Tortillas Blanco's early beginnings in Southeast Texas in the 1940's??

The story of Tortillas Blanco actually began in the early 1940’s at a cotton gin in southeast Texas. My grandfather Lynn Headrick, his father, and brothers operated a gin in Corpus Christi, Texas. During cotton picking season migrant Mexican workers would come to work. It was during that time my grandfather learned the Spanish language. Later on, my grandfather began preaching and continued to have an interest in Spanish mission work. He built strong relationships with the Hispanic people.
Moving forward to the 1980’s…My grandparents raised me and allowed me opportunities that I otherwise would not have experienced. My grandfather would take me on some of his mission trips. It was then I realized my love of good Mexican foods especially the fresh, hot, tortillas!!
In 1998 my grandfather passed away I was 18 years old. As an 18 year old I really didn’t know what I was going to do with the rest of my life. So, the search began. Several years went by, 7 years to be exact, of not finding what I was interested in doing. Until one day, while driving down Florence Blvd in Florence, AL, it hit me! Not a car, but an idea, an idea to make that wonderful bread I remembered as a young boy, tortillas!!
The work began of developing the concept. Little did I know how much work would take place, but I did it. Today, Tortillas Blanco is a restaurant and a chip manufacturing company with 6 stores currently on our route. Things are happening and growing. I cannot help but think about that young man working in the cotton gin, learning Spanish, and making another young boy a part of his life and leading me to where I am today.

Abilene, TX

May 31st...it is my grandfather Lynn Headrick's birthday, he would have been 80. May 31st, 2008 the day his youngest brother Edwin Headrick passed from this life. To the left is a picture of uncle Edwin and Aunt Shirley, April and myself. We were able to enjoy some horseback riding on our last visit in October 2007. Edwin knew April wanted to "ride a horse in Texas", so he set out to find a place to ride. He was just that kind of guy. Edwin was the last existing brother after Rob Headrick passed away in April. Being raised by my grandparents has moved what actually is "great" family members to immediate family members. Great uncles and aunts are in the role of immediate aunts and uncles. Everyone is bumped up a generation. The sad part is, there is a great deal of loss with the ages of these people whom I love so much. My uncle Rob passed away in Texas 2 months ago and now uncle Edwin. They had an interesting family history from growing up on a cotton gin in Ellis County, Texas, to teaching in colleges and preaching the gospel. As I sit here at Uncle Edwin's house in Abilene I think about how much all these men will be missed. I have missed my grandfather for 10 years and I will the rest of my life.

The Month of April

As we are nearing the end of April it is time to take a deep breath. We have had many great opportunities in this month and a great many challenges. April and I both lost uncles in this month, my uncle Rob Headrick in Lancaster, TX and her uncle Eugene Murray from Russellville, AL. We did get a short vacation for April's birthday we went to Charleston, SC (for the first time Tortillas Blanco operated without April or myself, that is a big step.) Charleston was beautiful we went on the private garden tours and enjoyed some great food with others serving us for a change :) We started the commercials with 48, we were in Southern Living, we partnered with Alaga Yellow Label Syrup for the new "sweet home Alabama" dessert. Our chips traveled to Chicago, Florida, Mobile, Montgomery, and Birmingham this month. I was selected as the Buisness Person of the year by the Limestone County Chamber of Commerce. The Athens News Courier put out a magazine with Tortillas Blanco on the cover. I was asked to play golf with Coach Nick Saban and Gene Stallings (problem was I have never played golf, so it didn't happen.)

My Grandfather

The person who has played the biggest role in my life is my grandfather Lynn Headrick. He grew up in Texas, working hard in the hot cotton fields in the southern region. He is no longer with us, but his memory and the example he set for those around him is still living. He was a deep believer in education both in the academic sense and in religion. He spent a significant part of his life dedicated to preaching the Gospel. He is greatly missed.

California Dreamin'

It is always nice to have customers from the west come into our little restaurant. At the onset they describe themselves as great judges of good mexican food. Of course, we do our best to provide great products at Tortillas Blanco so I am pretty confident that we'll get their approval. Then the food comes out and the comments begin, "this is great", "I have had some good mexican food in my day but, this...this is good". We had that opportunity yesterday with a couple from California. It is so much fun and rewarding to offer a product like ours in Athens, AL where generally expectations are low for good mexican food. We are proving one customer at a time, "Fresher is Better".