “It’s one of those things you hear about but never expect to actually be part of.”

Brooke also described the experience as a coveted honor.

“It never even crossed my mind, but it ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to me,” Brooke said. “The friendships we made are still some of the closest in our lives.”

For both, the Purple Poo became more than just a college organization. Members bonded across generations, united by tradition and a shared love for Tarleton.

“The Poo is more than just a spirit group,” Brooke said with a smile. “It is a way to meet people you never would have met outside the organization. It’s something that sticks with you forever.”

Their memories of campus life are filled with nostalgia. Back then, there were fewer buildings, no social media and a smaller student body that felt more like a big family.

“We didn’t have air conditioning in my dorms,” Brooke said. “Everyone left their doors open, so I really got to know the people around me. I enjoyed that small-town feel Tarleton has always had.”

After graduation, both found success in different directions. Brooke’s career shifted to corporate work, eventually leading her to FMC Technologies, where she has spent two decades. Tim’s path took him from working at Wolf Nursery to starting his own company about nine years ago.

Today, Tim and Brooke still call Stephenville home. Tim owns and operates Turf and Water, a local landscaping and irrigation business, while Brooke has built a two-decade career with FMC Technologies. Together, they continue to live out Tarleton’s traditions of hard work, service and family.

“I actually quit my job at Wolf the week Brooke and I got married,” Tim said. “I started the business right after. It’s been growing ever since.”

Running his own company has come with challenges but also incredible rewards.

“The hardest part is employees,” Tim said. “But the best part is the freedom to create my own schedule – getting to be there for my kids, building something of my own and giving back to the community and the organizations my college-age employees are a part of.”

Giving back is something both Tim and Brooke take seriously. They actively serve with the Tarleton Alumni Association and stay involved with the Purple Poo Alumni group. Tim also often hires Tarleton students through Turf and Water to support students who are willing to work.

“It’s easy to stay connected when you’re right here,” Brooke said. “Tarleton’s still part of our everyday lives.”

Though the campus has grown since their time as students, they both agree the heart of Tarleton hasn’t changed.

“We got lost on a golf cart one night riding around campus,” Brooke laughed. “There were so many new buildings we didn’t even recognize where we were.”

But even with all the growth, Tarleton will always remain home for the pair. 

“The best thing about Tarleton is it still feels like family,” Tim said. “You can’t go just anywhere and find connections like you can at Tarleton.”

Brooke shares that same belief. Both she and Tim see Tarleton not just as a school, but as the beginning for the life they built together. Their education and some of their most meaningful friendships stem from Tarleton, and that is something they both are grateful for.

“I have found a few of my closest friends through Tarleton, and every year with a new generation of Poo we gain more and more,” Brooke added.

Without the experience of being Poos—and attending Tarleton as a whole—life for Brooke and Tim would look much different. 

“We built our lives here,” Tim said. “My business, our family, everything we have built has attachment to Tarleton.” 

That gratitude fuels their involvement with the Tarleton Alumni Association and the Purple Poo alumni group, where they give time, advice and encouragement to current students.

When asked what advice they would give current students, Brooke didn’t hesitate, summing up everything about their story and the heart of Tarleton.

“Be involved,” Brooke said. “Find your thing. The people you meet and the memories you make here, they’ll stick with you for life.”

When it comes to describing Tarleton in a few words, their answers summed up “Family and home,” they agreed.