• Dr. Eddie Henderson, longtime dean of the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences at WTAMU, will step down Aug. 31, 2023, unless a successor is appointed sooner. He will return full-time to the classroom.
  • Modern Healthcare has announced rankings for health care organizations recognized as Best Places to Work in Healthcare, with Physicians Surgical Hospitals ranked 49th Best among the top in the country for the ninth year.  
  • Dr. Paul Morley, a professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and director of research for the Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach program, has been selected as the holder of the newly established Sally Rau McIntosh Endowed Chair for Veterinary Strategic Initiatives. 
  • FirstBank Southwest was ranked No. 18 among the Best Companies to Work for in Texas under the “Medium Employers” level, a survey and awards program recognizing the top workplace cultures. 
  • Dr. Angela Phillips is now the Mike Wartes Professor of Nursing and Health Sciences. Phillips joined the WT faculty in 2003. She is a member of National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Texas Nurse Practitioners, and Panhandle Nurse Practitioner Association.
  • Amarillo College announced that it has received a $3 million gift that provides its athletics program with a “Founding Sponsor” and a prestigious name for its new home, which henceforth will be called FirstBank Southwest Center.
  • The Amarillo Fire Department  recently announced a number of promotions. Capt. Lance Perdue promoted to District Chief; Lt. John Russell promoted to Captain; Driver Pepper Ramon promoted to Lieutenant; and FF Matt Moss promoted to Driver.
  • The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration announced that it awarded a contract extension to Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC for the management and operation of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) and Pantex Plant (Pantex). 
  • Sarah Griffin has been promoted to Director of Grants and Community Investment at Amarillo Area Foundation. She has been a part of AAF’s grant staff for 6 years.  
  • Beth Cameron Gunn has expanded from Scholarship Program Officer to Grants Program Officer at Amarillo Area Foundation. Beth will manage Strategic Education Grants, and many of the Foundation’s Cooperative grants.   
  • Jada Carr Simms was promoted to Scholarship Program Officer at AAF. Jada has been on the scholarship staff and the program assistant
    since 2021. 
  • One Health Scholar Smriti Shringi has joined Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor of microbiology. Shringi brings more than 15 years of academic and industry experience.
  • Amarillo College received on-site accreditation with a perfect score for its on-site visit. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) completed its on-site visit to AC on Sept. 22. 
  • Angela Knapp Eggers, Senior Director of Community Outreach of the Laura Bush Institute of Women’s Health at Amarillo, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Eggers has more than 20 years of service and has raised more than $3.65 million with the Power of the Purse luncheon.
  • The 2023 National Merit Semifinalists from Amarillo ISD were announced. From Amarillo High School: Michael Carathers, Mehtan Rahman, Lily Sobey and Jeffrey Zheng. From Caprock High School: Christopher Castaneda. From Tascosa High School: William Ellis and Elijah Hamilton.
  • Amarillo College and West Texas A&M University joined with ISDs to increase the number of teachers in Texas Panhandle school districts. The program, One2Teach, will reduce the time and costs for high school students who want to become teachers. Participating school districts at the launch of the One2Teach program are Amarillo ISD, Canyon ISD, Dumas ISD and Hereford ISD. Students completing One2Teach will receive priority placement and guaranteed interviews at their home district. 
  • AC Foundation presented its Chairman’s Award to Caviness Beef Packers for gifts to the College totaling an excess of half-million dollars. The Chairman’s Award is given annually to an individual, family or organization who has exemplified the mission of the Amarillo College Foundation through giving and service. 
  • Tom Hodges was named Professor Emeritus at Amarillo College, for his 40-year teaching span. 
  • The National Nuclear Security Administration has named Carlos Alvarado as Deputy Field Office Manager for the NNSA Production Office (NPO). NPO serves as the federal oversight for the Pantex Plant in Amarillo and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 
  • West Texas A&M University has raised more than $73 million in its One West comprehensive campaign. 
  • The Kylie Hiner Memorial Park Committee announced its fundraising goal of $1.1 million has been surpassed to reach $1.3 million. Donations for the park were coordinated through and raised by Southwest Ambucs, a nonprofit service organization dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities.
  • The United Way of Amarillo & Canyon announced that Kiley Murray was named President and CEO in September. Murray previously served as Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Texas. 
  • The Amarillo College Board of Regents approved a 3 percent pay increase for all full-time faculty and full- and part-time staff in 2023, while also raising the College’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. 
  • Amarillo National Bank presented Amarillo College with a  $1.2 million gift, funds that will support three specific initiatives: the Mary Ware Scholarship Endowment, capital support for Ware Student Commons renovations, and establishment of the Ware Athletic Scholarship.
  • West Texas Botanicals opened a new location in Western Business Park. The shop provides natural herbal and botanical remedies.
  • Opal Nutrition is now open on I-40 West in Wolflin Pointe. Owner Ashleigh Archer provides supplements and infrared therapy.
  • Owner Donnie Trammell recently opened Panhandle Meat Processing & Ranchers Store on Dowell Road. The storefront carries fresh beef, pork and lamb cuts, and local dairy, spices and vegetables.
  • The Amarillo City Council recently approved new Amarillo Economic Development Corporation proposals. Austin Hose would bring up to 30 new jobs to Amarillo and have an almost $70 million economic impact over the next 20 years. Unmanned Systems, Inc., dba Albers Aerospace, would result in some 400 jobs with an average annual salary of $100,000 and an estimated economic impact of over $1.65 billion over the next 20 years. 
  • Cadre Fuller Construction opened on I-40 West. The business provides remodeling and construction. Cadre is owned by Jason and Nicole Fuller.
  • Riney & Mayfield Law recently merged with Underwood Law Firm. Underwood has offices throughout Texas. Riney & Mayfield was listed as one of the best firms in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report.
  • The Craig Retirement Center was acquired by Lifespace Communities. Lifepace operates three other facilities in Texas.
  • Andria Keelin was named the General Manager of Four Points by Sheraton on I-40 East.
  • Carpet Tech has expanded its services to San Angelo, Texas.
  • Natural Grocers is set to build a new location on the west side of Hillside and Coulter. 
  • Brown & Fortunato announced that John Ben Blanchard and Brad Howard are 2022 Super Lawyers. John Ben Blanchard was selected as a Texas Super Lawyer in Business Litigation Law. Brad Howard was selected to Super Lawyers for his practice in Employment and Labor Law.
  • John Collins has been named Director of Utilities for the City of Amarillo (COA). Collins is responsible for water production and distribution, wastewater collection, water reclamation and the environmental laboratory.
  • BSA Health System recently exceeded two surgical milestones utilizing the da Vinci® XiTM robotic system, with the 10,000th procedure being performed at BSA Hospital and BSA Amarillo Surgical Group’s Dr. Shane Holloway performing his 1,000th procedure. 
  • West Texas A&M University was ranked No. 26 in the list of Top Public Universities in the West and at No. 57 in the full Regional Universities (West) list by U.S. News & World Report. WT also ranked among Best Value Schools, Top Performers on Social Mobility, Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs and Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.
  • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center was named one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For® program. This marks the third time the university has been recognized. TTUHSC won honors in eight categories.
  • Richard “Rich” Tighe became President and Chief Executive Officer for Consolidated Nuclear Security in September. Tighe assumes leadership for NNSA production plants under CNS’s contract: the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
  • Amigo’s supermarket in east Amarillo has been retrofitted with LED lighting throughout the store. The Xcel Energy lighting project will save on bills and provide rebates for retrofit expenses.
  • Richard Pullen, Ed.D., MSN, R.N., from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Nursing, received the NLN Mary Adelaide Nutting Award for Outstanding Teaching or Leadership in Nursing Education. The award honors individuals and organizations of stature and distinction within nursing education and the wider field of American health care.
  • Education Credit Union (ECU) announced the launch of the Education Credit Union Foundation. The Foundation’s three main areas of focus are Pocket Change Grants for school employees, scholarships and philanthropy.
  • The Amarillo and Panhandle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects awarded a $3,000 scholarship to Jonathan Malott, graduate student and researcher at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture.
  • The WTAMU Foundation named its new Board of Directors last month: Dr. Andy Cole,  Lance Jones, T. Luke Longhofer, Chris Lyons, Larry Oldham and Velrick Wilson. The WTAMU Foundation was founded in 1946 to provide student scholarship assistance and to support faculty, staff, and programs. 
  • WT’s Small Business Development Center was named Center of the Year by the Northwest Texas SBDC Region this past August. The center was recognized for its efforts in 2021 assisting small businesses across the Texas Panhandle recovering from the pandemic, as well as working alongside a large number of entrepreneurs starting new businesses as a result of the pandemic.
  • New emeritus faculty members were recently honored at WT. Dr. Deborah A. Davenport
    retired in 2019 as a professor of nursing;
    Dr. Ted A. DuBois retired in 2016 as a professor of music; Dr. Karyn Friske retired in 2021 as a professor of accounting; Dr. Harry R. Hueston retired in 2021 as a professor of criminal justice; Dr. Darlene A. Pulliam retired in 2021 as a professor of accounting.
  • Brian Enevoldsen has been named managing director of the WT Enterprise Center. A Texas Panhandle native, Enevoldsen previously served as WTEC’s program manager.
  • Texas Tech Physicians expanded to Canyon with its new Texas Tech Physicians Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) clinic. The clinic is located at 3404 4th Ave.  
  • FirstBank Southwest recently announced the promotion of Matt Mathias as Amarillo Market President. Matt has been with FBSW since 2018, and served as Senior Vice President for the Bank’s commercial lending team at FBSW’s Downtown Banking Center located in the FirstBank Southwest Tower. Matt specializes in commercial real estate and residential construction loans.
  • Dr. Christopher Thomas, currently vice president for student affairs at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been named new West Texas A&M University Vice President for Student Affairs. He will begin his duties on Dec. 1. 

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