A perfect fit

A 32-year partnership takes on a new trade at TSTC

After 29 years of military service, Lolo Granado found that adapting to civilian life was his toughest mission yet. The transition left him feeling unsettled, to the point where he and his wife of 32 years, Mina Granado, made a life-altering pact: he would never have to navigate the civilian world alone again.

Today, the couple is still completely inseparable, but their latest venture does not involve a military deployment. Instead, it takes place in a college lab.

Lolo and Mina are currently in their second semester of the Plumbing and Pipefitting program at Texas State Technical College. It is a new chapter designed to expand Mina’s Handywoman’s Service, a residential repair business they operate as a joint effort in their tiny, close-knit home community of Lohn.

A New Mission for a GI Bill

The decision to go back to school was initially sparked by a ticking clock. Lolo’s 10-year deadline to utilize his military GI Bill benefits was quickly running out. When their son suggested that Lolo return to school to earn a traditional bachelor’s degree, the veteran did not hesitate to dismiss the idea.

“Why do I need a bachelor’s degree?” Lolo said. “I don’t want a job, I want to help people.”

The couple originally visited the TSTC campus with plans to enroll in an electrical program, seeking to improve their residential maintenance capabilities. However, a chance campus tour entirely altered their trajectory. Walking through the Power and Mechanical Center, they were struck by the welcoming atmosphere and the undeniable enthusiasm of the plumbing faculty.

For Mina, stepping into a technical program meant entering completely uncharted territory.

“This is definitely out of my comfort zone, going back to school,” Mina said. “Once you get over that hump, it is not as scary as you thought.”

Learning to Lean on Each Other

Their partnership in the classroom reflects a deep history of mutual sacrifice. After three decades of Mina standing by Lolo throughout his extensive military career, Lolo saw this educational journey as his opportunity to return the long-standing favor.

“After 29 years in the military, it was time to support her,” Lolo said, noting that their hometown business is truly centered on Mina’s passion for serving others. “It is more her business than mine.”

Mina jokingly interjected with a smile, “I drug him along.”

That shared dynamic is on full display during their intense lab sessions. Whenever Lolo experiences the lingering frustrations of transitioning to civilian life, Mina is there to anchor him. Lolo noted that when he gets worked up, Mina gives him an “absolute” spousal look.

“She will give me that look and tell me to calm down and walk away,” Lolo said.

Growing up on a farm with an old-fashioned father, Lolo developed a strong mechanical aptitude at an early age by helping fix equipment. Mina, meanwhile, describes herself as a lifelong, hands-on learner who has never been intimidated by getting dirty or working alongside male peers. However, certain aspects of plumbing, like operating a torch near flammable hair products, initially gave her pause.

Whenever frustration mounts over a complex plumbing assembly, the couple relies on their individual strengths to power through. Mina’s approach is to walk away, clear her mind and return with a fresh perspective. Lolo relies on a deeply ingrained military resilience.

“If it was put together once, there is a way to put it together again,” Lolo said. “If it worked once, it will work again. It is that never-quit attitude.”

Lolo is also fiercely committed to ensuring Mina possesses the skills to remain fully independent, no matter what challenges the future might bring.

“Life happens,” Lolo said. “I have always told her that I do not want you to have to depend on your family or my family. She needs to be able to work on a waterline or fix things around the house in case something does happen.”

Mina is no stranger to self-reliance, having managed their household through decades of military life.

“From a woman’s point of view, there is going to be a time when I will not be able to rely on him,” Mina said. “When he was deployed, I became a MacGyver. I have to figure it out.”

Perfection and Instinct in the Lab

Going to school as a married couple has revealed brand-new dimensions of their relationship. Mina noted that Lolo is seeing a focused, technical side of her that he has never witnessed before, while Lolo explained that Mina’s intuitive nature makes them an incredibly efficient team.

“She has always been able to read my mind,” Lolo said. “If I was working on a faucet, she already knows what to bring. This course is going to enhance that. If I have to walk away, she will be able to finish it up.”

Still, their working styles occasionally clash in a humorous display of perfectionism. Lolo admitted that Mina’s attention to detail is remarkably high. If a light switch or fixture is even slightly crooked, Mina will go back to make fine adjustments. Lolo teased that he occasionally has to step in to fix the resulting mess, but he deeply respects her drive to get things right.

Their return to the classroom has also caught the attention of their extended family. While they joke that they are “the old people” in a program full of younger students, Mina’s father was thrilled by their choice to pursue a new trade later in life.

“My dad was excited,” Mina said. “Thinking outside of the box. It may make (younger students) think if they can do it, why can’t my parents do it?”

Serving the Elderly Community

The ultimate goal of their education is to directly benefit Lohn, a rapidly aging neighborhood. The couple frequently receives calls from elderly residents needing assistance with minor household repairs, such as doors that will not close properly.

“I am still the young kid to them,” Lolo said. “We started fixing stuff for the elderly community, but did not want to charge them. We did it to help, which makes me feel good.”

Coming from a business mentality, the couple finds the high volume of material challenging but highly rewarding. Lolo expressed deep gratitude for the industry partners that supply TSTC with professional-grade tools and materials, allowing them to learn as true professionals.

By expanding their formal knowledge into professional plumbing, Mina expects to take on an even greater leadership role in their business offerings, ensuring they can tackle critical infrastructure issues for their neighbors.

“He will not be the only one doing plumbing – I can do it now,” Mina said. “When we reach out to our clients, he will not be the only one with the knowledge. I can do it as well, maybe better.”

Lolo noted that TSTC’s instructors provide an unmatched experience.

“You can’t find better instructors,” Lolo said. “Those guys have a lot of passion for the profession. They want to see the trade survive. With their knowledge, passion and insight, it is the best you can get from a program. This college impressed us in the amount of effort they put into seeing you succeed.”

As they look forward to completing their credentials, Mina hopes her journey inspires other women to consider breaking into traditional blue-collar trades.

“When (the instructors) pass that passion on to you it is amazing,” Mina said. “Gals, give it a shot. You will not regret it.”