George Renshaw Bean came to the Staked Plains in 1893, when this area was “nothing but a cattle country and countless herds roamed the broad prairies of the plains.” Nineteen year old George “cowboyed” the lonesome plains for four more years, working cattle and mending countless fences. An opportunity arose for this buckaroo to put his one year of high school education to good use and young George accepted the job of teacher in Kent County for $42.50 a month, minus board and horse feed.

Seeing that he had money left at the end of the month, and most assuredly fewer saddle sores, George Bean was encouraged by his job opportunities and accepted a position as teacher in the new township called Lubbock.

Mr. Bean was the third teacher hired by the parents of the district. The wooden structure of the school housed about 60 students, Mr. Bean, and a part-time assistant. In addition to preparing lessons and grading homework, Mr. Bean had to procure water for the students, keep the wood stove burning during cold spells, make sure the building was clean, and keep the parents happy! Mr. Bean explained that he was “superintendent, principal, and janitor all combined.” 

After educating the students of Lubbock for several years, Mr. Bean decided that he would become a lawyer. In those days, lawyers had little formal education. They merely read law books and received a law license after passing an examination by a committee. So, after his marriage to Nora Hunt, daughter of this area’s first physician- Dr. William Hunt, George studied law books for approximately two years. On April 2, 1902, he passed his examination and received his license to practice law. He would later go on to become a judge.

Though he was called on to serve his community in many capacities, including a tenure as board trustee and superintendent, Judge Bean continued to practice law until his retirement from active practice in 1942.

In keeping with the school policy of naming Lubbock elementary schools after former superintendents and school board members, the newly constructed facility built east of College Avenue and south of Nineteenth Street was named for this highly respected Lubbock pioneer, Judge George R. Bean.