Texas State Optical has Recruited Optometrists for 87 Years

The history of Texas State Optical (TSO) began in 1936 in Beaumont, Texas. The company’s original mission was to provide high-quality eye care and eyewear at affordable prices. TSO quickly grew in popularity, and by the 1950s, it had expanded to over 50 locations throughout the state.

The Founder and His Dream

Nathan Jay “Nate” Rogers was an optometrist and the third of four brothers. Born in 1915 in Beaumont, in 1936 Nate and his three brothers, Sol, Morris, and Max, founded Texas State Optical. The company’s original mission was to provide high-quality eye care and eyewear at affordable prices. By the 1950s, TSO had expanded to over 50 locations throughout the state.

Nate Rogers was a dedicated optometrist and a visionary businessman. He provided his patients with the best possible eye care, and he was also a strong advocate for the optometry profession. He served on the Texas Board of Examiners in Optometry and the Texas Optometry Board and as a member of the American Optometric Association. Nate Rogers died in 2002 at age 87.

Evolution

In the 1960s, TSO began to offer a wider range of services, including contact lenses and laser eye surgery. The company also began to expand its reach beyond Texas, opening locations in other states, such as Oklahoma and Louisiana.

In the 1990s, TSO ceded control to a group of independent optometrists. These optometrists committed to maintaining TSO’s mission of providing quality eye care and affordable prices. Under their ownership, TSO continued to grow and expand, and by the early 2000s, it had over 100 locations in Texas.

In 2001, TSO became a member-owned cooperative. This means that each TSO location operates under an independent optometrist. This structure ensures that TSO remains committed to providing high-quality eye care and affordable prices.

Today, TSO is the largest single provider of vision benefit plans in Texas. The company has over 126 locations throughout the state, and it employs over 1,000 people. TSO is committed to providing its patients with the best possible eye care, and it continues to grow and expand.

Here are some key milestones in the history of Texas State Optical:

1936: Texas State Optical opens in Beaumont, Texas.
1950s: TSO expands to over 50 locations throughout Texas.
1960s: TSO begins to offer contact lenses and laser eye surgery.
1990s: TSO goes to a group of independent optometrists.
2001: TSO becomes a member-owned cooperative.
Today: TSO is the largest single provider of vision benefit plans in Texas.

Recruitment Tools

In the early years of its expansion, Texas State Optical (TSO) offered prospective members a number of support services, including:

Marketing support: TSO provided its members with marketing support, including advertising and promotional materials. This helped members to attract new patients and to grow their businesses.
Logistical support: TSO provided its members with logistical support, such as help with ordering inventory and managing patient records. This helped members to save time and money.
Training support: TSO provided its members with training support, including training on the TSO business model and on the latest eye care technologies. This helped members to improve their skills and to provide their patients with the best possible care.
These support services and membership criteria helped TSO to attract and retain members, and they contributed to the company’s rapid expansion in the early years.

Benefitting from Size

In addition to the support services listed above, TSO also offered its members a number of other benefits, including:

Discounts on eye care products and services: Members received discounts on eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, and other eye care products and services.
Access to TSO’s network of eye care providers: Members had access to TSO’s network of eye care providers, which gave them the ability to refer patients to other TSO members for specialized care.
Participation in TSO’s marketing and advertising campaigns: Members were able to participate in TSO’s marketing and advertising campaigns, which helped them to attract new patients.
These benefits helped to make TSO a valuable resource for its members, and they contributed to the company’s success in the early years.

Membership Criteria

In order to be a member of TSO, individuals had to meet the following criteria:

Be an optometrist: Members had to be licensed optometrists in the state of Texas.
Have a business: Members had to own or operate an optometry practice in Texas.
Be willing to follow the TSO business model: Members had to agree to follow the TSO business model, which was based on providing high-quality eye care and eyewear at affordable prices.