What’s in a Name?

In the late 1800’s, on the far north side of Fort Worth, Texas, cattleman, Marion Samsom, began a grass roots cattle operation.  The headquarters of this enterprise was located on Azle Avenue and was eventually named Azleway Ranch.  In 1972, Mrs. Vera Connell Neighbors provided the house and grounds as the base for a children’s home, of which Billy M. Partridge was a major part.  Seven years later, with the construction of Loop 820, the house was torn down and the facility closed, yet the name lived on.    

God has a unique way of creating something from nothing, and so it is with Azleway.  From our first boy at the Tyler location in 1979, to our more that 400  children served today, the program has continued to grow and meet a desperate need in helping the children of Texas get a handle on their lives.  Referrals today come from Juvenile Probation, school districts, adoptive placement agencies, private referrals, and the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services.  Each resident is evaluated on an individual level and is then placed in the academic or vocational training program that best suits his needs.  The Azleway Charter School provides some of the finest classes to be found.  Capable administrators and excellent teachers seek to motivate each resident to do all that he can.

While a boy is “in care” at the Ranch, no efforts are spared to enhance his emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual growth through structured individual and group counseling, church attendance, and the most important ingredient, caring personnel.  Each Direct Care Staff at Azleway is here because of the challenging opportunity for caring that it provides.

Residents will stay at the Ranch from four months to four years, depending on their circumstances.  Most residents will average six to twelve months, and then return either to the home of a parent or relative or to a less restrictive placement such as a foster home.  Another option for residents is to go into either extended living, or independent living, depending on their level of maturity.

In August, 1985, a massive rebuilding program provided us with three cottages which offer family style living and a log cabin office and grocery store complex.  The store employs residents to stock, check out, and secure stock for distribution.  All area children’s homes are eligible to acquire groceries here.  Azleway’s Pantry Program is a one of a kind helping agent to indigent/distressed families in the immediate area.

In 1987, a Recreation Center was constructed featuring a crafts area, pool tables, foosball, Ping-Pong, electronic games and a lounge/TV area.  In addition, Chapel Hill Schools and Azleway entered into a joint project to provide on-site education through an impact classroom on this campus.

In 1988, the Shamburger School opened to serve secondary level residents.  It now features several classrooms, a library/computer center, commercial kitchen, office, and provides education for up to 70 residents.

The summer of 1990 brought the addition of an all-new counseling center addition to the office complex, a clothing store just east of the main office, a staff-training center and emergency care facility, and a large log cabin for younger residents called Hickory Ridge.

After a disastrous fire in December of 1990 (in which one of our home units was completely destroyed with no injuries) our community responded with support which has seen the completion of a new log cabin triplex and the construction of a new 4,900 square foot building which will serve as a home to 14 residents.

1992 goals included the construction  of a maintenance shop/vocational trades building, additional classroom space for the school, and the construction of a log cabin chapel on our campus.

In 2000, Azleway started Triangle Pines in Overton.  In 2001 the Azleway Charter School started.  In 2002, Azleway acquired Pine Mountain Ranch which facilitates an intensive therapeutic foster home, a therapeutic group home, and a therapeutic wilderness camp.

All that is done at Azleway is done to help each youngster form good values for clean living.  Hard work, structured recreation, and tender loving care all combine to provide each young man with an opportunity to better himself.  As has been said many times before, “A boy who has graduated from the school of hard knocks into the mainstream of life can better appreciate the full flavor of what life is all about.”  Those who assist in this endeavor are helping to develop America’s greatest natural resource—her children!