Tom Schoneman has a home in Clovis. He also has a home in Fort Worth.
He commutes weekly between the cities.
His wife has a job in Fort Worth and Tom's business is in Clovis, Earl & Tom's cannabis store.
Tom loves small towns; that's a reason he doesn't mind the weekly commute through Texas.
We were just a few miles from the Utah border. I grew up in Fruita.
We moved to Albuquerque when I was 12, seventh grade I think.
I lived there until my kids graduated college.
Q: What's your earliest memory?
A: The animals around the farm. The chickens, the dogs, the country.
Q: What brought you to Clovis?
A: Clovis is my new New Mexico home. I commute here because my wife has a career in Fort Worth.
I like Clovis so much more than Albuquerque. I like the small-town feel.
Earl has a lot of ties to this part of the state and west Texas.
From a business standpoint I always liked the idea of being up close to Texas.
The pieces all fit together and things blossomed.
I just want to say I really love Clovis, and I'm thankful the city has accepted us.
Establishing a cannabis business in a new city is a tough thing to do.
We worked hard to do it the right and acceptable way.
A: My wife is Maria. We are celebrating 25 years this year.
My son Ben is 23 and my daughter Samantha is 21. I have the greatest kids in the world.
I have a damn good dog with Ava, my English bulldog.
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I have a mechanical mind, and I was a mechanical designer from my teens into my 30s.
Then we had kids so I wanted to be free and not be behind a desk anymore so I went into real estate.
Within three years of working for a real estate franchise I started my own real estate firm.
Q: What exactly do you do as a purveyor of cannabis?
We have such an incredible team here.
Everybody here loves cannabis for one reason or another, everybody is passionate about cannabis.
We grow it, we cultivate it and we sell it.
Q: To you, what makes cannabis a good thing?
Many people medicate with it to bring them some normalcy.
It's satisfying to see they're finding ways to cope with their everyday living.
Q: What's your recommendation for a great place to eat in Fort Worth?
A: We love a little joint called The Feed Store in South Lake.
A: The green chile chicken fried steak at K-Bob's.
And the chicken burrito diabla style. It's hot as hell and fantastic at Taqueria Jalisco in Clovis.
Q: What's your favorite movie? Why?
A: Being a country kid, I'd say "The Outlaw Josie Wales." It resonates with me.
Q: Where do you like to vacation?
We're trying to find a way to get up to Montana and do some exploring there.
A: A steak grilling on the barbecue is about the best thing you're going to get.
A: That's a heavy one. I'd like to hope there is a peaceful consciousness.
A: I'm a strong family person. If I'm having one, I want my wife and kids there.
Q: What's your favorite quote or saying?
Also, "If there's a job worth doing, do it right."
by The Eastern New Mexico News
