Brick & Elm | September/October 2022 by brickandelm

AMARILLO’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE SEPT/OCT 2022 HOW JERRY MET MARGARET | REMEMBERING DANIEL SAHAD | AMARILLO IN 1887 BRICKANDELM.COM DIVERSECITY GUIDE TO CHANGINGAAMARILLO

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38 38 | cover story DIVERSE CITY Amarillo is growing, and so is our diversity 12 CAN’T MISS The top things on our radar 14 SOCIAL SEEN Who did we spot at area events? 20 SPOTLIGHTThePARC 22 BIZ Get up in the city’s business 26 THE CHASE With Andy Chase Cundiff 28 WithFORWARDPatrickMiller 30 WithMINDSETJimWomack 32 RETAIL THERAPY Hair Accessories contents PHOTO BY ADAM BAKER 32 PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 06

32 WithSPACESAvantGarden 84 ELEVATE YOUR PLATE With Ruthie Landelius 86 KITCH With Sweet by Cara Linn 91 F+D Fire Slice Pizzeria 100 ROAD TRIP The Citadelle 102 INJeffFOCUSWyrick 104 BACKAmarilloWHENin1887 106 FeaturingFINISHKarahGilbert AMARILLO’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE SEPT/OCT 2022 HOW JERRY MET MARGARET REMEMBERING DANIEL SAHAD | AMARILLO IN 1887 9 780578 900223 50795>$7.95 BRICKANDELM.COM DIVERSE CITY GUIDE TO CHANGINGAAMARILLO PLUS: 59 | B&E EXPERTS 50 | ALWAYS ON MY MIND Remembering Amarillo native and Austin musician Daniel Sahad (1993–2022) 5450 54 | MORE THAN A NAME ON A STADIUM Jerry Hodge, with You’re On, Cowboy!, reflects on a remarkable life PHOTO COURTESY OF DESMOND/HOODOO MURAL FESTIVAL PHOTO BY SAL GUTIERREZ ON THE COVER: ILLUSTRATION BY BRITTANY BUSCH 07 BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT

A ll the best parts of my career began in the Amarillo College Journalism Department. There, in the mid1990s, I learned to write fast. I learned to edit. I learned desktop publishing, design and photography. But what I learned most of all is that I really liked magazines. I ended up the editor of AC’s award-winning campus magazine, AC Current, and fell in love with the process of creating a publication, start to finish. Here I am again, more than a quarter-century later. For years, Michele and I have worked together telling stories about our city. A few months ago we decided the time was right to launch a new, sophisticated, independent magazine about Amarillo. It feels appropriate that our first issue covers topics like trail-building, business reopenings, creative problem-solving and breathing new life into historic structures. We feel like all of those are metaphors for Brick & Elm, and maybe for print magazines in general.Sohere’s to fresh starts and a new way to shine a spotlight on the city we love. Thanks for reading. We’re honored that you’re here with us, at the beginning.

hi! it’s us W hen I look back over the past few months, it feels like ages since I last wrote an editor’s note, and then at other times the weeks have flown by. In the middle of January, it seemed my days of typing up my last-minute thoughts prior to printing a magazine were over. And then … a miracle. My longtime writing partner Jason Boyett became my new business partner and Brick & Elm was born. This “hyper-local” magazine was created in meetings at our respective homes, and it’s the compilation of everything we’ve ever hoped a Panhandle-focused publication could be. The community outpouring for our new project has been overwhelming in the best way. My friends and local businesses have sent streams of encouraging messages of support. Now I truly know what it means to say my cup overflows This is the first of many fantastic Amarillo-centric issues created by a true dream team—Jason and the incomparable Kayla Morris. I’m thrilled beyond measure to share Brick & Elm with you. Thanks for reading. G rowing up, I was not exposed to diversity, whether at school or the church in which I was raised. I recall one Black student in my entire elementary school. Looking back, I can’t imagine how hard it was for her. My southwest Amarillo neighborhood was almost entirely white, as was our church congregation. I understand now that living in a bubble did absolutely nothing for my development, nothing to grow my empathy and compassion, nothing to expand my understanding of the world at large. Experiencing diversity ensures our growth not only as individuals, but in the community as a whole. So, we’re excited to publish our first diversity-focused issue. How to visually represent the city’s diverse population quickly came to the forefront in brainstorming sessions. How could we create an interesting photo without being trite or disrespectful? We knew we didn’t want a tired collage or a multi-colored illustration. We opted instead to entrust our cover to local artist Brittany Busch, who is a brilliant portraitist. We are thrilled with the image she created for us. It’s a reflection of the area’s topography and people, filled with color and interest and texture. We hope it resonates with you like it did with us. Box

PUBLISHERS McAffrey mm@brickandelm.com Boyett jb@brickandelm.comDESIGNER Morris PHOTOGRAPHERSCONTRIBUTINGkm@brickandelm.comMarieThomasRichardsonDudleyGillmanCONTRIBUTINGWRITERSChandlerCundiffReevesSUBSCRIBE: brickandelm.com mm@brickandelm.comINQUIRIES:$14.94/year$8.94/yearPREMIERMAGAZINE

Magazine is permissionMedia.publishedAllrightsinwholeorpartisprohibited.

D iversity is a theme that comes up regularly on my podcast, Hey Amarillo, especially when guests talk about what they love about living here. Because of our Western heritage and conservative voting patterns, Amarillo sometimes gets described in frustratingly broad strokes. But look closer, these guests say, and you’ll find we have all kinds of people here. Refugees and ranchers. Conservatives and liberals. Artists and weirdos. Cowboys and tech execs. The devoutly religious and those who are not. Amarillo is becoming more diverse than ever, and we wanted to use this cover feature to dig into why that is and what that looks like. Just like a good financial advisor will urge diversity in investments—which almost always improves opportunities for success—community diversity is a strength. It helps us solve problems. It leads to better civic health. It makes living in Amarillo a lot more interesting. We think diversity is something to celebrate and even seek out. I loved writing this cover feature and hope you enjoy reading it.

PUBLISHERS Michele McAffrey mm@brickandelm.com Jason Boyett jb@brickandelm.comDESIGNER Kayla Morris PHOTOGRAPHERSkm@brickandelm.comILLUSTRATORBrittanyBuschCONTRIBUTINGAdamBakerSalGutierrezVeniceMinceyKailiRevelesShannonRichardsonShaieWilliamsCONTRIBUTINGWRITERSJonMarkBeilueChipChandlerAndyChaseCundiffRuthieLandeliusPatrickMillerAnna-KayReevesWesReevesJimWomackTOSUBSCRIBE: brickandelm.com Print subscription: $34.99/year ADVERTISING AMARILLO’Smm@brickandelm.comINQUIRIES:806.414.5235PREMIERLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. hi! it’s us BRICK & ELM (ISSN 2770-2529), is published bi-monthly by Edgebow Media LLC, 1610 S. Washington St., Amarillo, TX 79102. Periodicals Postage paid at Amarillo, TX, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Edgebow Media LLC, PO

2104, Amarillo, TX 79105.

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Why Choose ?

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KAYLA MORRIS Kayla has been designing professionally for local businesses and nonprofits for more than 10 years. Kayla was raised in the Panhandle and graduated with a design degree from West Texas A&M University. When not designing she loves spending time outdoors with family and friends.

SHANNON RICHARDSON

VENICE MINCEY Venice is a natural light photographer, specializing in senior, family and child photography. Her passion is photographing high school seniors, especially those who might not have the opportunity to have professional photos taken. Venice has been taking photos for more than 20 years. See her work at veniceminceyphotography.com.

BRITTANY BUSCH Brittany is an artist and educator in Amarillo. Born and raised in Perryton, Texas, her roots and passion for the Texas Panhandle run deep. Her work aims to cultivate a fresh perspective of the flatlands and the people living on it. See it at brittanybusch.com.

ANNA-KAY REEVES Anna-Kay is a writer, artist, and conservation advocate from Amarillo. She graduated from UT Austin with degrees in English, Spanish and International Relations in December 2021, and works for the Austin-based conservation organization Texan by Nature. She writes and makes podcasts about the physical and cultural landscape wherever she is, currently Albuquerque, New Mexico.

SHAIE WILLIAMS Shaie is a portrait photographer with a passion for storytelling. He shoots for a number of local media outlets, and enjoys wedding, commercial and nonprofit event photography. See his work at williamspics.smugmug.com.

KAILI REVELES Kaili is a local food and lifestyle artist who loves capturing all things food and people. She’s been in the photography world for more than 13 years and enjoys creating appetizing imagery and authentic portraits. Kaili is a wife and mom of three and enjoys doing what she loves to support her family. When she isn’t behind the camera, she loves to drink coffee, bake and read.

Shannon has been a commercial/advertising photographer for almost 35 years. His work can be seen at shannonrichardson.com.

SAL GUTIERREZ Sal is the Tourism Coordinator at Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau. He is also a special events freelance and volunteer photographer for Advo Companies, Inc. He volunteers as a translator at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and serves as the marketing co-chair at Elevate Amarillo. Sal was born in Mexico but calls Amarillo his home.

contributors

JON MARK BEILUE

ADAM BAKER Born and raised in Amarillo, Adam graduated from the University of North Texas School of Fine arts in 2009, and spent the following decade as a commercial photographer in the Metroplex. After the pandemic brought him home to Amarillo in 2020, he began offering tintype photography via Perry’s Tintypes, which makes regular popup appearances at From 6th Collective near Bushland and Hotel Turkey in Turkey, Texas, as well as for private events. See his work on Instagram at @perrys_tintype_studio and @adam_baker_photography.

WES REEVES Wes was raised in the Texas Panhandle and has been a resident of Amarillo for almost 30 years. He has been active in the Amarillo Historical Preservation Foundation for the past 15 years, and works in his spare time to bring history alive through historical preservation and engaging new generations in the appreciation of the region’s colorful history.

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Jon Mark worked at the Amarillo Globe-News from 1981 until his retirement in 2018. He spent 17 of those years as sports editor, and the last 12 as the newspaper’s general columnist. Beilue received 16 statewide and national awards for his work. He has written five books—two are collections of his columns, and the other three are on Amarillo lawyers Wales Madden and Robert Templeton, and Canyon girls basketball coach Joe Lombard. Beilue is a native of Groom and graduate of Texas Tech University. He and wife Sandy have two adult sons.

October HOODOO MURAL FESTIVAL: One of Amarillo’s best and brightest new traditions is this sensational downtown event, celebrating the unveiling of several new murals with a killer street party. Don’t miss the fun Oct. 1. Also set for the month, in addition to several haunted houses around Halloween time, are the Amarillo Super Mini-Con, a pop-culture celebration, on Oct. 1 and 2 in the Civic Center Complex; Amarillo Oktoberfest on Oct. 1 at Starlight Ranch; Opportunity School fundraiser Lips! on Oct. 6 in the Civic Center Grand Plaza; the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cookoff on Oct. 6 at the Tri-State Fairgrounds; and hockey games with the Amarillo Wranglers in the Civic Center Coliseum. CHIP CHANDLER Chip is the city’s arts and entertainment expert, having covered area events since 1998. Stay up to date on local happenings with Chip’s Can’t Miss picks in every issue. Visit brickandelm.com for Chip’s expanded event coverage and movie reviews. Better yet, subscribe to our email newsletters for breaking entertainment news every week! ly

THE WOMAN KING: Viola Davis stars as the ruler of an African country in this historical epic from director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Old Guard), due out Sept. 16. Other new releases to watch for include the comedy Honk for Jesus Save Your Soul, with Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown on Sept. 2; action epic Medieval with Ben Foster and Michael Caine on Sept. 9; thriller God’s Country with Thandiwe Newton on Sept. 16; and gay romantic comedy Bros from Billy Eichner on Sept. 30. Special screenings will include 40th anniversary screenings of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Sept. 4, 5 and 8; 10th anniversary screenings of Pitch Perfect on Sept. 11 and 14; premiere screenings of Kevin Smith’s Clerks III from Sept. 13 to 18; 40th anniversary screenings of Poltergeist on Sept. 25, 26 and 28; and Studio Ghibli Festival screenings of Howl’s Moving Castle, also on Sept. 25, 26 and 28.

The iconic Texas alt-rock band (with deep Amarillo ties) will perform their major-label debut Rubberneck in its entirety at this Sept. 15 concert at Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive. Other major concerts of note include legendary Texas singers Steve Earle and Ray Wylie Hubbard on Sept. 2 at Starlight Ranch; Tejas Brothers on Sept. 6 at Golden Light Cantina, 2908 SW Sixth Ave.; revived ’90s alt-rock band Sublime with Rome on Sept. 9, also at Starlight Ranch; Friends of Fogelberg, the prostate cancer awareness concert, on Sept. 9 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.; Mike & The Moonpies on Sept. 9 at Golden Light Cantina; aughts-era rockers Hinder on Sept. 16 at Hoot’s Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; Bart Crow on Sept. 23 at Starlight Ranch; classic rock giants The Beach Boys on Sept. 23 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.; rockers Dear Marsha on Sept. 24 at Golden Light Cantina; the “Don’t Bring Me Down” Homecoming concert featuring a local E.L.O. cover band and the West Texas A&M University Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 30 at WT; and country star Kody West on Sept. 30 at Starlight Ranch.

TRI-STATE FAIR AND RODEO: The beloved Panhandle tradition returns in full force this year with nine days of fairway fun, fried food, rompin’ rodeos and magnificent music from Sept. 16 to 24 on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 SE 10th Ave. Headliners include Wade Bowen on Sept. 16 and The Frontmen (featuring lead singers from Little Texas, Restless Heart and Lonestar). Other can’t-miss events include the annual Crime Stoppers Car Show on Sept. 3 in the Civic Center Complex; comedian Steve Treviño on Sept. 10 in the Civic Center Auditorium; the “Americans and the Holocaust” traveling exhibit on view Sept. 17 to Oct. 23 in the Amarillo Public Library downtown branch, 413 SE Fourth Ave.; the Great Epilepsy Cookout on Sept. 24 in the Civic Center Grand Plaza; the wrap-up of the Amarillo Sod Poodles’ regular season with a series against the Frisco Roughriders and the Arkansas Travelers; fall fun at Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm, 12908 S. Bell St., weekends from Sept. 24 to Oct. 30; and the Junior League of Amarillo’s annual Best of Texas fundraiser—featuring Easton Corbin, Roger Creager, Pat Green and Lindsay Lane—on Sept. 24 at Starlight Ranch.

GUYS AND DOLLS: Amarillo Little Theatre revives one of the truly classic musicals—one chock full of mobsters, molls and mugging— for performances Sept. 8 to 25 on the Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. Also on the arts front, new Amarillo Symphony conductor George Jackson kicks off his inaugural season with Mozart and Shostakovich on Sept. 16 and 17 in the Globe-News Center, and WT Theatre mounts recent musical hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 in the Branding Iron Theatre.

F all rushes in with the return of the bountiful arts season, beloved traditional Amarillo events, an array of concerts and more (subject to change). For additional weekly picks, don’t forget to subscribe to our Brickly and Flavorillo newsletters. Look for the tabs at brickandelm.com.

September THE TOADIES:

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can’t miss WITH CHIP CHANDLER Having lived in the Texas Panhandle for 22 years. I know Texans appreciate hard work and straight talk. Please contact me for a no-obligation assessment of property you already own or to see what is currently available in the Angel Fire/Red River area. I’ll work hard to earn your trust. I’ll work even harder to keep it. – Byron “Doc” Pearson RE/MAX MOUNTAIN REALTY 3655 Mountain View Blvd. Angel Fire, N.M. 87710 BYRON “DOC” PEARSON Associate Broker Office: 575.377.1919 Cell: docpearsonrealty@gmail.com806.683.1355 13 BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT

JAMEY JOHNSON: The hirsute country superstar brings his outlaw hits to town for an Oct. 27 show in the Civic Center Auditorium. Other music highlights for the month include Center City’s Jazztober concerts Tuesdays on the lawn of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, 1000 S. Polk St.; country music scion Ned LeDoux on Oct. 1 at Hoot’s Pub; Christian rock superstars Casting Crowns on Oct. 8 in the Civic Center Coliseum; Texas country act Ragland on Oct. 14 at Golden Light Cantina; Mexican-American icon Marisela on Oct. 15, also in the Civic Center Auditorium; and an album release party from top Amarillo band Comanche Moon on Oct. 29, also at Hoot’s Pub.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE: Metropolitan Opera stars Vanessa Becera and Carlos Santelli join with Grammy Award-winner Andrew Craig Brown and a cast of locals in Amarillo Opera’s new production of the classic opera, set for Oct. 8 in the Globe-News Center. Also on the arts scene for the month are Amarillo Symphony’s Celebrate America pops concert on Oct. 1 in Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St., and their Oct. 14 and 15 concerts, featuring Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, in the Globe-News Center; the touring production Menopause: The Musical on Oct. 18 in the Civic Center Auditorium; Amarillo Little Theatre Academy’s original musical Robin Hood: The Rest of the Story on Oct. 21-23 on the Allen Shankles Mainstage; Lone Star Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow on Oct. 22 in the Globe-News Center; and WT Theatre’s The Laramie Project from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6.

HALLOWEEN ENDS: Scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis faces off against Michael Myers one final time in this (alleged) series-ending installment of the horror franchise, opening Oct. 14. Other new releases will include animated comedy Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile on Oct. 7; wartime drama (and Wonder-adjacent film) White Bird on Oct. 14; romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise with Julia Roberts and George Clooney on Oct. 21; DC Comics antihero Black Adam with Dwayne Johnson, also on Oct. 21; and thriller Prey for the Devil on Oct. 28. Special screenings will include the 55th anniversary of In the Heat of the Night on Oct. 16 and 19 and Studio Ghibli Fest screenings of Spirited Away on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1-2.

Hey Amarillo Beerfest was held on July 23 at Starlight Ranch Event Center. Created by Brick & Elm co-founder Jason Boyett, the local showcase of the Panhandle’s best independent breweries featured samplings from breweries, live music, food trucks, vendors, judges’ awards and a concert featuring a Def Leppard tribute band.

(Provided Photos)

The 27th Annual Original Harley Party was held July 30 at the Tri-State Fairgrounds. The fundraiser benefited Family Support Services and featured live music, vendors, a fun run, and Grand Prize 2022 Low Rider S presented by Tripp’s Harley-Davidson. (Provided

HEY AMARILLO BEERFEST social seen

Photos) 2022 HARLEY PARTYBRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 14

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The 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle hosted its 14th Annual Boots vs. Badges Charity Softball game on Aug. 6 at Hodgetown Stadium. Proceeds from ticket sales benefited the 100 Club and Coffee Memorial Blood Center. (Provided Photos)

The Friends of the Public Library presented Ama-Con 2022 on Aug. 6-7. A celebration of pop culture, Ama-Con began in 2012 and has grown to more than 70 booths, and featured a cosplay contest, sketch-off, art show and a variety of special guests. (Provided Photos)

AMA-CON 2022

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The 86th XIT Rodeo & Reunion was held in Dalhart this past August. The three-day event featured the World’s Largest BBQ, a Junior Rodeo, the XIT Rodeo, live music from the Cory Morrow Band and Randall King, and the presentation of the 2022 XIT Rodeo Queen.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMOA FAMILY

ALL THINGS ARTFUL ART FESTIVAL BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 18

On Aug. 13, the Amarillo Museum of Art celebrated its 50th birthday with a two-hour family-friendly party that featured live music, yard games, face painting, hands-on art activities, and cake and ice cream provided by Blue Bell Creameries. (Provided Photos)

TheDAYannualfundraiser for the Amarillo Art Institute, All Things Artful was held on Aug. 12. The all-day event included live music, interactive art, a silent auction, and art demonstrations. Proceeds from the festival aid the institute in its mission to inspire, educate, and enrich lives through art. (Provided Photos)

The unforgettable voice of a young refugee gives this groundbreaking autobiographical its beating heart. Capturing the essence of A Thousand and One Nights, from middle school humiliations to wondrous Persian myths, you will find one powerful narrative, united by hope for a world that ought to be. In an Oklahoma middle school, Khosrou (whom everyone calls Daniel) stands in front of a skeptical audience of classmates, telling the tales of his family’s history, stretching back years, decades and centuries. At the core is Daniel’s story of how they became refugees—starting with his mother’s vocal embrace of Christianity in a country that made such a thing a capital offense, and continuing through their midnight flight from the secret police until finding asylum in the U.S. The author deftly weaves through stories of the long and beautiful history of his family in Iran, adding a richness of ancient tales and Persian folklore.

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Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story) byCecilyWong&DylanThuras

eing productive makes them feel safe,” says Valerie Gooch, Executive Director of the Panhandle Adult Rebuilding Center (PARC), located on Sixth Avenue downtown, west of FirstBank Southwest Tower. “They call this their ‘first safe place.’ It’s a safe haven.”

“Relationships are where we see the biggest change,” she says. But other changes are coming to The PARC, which recently purchased the property behind the building and the parking lot immediately to the east. Currently in the final design stage, the expansion will give The PARC a larger building for classes plus creativity stations, along with the green space of a “pocket park” on the property.

B PHOTOSPROVIDED PRODUCTIVITY AND PEACE Proudly Sponsored by: THE PARC 2612 Wolflin Village | Amarillo, TX purposeandpassionboutique.com806.418.8920#shopforapurpose #lovinthelocals Shop for a Purpose! All September and October 2022, a percentage of sales will benefit The

Gooch tells countless stories of PARC members who have found jobs or apartments within a few weeks of showing up. Others enter and graduate from recovery programs.

She’s talking about the homeless members of The PARC, where men and women often spend their days after shelters close in the mornings. At The PARC, these individuals can attend art or life skills classes for free. They pursue creative projects like painting or woodworking, or simply engage in meaningful

“We are passionate about how we change people’s lives who are homeless,” she says. An average of 30 or so individuals visit every week, often referred by local agencies. “They are all just seeking acceptance and relationships.”

“It’s going to be beautiful. We want to display the beauty of our community and add to the beauty of downtown Amarillo,” Gooch says. To help fund the expansion, The PARC is hosting “A Downtown Affair,” a ticketed event on Oct. 22 on the rooftop of the parking garage at Sixth and Buchanan. The evening features live music and art demonstrations, plus a fully catered meal and open bar.

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Homelessnessconversations.isdehumanizing, and the daily cycle of finding food and shelter can reduce life to base elements of survival, Gooch says. It’s incredibly stressful. As a result, the unhoused have few relationships. They rarely get called by name. No one looks them in the eye or engages with them at a human level. The PARC offers a reprieve from that cycle, along with the ability to start and finish projects. That sense of accomplishment helps restore dignity and confidence—and can be the key that unlocks potential. “In their world, peace is something to be cherished,” Gooch says.

Learn more about the organization or purchase tickets for the event at theparc.net PARC.

Meanwhile, Gooch is seeking local volunteers to teach creative classes—even once a month—or simply to show up and have conversations while painting, coloring or doing puzzles.

spotlight

w h o h a v e h e l p e d s h a p e a n d t a m e t h we h o h a v e h e l p e d s h a p e a n d t a m e t h e W i l d W e s t w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e i Wr i l d W e s t w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e i r s t e a d y e q u i n e c o m p a n i o n s s. t e a d y e q u i n e c o m p a n i o n s . O F M A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E F O R H O R S E S A N D H U M A N S CELEBRATE A CDECADE ELEBRATE A DECADE D O V E C R E E K E Q U I N E R E S C U E I N V I T E S Y O U T O F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N O N A T T E N D I N G V I S I T D O V E C R E E K E Q U I N E R E S C U E . O R G / S U N S E T D I N N E R 2 0 2 2 This year, we are honoring the T r u e G r i Tt r u e G r i t W e s t e r n W o m e Wn e s t e r n W o m e n of S U N S E T D I N N E R O c t o b e r 8 , 2 0 2 2 5 : 0 0 t o 9 : 0 0 i n t h e e v e n i n g L O C A T I O N D o v e C r e e k R a n c h B B Q D I N N E R b y G e n e M e s s e r A u t o G r o u p D A N C E t o t h e l i v e l y m u s i c o f L i n d s e y L a n e T I C K E T S a v a i l a b l e f o r i n d i v i d u a l s a l e o r b y t a b l e

Mike Knox, currently vice president for student enrollment, engagement and success, was named vice president of enrollment management for West Texas A&M University

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BSA was named to the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. This is the seventh time BSA has been recognized with this honor as one of the top performing hospitals in the U.S. The annual list was published by Fortune BSA Health System has named Jerome Brooks as the new chief operating officer (COO), effective July 2022. He replaces Michael Cruz, who was recently named BSA’s chief executive officer.

Xcel Energy announced that in 2021, it purchased almost $745 million in goods and services from businesses in Texas and New Mexico, impacting local economies bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic. This amount was a significant increase over the amount spent with regional businesses in 2020.

Dr. Guillermo Marcillo, assistant professor of agricultural statistics in WT’s Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, was named an E. Kika De La Garza Education, High School and Science Fellow. The program links USDA and Hispanic-Serving Institutions to help build awareness in Hispanic communities of USDA services, resources and employment opportunities.

WTAMU was ranked at No. 1 by TopRNtoBSN.com, an independent analyst, for offering the most affordable online RN-to-BSN program in the Sevencountry.

BSA Health System (BSA) was named Best Regional Hospital in the Panhandle-Plains region and ranked No. 24 for best hospitals in Texas for 2022-2023 by U.S. News & World Report. BSA was also recognized as a High Performing hospital for the following seven procedures and conditions: congestive heart failure, colon cancer surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart attack, kidney failure and stroke.

Governor Abbott appointed Dee Johnson to the 47th Judicial District Court in Armstrong, Potter, and Randall Counties for a term set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022, or until her successor is duly elected and qualified. Johnson is partner and counsel for Packard, Hood, Johnson & Paul, L.L.P.

WTAMU faculty members have been appointed to endowed professorships in the Paul & Virginia Engler College of Business at West Texas A&M University. Dr. Anne-Christine Barthel was named the Hodges Professor of Business. Dr. Rahul Chauhan was named the McCray Professor of Business. Dr. Murray Jennex was named the Gensler Professor of Computer Information Systems. Dr. Scott Jones, who begins his WT career this month, was named the Foust Professor of Business. Matt Loftin, who joined WT in 2021, was named the Miller Professor. Dr. Dallin Smith was named the Schaeffer Professor for Business Ethics. Dr. Chen Zhao was named the Edwards Professor of Accounting.

Region 16 announced the elementary and secondary teachers of the year for 2022. Tiffany Ryals from Amarillo ISD is Elementary Teacher of the Year. Tricia Shay from Borger ISD is the Secondary Teacher of the Year

Clift Land Brokers recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in the land business. Clift Land Brokers has offices in Amarillo, Dalhart, Dimmitt, Littlefield, Pampa, Perryton, and Stratford. Education Credit Union (ECU) announced the departure of President and CEO Eric Jenkins, citing a new opportunity that will allow him to return to his home state of Georgia. The ECU Board has appointed Marcus Smith as interim CEO. Smith has served as CFO of ECU since 2014. locations

Three

Luis Morales Luna joined Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo as an assistant professor of practice with the cross-cutting subject matter expertise of general veterinary practice. He began his duties on June 20. Family ServicesSupportannounced the appointment of Christy Bertolino as its new Director of Donor Engagement. Bertolino joined FSS in Amarillo-basedJuly.

biz

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On Aug. 19, the City of Amarillo broke ground on the new Pavilion at the Santa Fe Depot. The covered, open-air Pavilion is scheduled to be completed by November 2022, in time to host the World Championship Ranch Rodeo.

Texas Tech Physicians celebrated its expansion to Canyon with a ribbon-cutting for the new Texas Tech Physicians Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic. The clinic marks the first expansion of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in Amarillo to a neighboring community.

FirstBank Southwest promoted Will Miller to Executive Vice President/President of Commercial and Corporate Banking. Miller has worked for FBSW for 27 years. John Byrom has joined Brown & Fortunato’s Corporate Group as a senior associate. John returns to B&F, bringing almost eight years of oil and gas experience.

The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents approved the appointments of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) faculty Sherry Sancibrian and Thomas Hale, Ph.D., R.Ph., as Grover E. Murray Professors. Grover E. Murray Professors are faculty members who have attained national and international distinction in their fields for outstanding research, excellence in scholarship and creative achievement.

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Producer Owned Beef celebrated its launch on Aug. 10 with a celebration in downtown Amarillo. The processing facility will break ground in early 2023 and will be the only processing plant in the nation owned by beef producers. Organizers expect this facility to represent a $1 billion economic impact to Amarillo over the next five years.

The Commons at St. Anthony’s, a 124-unit senior independent living apartment complex on the east end of the historic St. Anthony’s Hospital, held a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 12. The new community is a major part of St. Anthony’s redevelopment and promises significant economic impact to the city’s north side. We want to hear from you! To highlight your business, promotions, awards and ribbon-cuttings in this section, email a press release or your business brief to mm@brickandelm.com.

The Amarillo Symphony was the recipient of a grant from Texas Women for the Arts (TWA), a program of the Texas Cultural Trust. The $2,000 grant funds will be used to support Kinderkonzerts, an educational program for K-second grade students.

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catcher have to squat down like that? Isn’t that hard on his knees? It would be better if he could stand up.”

“I think the catcher should say whether it’s a ball or strike.”

“This isn’t a church ice cream social. This is Major League Baseball. These players make millions of “Alldollars.”toplay a game that needs rule“Youchanges.”havemore suggestions?”

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“You know how the miles-perhour appears after every pitch? If they could change that number from 95 to a lot lower, like 50, there would be more hits. It would be more“Butexciting.”theseguys get paid millions to show their world-class talent. You can’t do that by throwing ‘cream“Whopuffs.’”saidanything about cream puffs?” All afternoon. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“It’s superimposed on the TV screen so we can see the strike zone.” “Can they see it on the field?” “No, just on the TV screen.”

“Isn’t that the job of the guy behind the catcher?” “Yes, it is. There’s a new controversy about removing the behindthe-plate ump altogether.”

“All right! The Rangers are on!” “Which ones are the Rangers?” “Red and blue.” “Both teams are wearing red and blue.” “The ones with the big ‘T’ on the hat. Those are the Rangers.”

(Another question mark over my head.)

everybody wear a helmet? Anybody could get hit in the head on a baseball field!”

“Sometimes catchers wear a helmet, but they don’t have to.”

“What is that annoying little box in front of the catcher?”

BASEBALLWATCHINGWITHMYBELOVED

“‘T’ doesn’t stand for ‘Rangers.’” “It stands for ‘Texas.’” “Well, I don’t see any.” “We’re up to bat. The only Ranger on the field is the one with the helmet“Shouldn’ton.”

“That wouldn’t work. The catcher is on one team and the batter is on the “Andother.”theycan’t work together to make the game more fun?”

“Maybe you should write to the commissioner with a few rulechange“You’resuggestions.”theonewho said they keep changing the rules.”

“For socks. Not the rules of the game.” “What’s the difference?” (A question mark appears over my head.)

“What’s with those socks?”

t always does my heart good to enjoy a Sunday afternoon with our great American pastime, watching the Rangers come from behind on a late-inning, gamewinning base hit. That being said, I have, at my house, a benefactor who raises the entertainment value of baseball (and nearly everything else) to a new level. She sees things from a perspective unlike most people. We’ve been married for many years, but just when I think I am catching any sort of rhythm from her, she says or does something that makes me feel like a cartoon character with a big question mark over my head.

ANDY CHASE CUNDIFF Andy is an artist, singersongwriter, music producer and musician. In every issue, his column explores the parts of his life that don’t always make it into his songs, accompanied by his own illustration.

“They change the rules about socks all the time. You should have seen the stirrups we wore in Little League.” (I spent the next two innings explaining my use of the word“Why“stirrup.”)doesthe

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Well, somewhere a long time ago, I lost sight of that. Professional accomplishments and personal achievements allowed me to mask what I had really been struggling with. Adversity has its place. It is actually extremely beneficial. However, some trials in life take years to reveal their true effect, while others immediately shake you to the core. Whether it is the absence of a biological parent throughout childhood, growing up around domestic violence, navigating the unexpected death of a loved one, or the abrupt contemplation of divorce, these twists and turns in life’s journey can be mentally and emotionally exhausting.

I remember always reading and admiring a quote on the wall of my high school leadership class. Though I do not know the quote’s exact origin or author, I remember it as follows: “Be who you choose to be, not who others choose to see.”

I used to harbor such ignorant thoughts myself. However, I was only suppressing my true emotions. The fact is, I needed counseling long before I actually began receiving it. But I denied myself this service because of what I allowed myself to believe. It does not matter how someone appears on the outside; suppressing emotions can lead to depression or much worse. Life throws curveballs at you, and sometimes you find yourself on a journey you would not have anticipated. If these situations are not handled appropriately, and if you refuse to tackle the root of the problem, you will find yourself going through the motions and pretending to be as OK as you think others need you to be.

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WITH PATRICK MILLER

PATRICK MILLER A passionate local educator and President of the Amarillo Branch NAACP, Patrick writes in every issue about education, faith and forward momentum.

Scripture reminds us that “Faith without works is dead.” I consider receiving counseling as a part of the work which allows my faith to beAactivated.wisefriend and local pastor once told me, “If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go with others.” I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my family and circle of close friends. Sometimes, you have to experience what appears to be significant loss in order to gain the maturity to accept responsibility for what your life has become. Service remains its own reward, but loving that service is something I almost lost sight of. The conclusion of one chapter in life only creates a pathway for the commencement of another chapter. Though I do not know nor can I presume to anticipate what will happen in this next chapter, I am relying on the author and finisher of my faith, my Lord and Savior Jesus, to continue to lead me in the way I should go.

ental health is often a subject considered taboo or one that is haphazardly associated with a negative connotation. It seems this is exacerbated by the notion that people of faith should not have any need for support outside of their religious community. To make matters worse, in far too many homes, the mere mention of counseling is perceived as a sign of weakness.

forward

I would like to believe it is not necessarily the adverse situation that defines a person, but rather how they choose to respond—and who they become—once they deal with the severe emotional distress. No one should avoid introspection, because it is essential in identifying how you process your thoughts and emotions. Ultimately, it helps you determine healthy ways to remedy what affects you.

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mindset

hen bad things happen, most of us like to believe we would do whatever it takes to change the situation. However, there are times when someone can feel like they have no control over what happens in their lives. They give up and accept whatever happens. This can lead to a miserable routine, because change would create doubt and anxiety about what will happen in the future. This is known as “learned helplessness.”1 Learned helplessness develops from being exposed to harmful events over and over until they seem unavoidable. When someone suffers abuse in a relationship, they may end up “learning” that there is nothing they can do to escape the abuse and, so they resign themselves to the suffering.

3. Distraction: When negative thoughts seem to play on repeat, use distraction to break out of that cycle. Distraction options include startling yourself (make a sudden loud noise or snap a rubber band on your wrist), shifting your attention (look around the room you’re in and describe it to yourself in detail—notice the light, colors, sounds and smells around you), or scheduling time for your negative thoughts (once you are done, let those thoughts go).

Individuals can protect against learned helplessness by practicing independence from a young age, and by cultivating resilience and selfcompassion. Engaging in actions that restore self-control can also be valuable. For example, an elderly person who feels helpless can engage in small practices that they know will restore a sense of control.

One of the best ways to combat learned helplessness is to engage in therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps people overcome challenges by changing how they think and act in certain situations. In counseling, people can receive support and encouragement, develop ways to decrease feelings of helplessness, and replace negative thoughts or behaviors with more positive and helpfulAdditionalones. research suggests that exercise can prevent learned helplessness. Physical activity usually benefits mental health and can reduce or prevent anxiety, depression, stress, and other health problems. In addition, eating a healthful diet, meditating, and practicing mindfulness are other lifestyle changes that can boost a person’s mental health and outlook.4

Remember that if you feel stuck, that’s OK. Give yourself a break and know that you have the power to change. This starts with acceptance: You are stronger than you think, and if you are willing to fight through the obstacles, you will be able to see that unlearning learned helplessness is key to living a happy, healthy life. TO HELPLESSNESS

Learned Optimism

1. Maier SF, Seligman ME. Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience. Psychol Rev. 2016;123(4):349-367. doi:10.1037/rev0000033 2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325355#in-adults https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/learned-helplessness

2. Put it in perspective: Think of a problem you’re currently worried about. Start by imagining the worst possible scenario. Then imagine the best possible outcome. Next, think about the most realistic outcome. Finally, create a plan for the most realistic scenario.

Other Techniques for Tackling Learned Helplessness

Or when multiple diet attempts prove ineffective for weight loss, they give up trying to lose weight.2

• Permanence: Pessimists see negative events as permanent. Optimists view them as temporary.

Or when someone fails after several attempts to quit smoking, learned helplessness makes them believe they will always be a smoker.

JIM WOMACK Jim is the chief executive officer of Family Support Services of Amarillo, a local nonprofit that has been helping area residents since 1908. Jim has served as CEO of FSS since 2013, and has worked in various director positions in the nonprofit and criminal justice fields. Jim has undergraduate and graduate degrees from West Texas A&M University.

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Meanwhile, learned optimism is when someone learns to recognize ongoing negative thoughts and then challenge them. Challenging your pessimistic thoughts can help you reframe them into new, more positive beliefs. Learned optimism has been shown to improve mood and well-being, boost self-esteem, and encourage more positive behaviors.

1. Your best possible self: Use your imagination and envision a future in which you have achieved the best possible outcomes in your life. This exercise boosts mental well-being and may inspire you to take new actions.

4. Greenwood, B.N., Fleshner, M. Exercise, Learned Helplessness, and the Stress-Resistant Brain. Neuromol Med 10, 81–98 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12017-008-8029-y

UNLEARN LEARNED

Over time, learned optimism can help you improve your outlook on life and see yourself in a more positive light. In his book Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life, Dr. Martin Seligman explains that optimists handle bad events better than pessimists. He listed three main differences between the two:

HOW

• Pervasiveness: Pessimists have a gloomy outlook on every area of their lives. Optimists tend not to let disappointment in one area of their life affect how they feel about another. He described these three exercises to help develop optimism:

• Personalization: Pessimists blame themselves when things go wrong. Optimists recognize when outside factors contribute to bad situations.

Learned helplessness closes us off from positive prospects and stops us from recognizing when a great opportunity is right in front of us. It can be paralyzing. It keeps us from doing what we need to do to make our life better.

H PHOTOS

air accessories are in. And not just in Amarillo, where the occasional Halloween-week blue northers can literally be hairraising. They’re also quite visible this season on the fashion runways of Paris and New York, where glamorous models have begun to show off hairbands, hairpins and hair-kerchiefs aplenty. We surveyed some of the area’s favorite boutiques to find the must-have hair accessories of autumn. BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

HAIR TO STAY CANDY KNOTTEDJEWELEDHEADBAND $195 AVANT GARDEN retail therapy METAL BUTTERFLY HEADBAND $11 DOTSY’S BOUTIQUE FAUX SCRUNCHIELEATHER $11 BOUTIQUEDOTSY’S MOSAIC OVERSIZEDEYELETSCRUNCHIE $38 AVANT GARDEN BRIGHTON LONDON GROOVE LARGE HAIR CLIP $42 SILVERLAND PONYTAIL HOLDER $13 BOUTIQUEDOTSY’S LARGE BARRETTE $12.99 PURPOSE + PASSION BOUTIQUE ANIMAL PRINT SCARF $12.99 PURPOSE + PASSION BOUTIQUE BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 32

Christmas Roundup42 ANNUALND THE AMoA ALLIANCE PRESENTS A HOLIDAY MARKET NOVEMBER 4-6, 2022 AMARILLO CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX $10 Weekend Ticket, Children 12 and under FREE Shop Two Full Halls! SPONSORED BY amoa-alliance.com BENEFITING THE AMARILLOPROGRAMSEDUCATIONALOFTHEMUSEUMOFART WEEKEND OF EVENTS Shopping from 12 PM - 8 PM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH Refreshments, Giveaways and Door Prizes! SPONSORED BY Krause Landscape Contractors, Inc. 12 PM - 2 PM RED’S EARLY BIRD SHOPPING Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, select merchant specials, and door prizes! Plus, new Art in Action live event! SPONSORED BY Graham Brothers Jewelers Sa•vór Tapas Bar Sweet by Cara Linn Sweets & Meats Girasol Cafe & Bakery 5 PM - 8 PM PARTY LIKE A GRINCH COCKTAILS & SHOPPING Shopping from 10 AM - 6 PM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH SPONSORED BY David Williams Photography Texas Tech Physicians Pediatrics 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM PICTURES & CRAFTS WITH SANTA Shopping from 11 AM - 4 PM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH SILENT AUCTION CLOSES AT 2 PM MR. AND MRS. TERRY SHELDON

There are plenty of pretty things in Avant Garden, which opened its storefront in 2019. In addition to large-scale events, personalized fresh flower subscriptions and bring-your-own-vase workshops, her customers find inspiration in the shop’s flower coolers.

ummer may have been flower season, but today’s global marketplace means most varieties of fresh flowers are available almost all the time. That keeps local floral shops like Avant Garden, located in Wolflin Square, busy 12 months of the year.

RICHARDSONSHANNONBYPHOTOS

Owner Rachelle Tuls loves that aspect of her business. “I’m from Southern California,” she says. Local winters leave her longing for SoCal sunshine. “We can get kind of sad [here] in the winter. I just find that it’s such a stress relief to walk in and see pretty things, to look at the flowers and be inspired.”

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Late Bloomers

“Call her Natasha,” jokes designer Sharayah Welty. “I was thinking Matilda,” injects Garrett. “Matilda is sassy. Kind of frumpy. She wants to be left alone.”

“You constantly have a fresh entrance piece or something on your bedside table,” says Tuls. We asked the Avant Garden team to jump-start that elevation by designing three fall-friendly floral arrangements readers can prepare themselves. Two arrangements take a traditional approach, making use of late summer colors that roll easily into the fall months. The other is a little more sinister, just in time forAtHalloween.ourphoto shoot, we discussed how to refer to the spooky arrangement. What should we call it?

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Tips from Kaitlin: Always consider the space where an arrangement will be displayed. “Is it going up against a wall? Will it be viewed from all directions? How hot or cold do you keep your house? If the house is hot in the winter, you want to avoid delicate florals.”

spaces

MEET MATILDA

Designed by Kaitlin Garrett, spooky Matilda is perfect for a Halloween party centerpiece or near a trick-or-treating entrance. The orange container adds a solid base for the witchy verticality of the curly willow branches. “With a big jar, it takes a lot more to fill it. You want to go for the big, branchy, hearty elements,” Garrett says. This arrangement contains silver highlights from gunnii eucalyptus and seeded eucalyptus, along with whimsical dried pods, delicate clematis flowers and tropical black ti leaves. “They give it a red undertone. They can pull black or burgundy depending on which direction you’re looking,” saysSheGarrett.started with the eucalyptus greenery, then added the willow sticks to give shape. “I do all my delicate flowers last, and the ti leaves are a finishing touch for me,” she says. “It’s like an art piece. You’re giving it dimension and texture. We like to do a lot of texture here.”

The DIY stock cooler features buckets full of fresh stems, all ready to be assembled into an arrangement. These flowers are sold per-stem, starting around $3 each, with specialty items—like tropical birds of paradise or French tulips—carrying higher price points. “There’s something for everyone’s tastes,” says Garrett. Whether Avant Garden does the work or a customer assembles their own bouquet, the presence of flowers can elevate a home.

The grab-and-go cooler features pre-made arrangements at a variety of price points. Customers “can simply pop in, pick out something, and be on their way,” says Kaitlin Garrett. She teamed up with Tuls to launch the business after more than a decade designing for another local florist. “Our regulars absolutely love it, and first-comers are always surprised to find out about it.”

This more traditional floral arrangement by designer Sharayah Welty pairs fall elements with late-summer orange tones and warm colors. “When I design, I divide my base into four sections,” she says. Flower arranging is all about the “grid,” and many florists start by taping a grid across the top of their vase or container. Welty likes to complete one quarter of the grid before rotating the vase in order to work on the opposite quarter. “I start with the bigger blooms first, then the smaller blooms. Then you always do your delicate flowers last,” she says. “I would say the tulip is the more delicate flower here.”

PRETTY PUMPKIN

CRYSTAL CLEAR

This traditional arrangement, courtesy of designer Valentine Martinez, includes plenty of pink, magenta and other showy colors. “A lot of customers have such bright-colored houses they want the bright pinks and yellows,” explains Garrett.

Tips from Sharayah: In this arrangement, Welty began with the hydrangeas at the base before inserting the roses, followed by marigolds, spray roses, hypericum berries and then tulips. Many consumers assume flowers like hydrangeas and roses are expensive, but these popular flowers—though prized—can actually be more economical than other varieties. That’s why Welty and Avant Garden rely on them as a type of floral filler where other florists might use more traditional greenery.

Tips from Valentine: Because his arrangement is contained in clear glass, Martinez wants the water to stay as clean as possible. “With a clear cylinder like this, it has to be very clean. No garbage inside,” he says. Using a half-bleach and half-water solution in a spray bottle, he adds a single spritz of the solution to the water in his vase. “That is not enough to kill the flowers,” says Martinez. “It keeps the water clean. I’ve even seen, after the flowers die, the water is still clean.”

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“I like to show the best faces of the flowers,” says Martinez about his arrangement. Knowing that statement needs an explanation, he continues: “Flowers absolutely have faces. You look into the face of the hydrangea, the amaryllis, dahlias, roses.” He makes sure those faces aren’t covered by anything else in the arrangement.

AMARILLO, TX | ROCKWOODFURNITURECO.COM

DIVERSECITY GUIDE TO A CHANGING AMARILLO BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 38

Look past the boots and dust, in other words, and you might be surprised what you find.

More than a million viewers have now watched videos featuring Bell and members of his family. In his TikTok profile picture, Bell sits cross-legged, wearing chaps, in a classic yoga lotus pose. He’s on social media to have fun and spread positivity—“I love everybody,” he says, with a bit of a twang—but there’s more going on here than horses and“I’vetumbleweeds.startedwearing my hat in a lot of videos,” Bell says, because that’s who he is. But when he wears the hat while traveling, especially in other states, he finds outsiders quick to form an opinion. “People choose to think: There’s a Republican. There’s a gun-toter. There’s a racist fella there.” The prejudgment bothers him. “You’ve gotta look at the rest of the layers of me.”

PHOTOS BY ADAM BAKER AND SHAIE WILLIAMS

uy Bell seems to fit the classic image of an Amarillo resident. He’s white. He has an agricultural background. He spends weekdays selling farm and ranch equipment, and on weekends, he rides horses and runs cattle on family land. He wears boots and jeans and a hat and a leather belt that reads GOD BLESS TEXAS. Guy Bell is a real-life cowboy. But there’s more to Bell than his traditional appearance. To start, Bell is something of a social media star. A viral, earlypandemic Facebook video—you probably saw his cowboy “balance beam” routine—gained the cowboy a sizable TikTok following.

BY JASON BOYETT

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For instance, our vibrant arts scene always grabs attention. Organizations like the Amarillo Symphony—whose new music director, George Jackson, hails from London—have been part of Amarillo’s cultural fabric for a century. The city’s LGBTQ community is thriving. The 2022 Panhandle Pride celebration gathered an estimated 4,000 local residents together on a hot, windy, welcoming Saturday in June.

Jeff Gulde, executive director of Catholic Charities, says the decline in refugee numbers over the past few years represents a healthy change. “About 10 years ago, we were at a point where the numbers of refugees we were resettling in this area was difficult for a variety of reasons—the burden on the school district and public health,” he says. The Trump administration sought a dramatic reduction in those numbers, and under the Biden administration they have slowly begun to increase. “The happy place is somewhere in between,” Gulde says. In recent years, most refugees have hailed from the Middle East. “They come through the special immigrant visa program,” he says. “They helped the armed forces in some form or fashion. Because of their service to us, they may have ended up in harm’s way in their ownGuldecountry.”recalls the transport planes departing Afghanistan last summer, as desperate Afghans tried to escape their home country. “For the most part, everyone was receptive [to those refugees] because of the horrors we saw directly on TV and their service to our brothers and sisters fighting to protect freedom,” says Gulde. Around 250 Afghan refugees arrived in Amarillo last year, and 50 came through Catholic Charities. His organization meets these families at the airport and arranges housing for them at a local apartment complex. “They quarantine for

JEANETTE ARPERO, INSTRUCTOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WTAMU PHOTO COURTESY OF WTAMU 41 BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT

Amarillo’s refugee population has been well-documented, including this magazine’s March/April 2022 feature about Refugee Language Project and The Place, a new gathering spot for members of the refugee community.

“What makes Amarillo unique is that, for a while, we were accepting more refugees and immigrants than any other city, per capita, in Texas. It’s part of what makes us special,” says Arpero. She was born in Amarillo after her own parents immigrated from Mexico, seeking economic opportunity. Meanwhile, her brother is married to a Burmese woman whose family sought asylum here. From 2015 to 2020, more than half of the refugee arrivals in Amarillo were from Burma—many of them Karen people fleeing persecution (see sidebar). The Democratic Republic of Congo, in central Africa, accounts for nearly a quarter of local refugees.

UPENDING EXPECTATIONS

Like the rest of Texas, the city’s racial and ethnic makeup is shifting. Amarillo surpassed 200,000 residents in the most recent census, and that population is more diverse than ever. More than half of the city’s residents are white, but a quickly growing third of the population (33 percent) are Hispanic or Latino. Another 7 percent are Black or African American. More than 4 percent are Asian and 5.4 percent divide their heritage among two or more races.

Cities aren’t cowboys and Amarillo isn’t a TikTok personality, but this region and Guy Bell both have a knack for upending expectations.

Neighborhood plans in the Barrio, North Heights, and San Jacinto are uniting those communities behind long-awaited investment and optimism, with another plan in the works for the heavily international population of Eastridge.

Jeanette Arpero, a political science and criminal justice instructor at West Texas A&M University, says Amarillo’s diversification falls in line with what’s happening throughout the state. From 2010 to 2020, Texas grew by nearly 4 million people, and more than 95 percent of that growth was attributable to minority populations, she says. “Out of that 95 percent growth, 50 percent was Hispanic,” adds Arpero. “But it’s other minorities as well. We are definitely becoming more diverse.”

A city with multiple layers and communities, Amarillo is far more complex than its white, conservative, agricultural reputation presents. Yes, the Western culture is authentic. Yes, local values and politics are definitely conservative. But culturally, there’s more to Amarillo than meets the eye. This city is surprisingly diverse.

REFUGEE RELOCATION

And while the influx has dropped in recent years, Amarillo spent the past two decades as a prominent destination for refugees, bringing international flavor to this city of steakhouses and brisket joints.

Significant numbers also come from Somalia, Iran and Afghanistan. These placements peaked around 2009 and have been declining steadily since 2016. Most of them arrived through the work of two organizations: the social agency Refugee Services of Texas and the religiously affiliated Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle.

The profile of “Maria” updates regularly, and Crowley spelled out the most recent profile from data gathered last fall. “She’s overwhelmingly female,” she says. “She’s first-generation, requires financial aid, and Hispanic. Her average age is 26. She has kids and works two part-time jobs.”

“W e call our typical student ‘Maria,’” says Cara Crowley, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Amarillo College. “Once we got real clarity who that average student was at AC, it changed everything about our institution—class structure, advising, social workers, the support systems we had in place.” In fact, it was this understanding of the typical student that earned national attention for Amarillo College, including the Aspen Institute’s 2021 Rising Star award, which recognized how the college was addressing poverty barriers among students and the resulting improvement in student outcomes.

As of last year, 66 percent of AC students were female and 68 percent were first-generation college students. More than 6 in 10 students are minority, with Hispanics making up 47 percent of the student body. (This compares to non-Hispanic white students at 38 percent, a 7-percent population of Black students, and 3 percent belonging to two or more race determinations—a number which has grown dramatically sinceFurthermore,2016.)

But why are the numbers rising? It’s complicated, Timcisko says. He points to a lack of education as a major culprit, especially here in a conservative-leaning region where school districts don’t offer comprehensive sex education. “Young people hear about AIDS but don’t necessarily learn to protect themselves,” he explains. The number of HIV-positive individuals between the ages of 13 to 24 continues to grow.

“It’s a number that has trended up for us each and every year. Kids are becoming sexually active and becoming infected through sexual activity.”Theregion’s increased diversity also has an impact. “Our population of refugees has definitely changed the equation,” he says, noting that AIDS education in those home countries is never a given. “Our client base has a large number of refugee clients. PASO spends a much larger percentage [of its budget] on translation services than cities like Lubbock or Midland/Odessa.”

“Maria” wants to go to a four-year university but typically doesn’t end up taking that step. Striving to balance full-time work and raising a family, she ends up getting an associate’s degree or a job training certificate. Due to the costs of a four-year university, she’s not always able to afford a transfer.“Weunderstand that people live in poverty, but poverty doesn’t define them,” Crowley says of the hurdles faced by these ambitious students. “We have to be able to address those needs so they stay in school.”

“W e are currently caring for 359 people with HIV,” says Michael Timcisko, Executive Director of the Panhandle AIDS Support Organization (PASO). “It’s the highest number of clients we’ve ever cared for,” he says, but case numbers have hovered in the mid300s for the past five years. “I was concerned when we passed the 300 mark.”

CARA CROWLEY

PASO helps provide referrals to doctors and other providers, along with transportation, therapeutic counseling, housing assistance and more for those living with HIV.

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PASO’S GROWING CLIENT LIST

GETTING TO KNOW “MARIA” AT AC

PASO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MICHAEL TIMCISKO AND PARTNER JASON HAUGEN

Local meat-packing operations like Tyson Foods and JBS Swift in Cactus are where many refugees find work. “They offer good, living wages and a job where the language barrier is not a hindrance. It’s a repetitive job they can learn with little translation and interpreting,”

The religious culture is becoming more accepting as well. Open and Affirming Congregations (OAC) of the Texas Panhandle is a coalition of churches dedicated to providing a safe space for LGBTQIA members to worship and participate fully in the rituals of the church, with equal opportunity to serve in leadership roles. OAC members include prominent local congregations like St. Andrews Episcopal, St. Luke Presbyterian and First Christian Church of Canyon.

Today, the apartment complex is mostly filled with refugee families from Somalia, Tanzania and Sudan. “I think that was a great thing,” Boyett says. “I’ve personally learned so much from new cultures, and I think the kids we work with have benefitted from this as well.”

GuldeBrooksadds.Boyett*, who operates an apartment ministry called Mission 2540, has seen Amarillo’s refugee explosion up close. He first began offering after-school activities in 2005 for low-income children at the North Grand Villas, located at 2801 N. Grand St. “The families we worked with were exclusively English-speaking Amarilloans, whether they were white, African-American, or Hispanic. Any communication difficulties we faced were with exclusively Spanish-speaking households,” he remembers. Things began to change during the next decade. “Families with new cultures, new religions, and new languages began to move into the North Grand Villas and several of our other properties. This changed our demographics considerably.”

Increased acceptance has meant a growing willingness for individuals in Amarillo’s LGBTQ community to come out of the closet. “Everybody’s being much more visible,” says Michael Timcisko of PASO (see sidebar), who has lived here since 1997 with his partner, Jason Haugen. The couple met in Austin and have been married since 2008. Timcisko points to the Obergefell vs. Hodges Supreme Court ruling in 2015, which guaranteed to same-sex couples the right to marry, as a turning point in Amarillo.

These changes have made residents more likely to take their sexual orientation public rather than hide it. Timciscko speculates that the percentage of LGBTQ Amarillo and Canyon residents probably hasn’t changed much from a decade or two ago. It’s just that it has become slightly safer to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender in Amarillo.

“Marriage equality and federal recognition of our marriages and families tends to make us feel safer. That opened the door for so many younger people in this city to feel more comfortable about coming out to their families and friends, at a much earlier age.”

*Disclosure: Brooks Boyett is the brother of this article’s writer.

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“We’re not growing by leaps and bounds. The numbers seem

“In this highly conservative area we live in, to have churches who are open and welcoming allows for more visibility and understanding,” says Timcisko. “Our families are opened up to us. They’re celebrating our marriages.”

If it seems like the average Amarilloan has become more accepting of homosexuality and knows more people who are in same-sex relationships, bisexual, or transgender, that’s very likely true. In a national Pew study from 2002, barely half of respondents said homosexuality should be accepted in society. Today, that number has risen to 72 percent. Most Panhandle residents would agree that local public opinion probably tracks with the national studies.

In fact, a decade ago he began mentoring three young boys from Tanzania—Jimi Nshimirimana, Aloni Ndihokubwayo and Festus Dushigikiwenimana. All three have since graduated from high school and served as volunteers or employees with his organization. “I believe if our city is to continue to grow and thrive, it’s going to be because of the contributions of our refugees,” Boyett says.

LGBTQ VISIBILITY

two weeks to protect against COVID, and Public Health makes sure their immunizations are up to date,” he says. “We help get children enrolled in school and help parents get a job.”

One of the local families that contributed to the museum’s Quinceañera Traditions exhibit was that of current WTAMU student Debany Arciniega-Saenz, who celebrated her Quinceañera in 2018. “To me, my Quinceañera was an opportunity to be in touch with my heritage and to honor my culture,” says Arciniega-Saenz. Like many such celebrations, her Quinceañara served as a family reunion after years apart, notably reconnecting a grandmother from Mexico with a sister who lives in Las Vegas.

Allen points out that the two most diverse institutions in American life right now are the military and the university. “The university gives students the opportunity to interact and work with people from diverse populations—many of them for the first time, even in 2022,” she says. “Students haven’t always worked with, sat beside and eaten with people of color. This is the best place for them to start initiating those kinds of relationships and learning from different populations.”

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AT WT

“One of the most poignant questions employers are asking now is ‘What is your experience working with diverse populations?’” Allen says.

Four years later, Arciniega-Saenz still thinks about the Quinceañera tradition of dancing with each of the male figures in her life, including her grandfather. “He uses a walking stick and was hesitant to dance with me and without it, but he did,” she says. “He pushed aside his fear and slow-danced with me.”

She and WT’s administration believe these relationships and experiences are just as critical as what happens in the classroom. Students’ future employers are interested in more than college test scores.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF WTAMU

In Mexico and throughout Latin America, the Quinceañera is an important rite of passage for families, accompanied by parties, food, dancing and other traditions. The PPHM exhibit includes ornate dresses—both historic and contemporary—along with photographs, video presentations, and other artifacts from Texas Panhandle families.

The work her office does is broad, spanning from cultural celebrations to bringing in speakers from different nationalities and backgrounds. “I give trainings about microaggressions, how to be an ally, and why things like equity and equality are so important,” she says. “There are so many things to learn.”

“We had been talking about [the idea] for a few years and decided last year to do it,” says Director of Operations Buster Ratliff. “But we realized, if we were going to tell that story, it needed to be told by the Hispanic community and not by us.”

The response to the popular Quinceañera exhibit and a further commitment to the diverse local population is bringing other changes, including a commitment to bilingual labels and signage at the museum. “That hurts no one and helps everyone,” says Price. “We are working to make sure we are an accessible place—a place people feel they can make a connection to.”

ATRADITIONSQUINCEAÑERAATPPHM s summer began, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum unveiled a new special exhibit devoted to the history and symbolism of the Quinceañera, an often lavish religious celebration of a 15 year-old girl’s “coming of age” in Hispanic culture. The word itself combines the Spanish words quince, which means “fifteen” and años (“years”).

reated in 2013, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at West Texas A&M University is a campuswide acknowledgment of the value diversity brings to college life. The office has been guided since 2014 by Angela Allen, WT’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. “When I got here, the population was really beginning to grow,” she says. “We had more African American students and certainly more Hispanic students. WT has a diverse faculty and staff, including from other countries. We are trying to make our climate a great place for anybody who works here or attends college here.”

The museum recruited a committee that included local Hispanic leaders and families, a process that has become more and more important to the museum—including a deep dive into Black History Month last February, which drew on the expertise of 15 members of the Black community. “We are trying to be more mindful. It’s not just ‘look at the cool artifacts we have,’ but involving the community in the entire process,” says Ratliff. Marketing Director Stephanie Price agrees. “Our mission is to tell the story of the Panhandle-Plains, and who better to tell those stories than the communities that have lived them,” she says. “It’s not just the story of Native Americans and the white cowboy. It’s all the cultures who are contributing to who we are and who we’re becoming.”

It strengthens any town to become more diverse. Any time you see growth in areas of culture, ethnicity and race, that’s a good thing. Your city’s growing towards the future.

When the EDC begins conversations with companies who might consider Amarillo for expansion, racial and ethnic diversity is always top of mind. “They 100 percent want to see diversity,” says Sabrina Perez, Director of Workforce Attraction & Retention for Amarillo EDC. “As companies become larger and look to expand or relocate, they really value diversity, equity and inclusion. They see that they cannot grow without different people—representatives of different backgrounds—having a seat at the table.”

WORKPLACE DIVERSIFICATION

The EDC has been tasked with diversifying the local economy by attracting new businesses and industries. A city dependent only on oil and gas revenue or agriculture is at risk, but a diversified economy can weather downturns in any industry.

— Angela Allen, WTAMU

PROVIDED

”

Diversity is a hot topic within the downtown office of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, but in a different context.

higher because people aren’t as afraid,” he says. “Gay people want the same things as straight people—we want to live good and happy lives, pay our taxes, and contribute to society. We’re not the boogeyman in the closet anymore.”

Diversity becomes a prominent value of these companies. And when they begin looking to relocate into a place like Amarillo, “they’re asking, ‘Is this community going to reflect the values of ourShecompany?’”pointsto

“They are a family-operated business,” she remembers. “They wanted to know where the most entry-level employees would live. What do our neighborhoods look like? What does that culture lookTheylike?”appreciated the progress they saw in the Barrio neighborhood and the city’s forward-thinking neighborhood plans.

ANGELA ALLEN, CHIEF OFFICER,DIVERSITYWTAMU

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the recent decision of Cacique, a Hispanic foods producer, to build a new dairy processing facility in Amarillo, currently under construction in southwest Amarillo. When the EDC was wooing Cacique executives by giving them a tour of the city, Cacique wasn’t particularly interested in the typical highlights. They recognized the quality-of-life value of a revitalized downtown or a Sod Poodles game, but what they really wanted to see were neighborhoods—specifically the neighborhoods where their future employees might live.

And while large companies like Cacique acknowledge the value of our workforce, another type of worker is adding to that diversity— the remote tech worker. Matt Herzberger moved to Amarillo in 2014. “I’m a transplant,” he says. “I’m here because of family. I’ve had three jobs since I moved here, but I’ve never worked for a company from Amarillo.”

PHOTOS

“

A digital strategist and marketing professional, Herzberger’s employers have ranged from Midwest universities to coastal marketing agencies.

He enjoys the lower cost of living and proximity of Amarillo to the rest of the nation. He tried to work from home at first but found that arrangement wasn’t ideal, so he joined Union Hall Workspace, a coworking space on Dunivan Circle. In 2021, Herzberger bought Union Hall from its previous owner and manages that community today. Its memberships and desks are currently maxed out—remote working has flourished since the pandemic—which has Herzberger planning to open a second location.

ADVOCATING FOR INCLUSIVE WORK

Bradford points out a client employed by Reed Beverage, where the gentleman destroys outdated beer and alcohol and helps with packaging. “They treat him like family,” Bradford says of Reed. “He goes to Reed Beverage parties and has made friends. They’re giving him more and more responsibilities.” The individual has lived in one of Advo’s residential houses for the past 15 years and used the money he made from work to buy himself a new bedroom set. “He’s on top of the world.”

“Remote working provides the mobility to live where you want,” Herzberger says. Some companies, intent on reducing overhead and office real estate, even give remote workers a stipend for coworking spaces like Union Hall.

While his clients may take longer to master particular tasks, Bradford says they are incredibly willing and able to learn. “I call them the forgotten crowd,” he says. “Everybody knows them as they go through school, but when they graduate, all their friends go off to college or get jobs. And then nobody thinks of these individuals who can work but don’t, due to disability.”

A diverse workforce isn’t just about race or ethnicity. Sometimes it’s about inclusion. In this area, Advo Companies connects local businesses to hard-working employees who have intellectual disabilities. Right now, 147 individuals participate in Advo’s vocational training workshops, where they learn skills that can expose them to both a regular paycheck and the fulfillment of a career.

“In some ways, I feel like we get a front-row seat on what’s coming into the area, especially in tech-sector jobs and industries that lend themselves to remote work,” he says. “COVID upset a lot of the assumptions about where you have to live to make money.” In other words, you don’t have to be a resident of San Francisco to work for a tech company. You don’t have to live in a big city to make big bucks.

These workers don’t just diversify Amarillo’s economic data, but tend to bring more progressive politics, viewpoints and experiences

Jeremy Bradford, vice president at Advo, says local companies like Cintas, Reed Beverage, Cask & Cork, Amarillo Gear and UCI Documents regularly hire Advo employees. These employees train in Advo’s vocational workshop, then go through an interview process and answer questions about their skills and experience, just like any other employee. “Shipping, packaging, warehouse work—those are the types of jobs we see more of our clients getting,” Bradford says. “It helps them feel like part of the community. It means the world to them.” Advo clients aren’t the only beneficiaries. “Those businesses also get a dedicated employee, because these guys don’t want to miss work,” says Bradford. “No matter what’s going on in their lives, they want to be there.”

Most importantly, this new kind of resident injects money into the local economy. “These are often higher-paying job orientations,” Herzberger says. “Members of my office probably have higher salaries than local businesses might provide. It gives them the lifestyle they want. I think that’s positive.”

Among Union Hall’s members, Herzberger lists an individual who does marketing for a company based in Cincinnati, a human resources professional from Salt Lake City, and a paralegal who abandoned Denver during COVID, making an intentional choice to leave the high cost of living behind.

JEREMY BRADFORD HERE AND AT RIGHT: ADVO CLIENTS AT WORK BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 46

Disability-inclusive workplaces like Reed—combined with Advo’s commitment to education and advocacy—are changing that reality.

Race and Origin

67.7% Hispanic or Latino 33.2% 40.1% 24.9% Black or African American 6.8% 11.2% 3.9% Two or More Races 5.4% 2.3% 2.1% Asian 4.1% 5.1% 2.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 0.8% 1.4% 1.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.1% 0.2% 0.1% Source, U.S. Census Bureau Estimates 47 BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT

White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 53.5%

S oon after the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, a group of donors approached the Amarillo Area Foundation. They wanted to set up a fund specifically designed to address inequities and eliminate racial disparities among minority groups in the Texas Panhandle. Whenever the Foundation starts a fund like this one, its staff begins researching how to use it efficiently. “We reached out to folks at the NAACP, Los Barrios de Amarillo and the refugee community, and spoke about what some of their needs were,” says Keralee Clay, senior vice president of the Amarillo Area Foundation. “We didn’t want our staff to identify needs. We wanted the community to do that.”

In Amarillo, that diversity is strong already, and growing stronger. It reminds Guy Bell of his high school days. He graduated from Tascosa High School in 1993, a famously tumultuous period at the racially and economically diverse school. “Tascosa was unique,” he says today. “It was a mixing pot of everybody and everything.” Wellto-do kids from the Wolflin neighborhood attended classes with San Jacinto kids living on the verge of poverty. With a high minority enrollment, the hallways were crowded with athletes, punks, skaters, cowboys, city kids, rich kids and poor kids. Bell loved it. “That was such a neat thing,” he says of the diversity. “It opened my eyes, from music to food to the way I dressed. I feel like Amarillo today is a big Tascosa. We all have different beliefs and perspectives and I think that’s so cool.” Back then, he learned not to judge a book by its cover, and that maxim followed him into adulthood. “That’s all I’m always preaching. Life is too short. You gotta love everybody and look at the best of everybody.” City of Amarillo Potter Co. Randall Co. 42.7%

The first project to receive monies from the Equity fund was Living While Black, a local series produced by Panhandle PBS. The Equity fund helped the nonprofit organization develop a nationwide curriculum based on the series, which educators and community leaders can use to facilitate conversations about race.

THE MIXING POT Angela Allen thinks about diversity all the time, and says it’s about far more than race or ethnicity. “It’s age and education. It’s language or the experience of interracial marriages or children. Your gender, sexual orientation, life experiences, personality, general worldview and opinions—I cover all of those in my trainings. That’s the diversity people don’t always think about.”

“It’s an open fund and it’s in a growing stage,” Clay says. “Anyone can contribute to it—$25 or $25,000. We are trying to be very intentional with it, going out in the community and trying to meet the needs that are being expressed.” to the city. That may worry some traditionalists, but it’s ultimately good for growth. “Everything adds value to the area,” explains Perez of the EDC. “Different ways of thinking, different socioeconomic status, different ethnicities and age ranges. It’s all important.”

AMARILLO AREA FOUNDATION’S EQUITY FUND

Today that fund is guided by a committee made up of Black residents, Hispanic and Latinx residents, refugees and other people of color. This committee identified multiple opportunities for the fund, including the need to develop young leaders, the need for scholarships for students in communities of color, and increased programming for children in those communities, especially during the summer months.

“UNITY IN COMMUNITY”: THE KAREN EXHIBIT

Amarillo Refugee Arrivals by Country of Origin (2015-2020)

Myanmar—formerly known as Burma—due to religious and ethnic persecution. The Discovery Center worked closely with local Karen leaders and the Refugee Language Project to create this immersive exhibit, which was funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

A new exhibit at the Don Harrington Discovery Center highlights Amarillo’s Karen (KAH-ren) community from Myanmar, the pilot installation in a series the museum hopes will grow to include other people groups in the future. Since 2007, around 5,000 representatives of the Karen people resettled in Amarillo, making them one of the largest refugee populations in the area. Many of them fled

“The Discovery Center exists to show people how our world works, and inspire curiosity and learning in everyone,” says Wendy Taylor, the museum’s executive director. “The Beyond exhibit celebrates the fact that everyone makes unique contributions to our world, and highlights the agricultural, musical and recreational contributions of the Karen people. Communities become stronger when people learn about and understand each other.”

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BOYETTJASONBYPHOTOS

Titled Beyond: Unity in Community, the exhibit highlights the agricultural traditions, tools, music and food of the Karen people. Children are able to climb in a replica stilt house, listen to recordings of authentic music and play with a hands-on rice harvesting method.

Y asin Mohammadi and his family have only resided in Amarillo since November 2021. He was a pharmacist and served as a major in the Afghan army. Based in Kabul, the family was put at risk by the rise of the Taliban. Apart from a married son who escaped to Australia, Yasin was able to bring his whole family to Amarillo, including his wife, Zakera; adult daughters Adina and Kamina, who both worked as school teachers in Kabul; and youngest son Poya, a junior at Tascosa High School. Yasin’s younger brother, Younous Mohammadi, also assisted the American military and brought his wife, Nargis, and their baby, Jan, to Amarillo. The family now lives in Astoria Park apartments on SW 15th Ave., near a number of other local Afghan families. Both Yasin and Younous are employed at United Market Street. “They are eager to work and just the kindest people you could ever come across,” says Traci Pace, a Refugee Language Project volunteer who has been helping them improve their English. “They are just so hospitable, so welcoming.”

SAMUEL UWIMANA AND ADRIENNE NYAMATUNGO

THE MOHAMMADI FAMILY

S amuel Uwimana and his family arrived in Amarillo in 2018 after having spent eight years as asylum-seekers in Nairobi, Kenya. His mother, Adrienne Nyamatungo, is originally from Rwanda. His late father, who passed away in 2011, was from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The youngest of four, Samuel speaks four languages—French, Kinyamulenge, Swahili and English. He completed his GED upon arriving in the U.S. and has worked as an interpreter for Amarillo Public Health and as a teaching assistant at Eastridge Elementary. He is also certified as a phlebotomy and EKG technician. Recently, Samuel joined the staff of Refugee Language Project as a Storybook Assistant, helping collect the stories of Amarillo’s refugees and converting them into children’s books in English and native languages. His mother, Adrienne, continues to work at Tyson Foods. “It is very hard work,” Samuel says.

PHOTOS BY SHAIE WILLIAMS

REFUGEE SPOTLIGHT 49 BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT

A few months earlier, I had made the Amarillo-to-Austin odyssey for Nané’s 2022 New Years Eve show. Now I was driving the same road not for a party with Nané, but to attend a tribute concert for Daniel Sahad, who had died less than a monthThreeprior.days before Daniel’s death, on April 7, Austin had declared its first Nané Day, a city-wide recognition of the band’s cultural impact. Nané marked the occasion on Instagram, posting, “We’re honored and humbled that the [c]ity of Austin is giving this rag tag group of best friends a day to live forever …” That “forever” was cut short. On April 11, Nané the band shared the news of Daniel’s sudden death on April 10 at age 29. In the following days, fans touched by Daniel’s life and music struggled to reconcile the promise of Nané with the loss of its leader, a creative force and community pillar.

BY ANNA KAY

“It still feels like I’m going to run into him somewhere, at a show or party. It feels like he’s out there and I’m going to see him somewhere,” says Rob Hogan, lead singer of the Austin band Animals on TV, who also performed at the May 6 show in Daniel’sAustinhonor.music venue Empire Control Room and Garage hosted the tribute concert. It was where I’d seen Nané on NYE 2022. The sense of déjà vu was strong, disorienting. I did a few double takes before realizing that some people had come dressed in Daniel’s signature look: Hawaiian shirts with open buttons and gold chains. They wore tinted aviators and shook manes of curly hair. He was everywhere, and he was missing, everywhere.

I had set out on the long drive from Amarillo for Austin in early May, beneath a sun so covered by grit and haze I could almost look at it. New Mexico wildfire smoke reduced Amarillo to bands of blue, brown and yellow in my rearview mirror.

It’s what a lot of people traveling to Austin want: A breath of fresh air. Something new but authentic, something stylish and exciting. Over the past few years, the band Nané—founded and fronted by Amarillo native Daniel Sahad— came to embody all those things.

I first heard Nané in 2019 when the band released its single “Always On My Mind.’’ Exuberant and tender, it was the band’s breakout hit, and one of two songs Nané performed that night for the first time without Daniel. The venue was packed as Ian Green of Nané took the stage, his eyes already brimming with tears. Nané’s co-founder and guitarist, Green and Daniel were longtime friends. He speculated Daniel would want dancing and a celebration to honor his life. The crowd responded with cheers and sniffles and hands that wiped away tears on the way to raise a glass.

CAN’T DO IT ALONE

In Daniel’s place behind the microphone was Quentin Arispe, lead singer of Austin-based Quentin and The Past Lives. Despite being a vocal powerhouse themselves, Arispe appealed for support from the crowd: “Y’all need to help me out on this. I’m not going to be able to do it alone,” they said as the opening chords

REEVES REMEMBERING DANIEL SAHAD ALWAYS ON MY MIND PHOTOS COURTESY OF DESMOND/HOODOO MURAL FESTIVALBRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 50

By 2015, Daniel’s music was already attracting attention. He decided a Public Relations degree would help him develop the skills to manage and promote himself and other musicians.

While continuing to value his Amarillo family and friendships, Daniel wanted to live somewhere he saw as big enough for his identity and his dreams. After graduating from Amarillo High in 2011, he left for the University of Texas to major in pre-med. He was following in his family’s footsteps. His father, Dr. Jesus Sahad, is an Amarillo pulmonologist. His mother, Dr. Rosa Sahad, is a pediatrician by training. Daniel and his mother were kindred spirits. Dr. Sahad says Daniel got his persistence and drive from him, but his love of music and emotional sensibilities from his mother.

“When he was little,” Dr. Sahad says, “he used to say to me, ‘I look like you, but when I open my mouth, I’m like her,’ about his mom.”

MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

It was evident in the faces around him how successful Daniel was as a community-builder. “Looking around, I recognized probably more than half of that crowd because they were also somewhere “ He turned the story into poetry to fit the songs. It was magical.

”

51 BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT

The tribute lineup included other collaborators and colleagues from the Austin music scene. Andrew Davis, who met Daniel at Nané’s first-ever Austin performance in 2018, played with two differentRememberingbands. his first encounter with Daniel, Andrew says, “I was walking past him and he grabbed my shoulder and turned me around and he’s like, ‘Hey, I’m Daniel. I saw you in the crowd.’ You know? Cause he was just that kind of dude.” With Mister Davis, Andrew performed “Rolling Stone,” which he and Daniel co-wrote. A collector of ventures, projects and friendships, Sahad produced Mister Davis’ first album and collaborated on several of the band’s songs. There’s a subtle country twang in the alt-rock song, and I hear Amarillo.

“When we came down and did it, it was like a big family reunion for all these people in Amarillo and getting to see Daniel—they put on such an amazing show,” Krause says.

From the stage and in the press, Sahad spoke often about his close relationship with family and his pride in his DominicanAmerican heritage. Honoring his identity as a Texan and as a first generation Dominican-American wasn’t always easy.

For people like Krause who knew Daniel in professional as well as personal capacities, the news of his death came crashing in from all directions. Krause’s voice broke as he talked about the plans they had for Hoodoo 2022, never to be realized.

But Daniel couldn’t ignore the pull of music and entertainment.

UT’s student newspaper, The Daily Texan, published a feature about Daniel that year, chronicling his performances on dormitory pianos, including original work. “There’s music all around me,” he told the Texan. “It’s kind of like madness.”

Whether in Amarillo, Austin or touring the country, Daniel was surrounded by a network of people who loved him fiercely. For Andrew Davis, performing at the memorial show at Empire brought home the reality of his absence. “It was beautiful and it was very difficult. I had kept it together pretty well for the week leading up to that,” Davis says. “And then when Quinten and The Past Lives started their set with a Nané song, I just completely lost it.”

— Mariel Sahad

Ian Green, who co-wrote for Nané, told the Austin-American Statesman of Daniel, “He’d hear things at 4 a.m. and sing into hisYearsphone.”later, following the success of “Always on My Mind,” Daniel confirmed this with the Austin Chronicle, “The melody of it all came to me right before I was falling asleep. That’s something I do, try to write in that space between being awake and asleep.”

“For context, readers should know that I’m of Afro-Latino and Arab descent. I’m very proud of the sacrifices that my ancestors made to get me here, right here, to my desk in Austin, Texas,” Daniel told Atwood Magazine in 2020. Cultural differences aside, Daniel was different—he was driven and musical, although he wasn’t in band, orchestra or choir in school, according to Amarillo Independent School District records. “Even in middle school, he had a love of music and he made that known,” says Keitha Keplinger, Daniel’s eighth-grade Bonham Middle School AP English teacher.

AMARILLO ORIGINS

During that period, Daniel grew to appreciate writing as a form of self-expression and a tool to effect change. In a 2020 article in the Austin-American Statesman, Sahad wrote, “I’ve been writing speeches and songs and all that since I was a little boy, because words were so powerful that when used the right way, they can changeKeplingereverything.”confirms his attention to every word. “When he wrote something, he wanted to say something,” she remembers. “He didn’t just put stuff down just to get it turned in. That was not him. He would be the kid that would write something and say, ‘That’s not exactly what I wanted to say’ and revisit it.”

of “Always on My Mind” played. I thought of the times I’d seen Daniel perform the song live. I caught myself waiting for him to come in.

Daniel’s sister, Mariel Sahad, co-wrote “Always on My Mind” with her younger brother, along with several other songs on Nané’s eponymous debut album. “For those songs we wrote together, he would play the music for me, and I told him the story that would play out in my head. He turned the story into poetry to fit the songs. It was magical,” Mariel says. In 2015, Daniel was making music under the name Naji Rose—a nod to his parents’ names, Rosa and Jesus Najib. “Nané” is a family nickname given to Daniel by Mariel, her baby babble for “Daniel” in Spanish, which the Sahads speak fluently. Bringing family names into his music persona was a way to honor all the different, dispersed pieces of his life. Perhaps Daniel was thinking along those lines when Nané agreed to perform at Hoodoo Mural Festival in downtown Amarillo. Fellow Amarillo-toAustin transplant Will Krause, whose production portfolio includes SXSW and Austin’s Euphoria Fest, booked Nané for the festival.

The roster of 2022 muralists is even more impressive, with first-time participants Tristan Eaton, It’s a Living, Rabi and Nate Smith joining return artists Drew Merritt and hometown favorite Malcolm Byers. Most of the murals will have been completed in the week leading up to the festival.

But death can’t touch the impact Daniel had on culture in Amarillo and Austin or the example he set moving through the world with open arms and a raised voice. His cr eative vision and community ethos live on in his friends and family, and in his many projects. This is a time of mourning for the man himself and all that he would’ve done. But it’s also a time to recognize how much he had accomplished and to appreciate the gifts of his music and example. We’re lucky that to hear Daniel, we need only listen.

D espite the loss of Daniel Sahad—who had signed on to perform prior to his death—this year’s Hoodoo Mural Festival still promises to be a colorful, communityelevating event. The actual festival is scheduled for October 1 in downtown Amarillo and features music by Neil Frances, Flamingosis, Kaelin Ellis and Little Jet.

from New Year’s Eve, when a friend and I were looking for the bathroom and waltzed into Nané’s green room. We played it cool and ended up in conversation with a woman standing alone—someone’s date—until we saw a security guard approach Daniel. “Who are they?” the guard asked, pointing at us. I was ready to leave, but Daniel looked over at us, shrugged and said, “They know her.” It made our night.

Tristan Eaton was the product designer behind KidRobot and is known for his elaborate, colorful, freehand spray-paint murals, visible from Honolulu to Paris to Shanghai.

Daniel was first and foremost a musician, but worked hard in other fields, both for financial stability and to strengthen his media production and marketing skills. At the time of his passing, Daniel was working as a marketing director for MoveGroove, an Austin real estate company, and was brand manager at Exurbia Films. He had recently completed a six-month digital marketing program at UT Austin. His legacy is one of tenacity and persistence, working hard at what you love and loving people hard while you can. An ofrenda-style altar with flowers, candles and a picture of Daniel stood in the corner at Empire on the night of the tribute concert. The photo, by another Amarillo native and friend, Gunnar Widowski, showed Daniel laughing, his hair flowing out of a pink beanie. A white box for notes to Daniel and memories of him sat on the table, challenging people to reckon with the loss.

It’s a Living (Ricardo Gonzalez) is recognized for his signature script-style murals and wall-sized typographical messages from Los Angeles to Brooklyn to Atlanta.

“YOU’RE FROM AMARILLO?” I only met Daniel once, and the only thing I said was, “You’re from Amarillo?” though I knew he was. It was at the Ranch Rider Migas Fest in 2021, where Nané headlined. My friends and I had our picture taken with Daniel, and I was so starstruck I felt like a little girl at Disney World taking pictures with Mickey Mouse. The note I wrote to leave at his ofrenda centered on my memories

I had been because of Dan. And then just realizing how many of my dear friends were there and realizing that they became dear friends because of him, was incredible,” Davis says.

From Amarillo to Austin, Texas is changing fast. The Panhandle’s geographic isolation from the rest of the state means less than it once did, and small towns are showing that inclusion and opportunity aren’t just for city slickers. That Daniel Sahad, a born leader and tastemaker with a lust for life, isn’t here to build this new world is an undeniable tragedy.

Malcolm Byers is a past Hoodoo participant and Amarillo native who has recently completed projects in Austin and Nashville. You can see his recent local work at Sunset Center, Dependable Plumbing and Pizzeria Nomad.

Drew Merritt grew up on a working cattle ranch in Clovis, New Mexico, and participated in last year’s Hoodoo Mural Festival. His vertical cowboy mural, “The Chase”—located across Polk from Amarillo National Bank’s parking garage— has already gained international attention.

BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 52

Daniel Sahad encountered grit in its various forms during his time in Amarillo. Maybe some had to be cleared out by the free reign Austin gives to self-expression, and maybe some of it went into making a pearl. Whatever impression Amarillo had on him, Daniel made an impression on the city. His life and legacy broaden assumptions about what it means to be from the Panhandle, and though it was cut short, his successful multifield career shows the reward for hard work and pursuit of passion.

Rob Hogan says Sahad was always willing to lend a hand. “He always gave tons of free advice and always came with ‘Here’s how I did it and would do it,’” Hogan says. “It was always hard to do it like Daniel did it. ’Cause he could do anything.”

Rabi co-founded the art collective CYRCLE and has worked all over the world. In addition to his outdoor murals, his work has been privately collected by Shepard Fairey and Sean Combs.

Nate Smith’s work is rooted in calligraphy styles and explores anonymity and identity through layered, geographic images. He is based in Los Angeles.

MORE THAN A NAME ON A STADIUM JERRY HODGE, WITH YOU’RE ON, COWBOY!, REFLECTS ON A REMARKABLE LIFE BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 54

“This is the first time in 17 years I’ve been on a date,” Hodge said. “Wait a second,” Margaret said. “This is not a date. This is business. Besides, you are what I and my friends call ‘GU.’”

“I don’t date people I call on,” Margaret said. But maybe this could be called a business arrangement with a meal attached, and that would be all right. So a short time later, Hodge arrived back in Baltimore for the planned dinnertime meeting with this pharmaceutical rep. It was a hectic day for her. Margaret dropped off her daughter with friends at a skating rink, didn’t bother to change clothes and went straight to dinner with this semi-stranger. After she took a deep breath and settled in at the restaurant, lo and behold, she and Hodge had a nice conversation. He was nice, nicer than she expected. He talked openly about his two failed marriages. Margaret couldn’t help notice his blue eyes, and complimented them, not in a flirty way, she insisted, but in an observing way.

It was a meeting in Baltimore. Hodge, as chairman and founder of Maxor National Pharmacy Services Corporation, had business on his mind. But across the table was Margaret Serio, a fairly new pharmaceutical representative. He started to get her on his mind perhaps even more than the business at hand. It was not the best of days for Margaret. A promised pay raise had not come through earlier in the day. Now there was this guy from Texas being passive-aggressive toward her. He pushed his card across the table and asked if maybe they could have dinner the next time he was in Baltimore, which would be soon.

If there were a Mount Rushmore for Amarillo, if Hodge’s face weren’t one of four carved into the side of a mountain, he’d at least be in the photo of the finalists. With the exception of college and pharmacy school, it’s the place he’s called home since moving from Oklahoma with his parents, Bob and Creda Arvona, in 1957. He fell in love with the city as a 14-year-old boy while driving a Cushman Eagle motorcycle down Polk Street. Cushman Eagles ceased in 1965, but Hodge and Amarillo have kept going strong. He was a city commissioner and later Amarillo’s youngest-ever mayor. He’s a cowboy, trading the boardroom for his High Card Ranch whenever possible. Most especially, he’s been a philanthropist for six decades, privately giving to small projects and causes and to political candidates, and publicly to major projects that changed the face of his hometown. He gave millions to help establish the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo as well as the nearby TTUHSC School of Pharmacy that bears his name. Then, of course, in keeping with his love of baseball, the former Tascosa Rebel catcher’s donation in 2019 earned him the naming rights of the city’s downtown Double A 6,400-set baseball palace, the home of the Sod Poodles. At the insistence of Sod Poodles general manager Tony Ensor, the name rolls off the tongue simply as Hodgetown.

Hodge didn’t say anything. He just looked at her. Margaret then tried to put more water on the fire by saying that besides all that, she was seeing a doctor. Hodge didn’t have to know it was not really romantic, but just dinner dates.

Undesirable,’” she told him. “It will never work. You’re going to fall in love with me. You live in Texas. I live in Maryland. You’ll want to marry me and move to Texas, and I’m not moving to Texas.”

“I just want to know how you’re going to tell that doctor that you’re seeing me,” Hodge said. Not really knowing the person across the table, she did not expect that response. But inside, she laughed a little. She liked strong men, and she liked what he said. Nearly three years later, Jerry Hodge and Margaret Serio were married on July 29, 1994. So much for GU. This East Coast woman was now ensconced in the Panhandle of Texas, and before too long, had also fallen for the Panhandle and the people her husband had loved all hisInlife.alifetime of accomplishments that may have been Hodge’s most impressive and most ACKNOWLEDGINGfulfilling.

“‘GeographicallyGU?

HIS INFLUENCES

“I’ve squeezed every ounce I could out of life,” Hodge says. “I’ve worked hard and played hard. I’ve had some successes and some failures. I probably got this from my mother. She taught me to never quit, never give up, that there’s always a way to work yourself out of any situation you’re in.”

The sun will never set on Hodge and work, but his professional life is at least in the twilight. He retired from Maxor in 2016, and pivoted to Hodge Management Group, LLC. His biggest fan urged him a few years ago to put his life between two book covers.

J erry Hodge has been called quite a few things in his 80 years—some of them not so kind, but most of them flattering. What he had not been called before or since came in September 1991—“GU.”

He, along with ghost writer Ben Masters and editor Les Simpson, BY JON MARK BEILUE

55 BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT

— Jerry Hodge

Before the work on the book began, he and Margaret discussed the big picture of the project. While writing as a biography was inevitable, that was not the sole purpose of You’re On, Cowboy!

GUTIERREZSALBYPHOTO former publisher of the Amarillo Globe-News, worked harder and longer than what they originally thought for You’re On, Cowboy! The book was officially released in April with a launch party at Hodgetown. Since then, he’s had a couple of public signings—one in Weatherford, Oklahoma, home of Southwestern Oklahoma State, his alma mater as an undergraduate and for pharmacy school, and another at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Amarillo.

“It varies greatly. Some of it was humor. Some of it was the sadness. Some of it was the integrity and honesty I learned from Floyd Overton, and some of it was the honesty about my failed marriages and other shortcomings.”

“Jerry didn’t want this to be a biography,” Margaret says. “He just I’ve been able to do what I’ve done because of the people who have helped me. I didn’t want to pull any punches, and I didn’t want to write about how great I am and what I’ve done or haven’t done. Everybody has ups and downs, tragedies and high points. Everyone has had people who’ve influenced them. I wanted to touch on that.

“ ”

“People aren’t going to tell me if they didn’t like it,” Hodge says, “but most of the feedback has been good. It’s interesting how people will say what part of the book that maybe they took something from.

JERRY AND MARGARET HODGE AT HOME WITH THEIR DOG, STELLA

Written in the first person, it’s a mix of honesty and humor. Hodge doesn’t soft-sell any controversy nor is he mean-spirited. It’s like riding in his truck for several hours and having him tell story after story.

“Incredible,” says Hodge of the partnership with his wife. “I owe a lot of my business success to Margaret. She’s been my companion, my best friend. She’s really held our family together. I tell our four kids that she loves you all equally even if there are three differentMargaretmothers.”Hodge lost out to geography roughly 30 years ago. Actually, geography didn’t stand a chance. Though it was an initial adjustment, she came to love the land that was a part of her husband’s makeup almost as much as her husband.

A 30-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

Amarilloan, Boone Pickens. Hodge tried to like Pickens, but failed. His chapter, “Boone, The Cranky Cowboy,” ends with the two meeting at a social function in Austin. Their paths hadn’t crossed in years. “Boone, it’s been a while. Jerry Hodge,” Hodge said. “Jerry Hodge, are you from Amarillo?” Pickens asked. Hodge soon made his way back to Margaret, who asked him how it went. Hodge’s reply is best left to the book. But, in fairness, Hodge allowed mutual friend Mike Hughes to offer another side of Pickens.

There was Floyd Overton, an Amarillo butcher in his 70s. His wife was ill, and Overton would buy a week’s worth of prescriptions on credit, then pay it the next week because money was tight. He never failed to Overtonpay.died while owing Hodge for past drug bills for he and his wife. Hodge expected to eat the cost. Overton’s daughter later told him that her father put the house in Hodge’s name to clear the debts. A stunned Hodge couldn’t accept, but it was a lesson in character.

She’s had a unique view and insight into one of Amarillo’s most successful businessmen and most generous philanthropists.

“I didn’t want it to be varnished,” he says. “I just wanted to write something that people would want to read. I didn’t want to pull any punches, and I didn’t want to write about how great I am and what I’ve done or haven’t done. Everybody has ups and downs, tragedies and high points. Everyone has had people who’ve influenced them. I wanted to touch on that.”

You’re On, Cowboy! Lessons Learned from Taking Risks, Taking Names and Knowing When to Fold. is available at amazon.com., and in stores at Barnes & Noble bookstore, Raffkind’s, Silverland and Purpose + Passion Boutique.

“I’d go into a store and someone would ask where I was from. I’d say, ‘Maryland.’ They’d say, ‘Welcome to Amarillo. Has anyone else welcomed you?’ It took time to get used to it, but I love, love, love Amarillo. “I fly into Amarillo and there’s miles and miles of nothing, and it’s so beautiful to me. The world is crazy and hectic and you fly over this patchwork quilt and miles of open land and it’s beautiful. It’s like I take a deep breath and feel peace in my heart.”

That will get anyone’s attention. Since that was 18 years ago, the lymphoma obviously wasn’t fatal, but to walk the edge of mortality at age 61 can cause a hard-driving businessman to count more blessings, hold on to the simple, appreciate those who’ve shown you the way, and take stock of the past and the present.

Instead, You’re On, Cowboy! is a tip of the Stetson to the ranching life that’s such a part of Hodge right down to the High Card Ranch, his place near Clarendon that has long been a sanctuary from his business world.

BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 56

There is much in the book on relationships—the searing pain of the tragic death of 20-year-old grandson Kody Hodge in 2017, his two failed marriages and meeting, dating and eventually marrying Margaret nearly 30 years ago.

The book begins with a story not many know—Hodge’s diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma in 2003. He got the test results at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston the same day as the birth of a grandson, Josh. He got this advice from his physician: “You need to make the most of your time, spend it with the people you love, and get your affairs in order.”

“A lot of it was what he was born with. God gave him a tremendous drive, a tremendous work ethic. It’s innate. It’s part of his genetic makeup. To him, it’s not work. It’s a joy. I never met anyone like him in my life. He can ruffle feathers and make people mad, and not say it how he should say it, but he’s an awesome man.”

There are stories on the public Hodge, taking Maxor national, his time as mayor, the controversial “Ultimate Hunt” while on the Texas prison board that ended with Hodge being roasted on “Oprah,” and his rocky relationship with another famous Oklahoman-turned-

wanted to share some things in his life that had a profound effect on him and the people he met along the way. This is not so much a book about him, but the things that happened to him that were a guiding post and made a difference.”

“Yes, it was hard,” she says. “Maryland is a beautiful state with trees and rivers and beauty. You’re never all that far from water. When I moved here, people were so nice it was almost uncomfortable.

“Part of it is how he’s wired,” she says. “He just truly loves the business world. He loves to make it happen and make it successful. He does not give up. He’s relentless and loves the challenge.

There was Homer Wheeler, owner of Jack Bell Pharmacy and one of Hodge’s first bosses when he returned to Amarillo in the mid-1960s.

Those who influenced Hodge started with his parents. His school teacher mother was strong-willed and didn’t suffer fools. She wanted a girl and Jerry was an only child. She often called him “Jerry Anne,” which her son thought would eventually fade. Instead, he was often “Jerry Anne” until her death.

Wheeler put Hodge in charge of collecting debts—“make them mad enough to pay you, but not mad enough to quit being a customer,” Hodge was told. Wheeler gave Hodge some business lessons—avoid debt, pay bills on time, and invest 20 percent of your income. They also shared an occasional whiskey after hours.

“Several years ago, anytime we’d go anywhere, Jerry would start a conversation with ‘Let me tell you,’ in that Texas accent,” Margaret says. “We can drive and not talk for an hour and be happy and then he’ll say, ‘Lemme tell you.’ I thought that was going to be the title.”

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How long have you been in practice? Having founded the practice in 1980, Dr. J. Avery Rush is a pioneer in the field of ophthalmology for our region. He was the first surgeon to bring laser vision correction to the Texas Panhandle. And then in 2010, Dr. Sloan joined the practice as the region’s first cornea and refractive surgery fellowship-trained specialist. Together, the duo has become known as the Texas LASIK Dream Team. Rush Eye Associates has just unveiled its brand-new, state-of-the-art facility built in the heart of Amarillo’s medical district with your comfort and ease in mind. How does your team maintain its expertise? The Rush Eye Associates team boasts more than 60 years of combined eye surgery experience and has performed more than 80,000 eye procedures and counting. Our team utilizes the most advanced laser vision correction technology available, while maintaining an expert knowledge of the latest breakthroughs. Both Dr. Sloan and Dr. Avery are Board Certified Fellows with the American Board of Ophthalmology and members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and the prestigious Refractive Surgery Alliance. Why do your patients choose you? Rush Eye Associates is a world-class eye care practice that focuses on providing excellence in patient care with compassion and integrity. Our incredible team goes above and beyond for every person who walks through our doors, and our surgeons utilize the most advanced, cutting-edge technology available. What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? Rush Eye Associates provides a variety of vision correction options beyond LASIK, in order to meet the vision needs of each individual patient. With few exceptions, there is a vision correction procedure available for almost everyone over age 18, regardless of the amount of prescription strength or degree of astigmatism in your glasses. In addition, some of the greatest new innovations in the past few years are related to the advancement of lens implant technology. Lens-based procedures are able to help correct both distance and near vision for patients over age 50 that may require more and more dependency on bifocals and reading glasses.

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How does your team maintain its expertise? As a team, we meet twice a week to discuss projects that can effectively impact our company and we don’t stop there— we’re always searching for ways to ensure our community benefits, too. We know we can’t just pursue traditional marketing and advertising and expect results like you’d see in big metro areas like Dallas or Austin. We also know the only way that our marketing and commitment to our community will be taken seriously is if we are passionate and sincere. We don’t just give money to worthy causes; we also invest our time. John, Sindy and David are board members for several local nonprofits, representing Street VW. Why do your customers choose you? They know we are honest. They know we will do anything we can to help our customers with their automotive needs. But it’s more than just helping and supporting our customers; it’s about being present for anyone who needs us. When our community calls, we are there to answer however we can. What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? Through the years, people have asked why we invest so much in our community. At times other automotive dealers in the area and from other parts of the state and country have wondered about our approach. They didn’t understand that by taking care of our community, local people would take care of us and support us. Yes, we invest in ads on radio, TV, print, online and many other mediums, but our best investment has always been in our community. That’s the marketing in which we’ve found our best ROI. What do you enjoy most about your work? We can honestly say that we enjoy coming to work and getting the chance to make every day the best it can be. We love what we do here at Street VW and we really enjoy our daily commitment to our community. It’s a great feeling when people stop us and say something like, ‘Thank you for supporting an organization that I am passionate5000about.’S. SONCY ROAD 806.350.8999 | STREETVW.COM

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What does your team do best? We decided a long time ago that the only way we were going to be successful in Amarillo and the Panhandle was by putting our customers and community first. It’s not just about saying it, but also acting on it. We truly believe that we wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for the community that puts its trust in us day after day. How long have you been in the automotive industry? John has been in the automotive industry since 1980. He started his career in El Paso, Texas, and through the years has worked in every position at a dealership. He is now Owner and General Manager of Street Volkswagen. Sindy started in the automotive industry in 2011, working as a receptionist and promoting up, and now serves as the Comptroller at Street Volkswagen. David started as an intern after graduating from West Texas A&M in 2011, and is now the Marketing Director at Street Volkswagen.

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conditions, including: • Heart disease • Stroke • Hypertension • Diabetes • Cancer • Asthma • Nutrition • Mental health Medical

Our

PhysiciansNorthwestGroup

MEDICINEFAMILYEXPERTS

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How

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What does your team do best? We are board certified family medicine physicians specializing in the care of the entire family, from newborns to older adults. We take the time to get to know our patients and their health needs. We consider ourselves a partner in their health. long have you been in practice? Steven Rossi, M.D., has 22 years of experience as a family medicine physician. John Slaton, D.O., has 12 years of experience as a family medicine physician. Seth Wilhelm, M.D., has nine years of experience as a family medicine physician.

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What do you enjoy most about your work? We love getting to know our patients, learning about their families and being a part of their healthcare journey. We know how important it is to find a provider you can trust, and we know by establishing a good relationship we will provide the best plan of care for our patients.

Why

STEVEN B. ROSSI, M.D.

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What is one thing the public might not understand about you? You and your family can receive comprehensive medical care at Northwest Physicians Group. Family medicine physicians can diagnose and treat many common care is available to the whole family including infants, children and adults. family medicine physicians of care with other specialists

How does your team maintain its expertise? Our primary care physicians continue their medical education by attending conferences and consulting with other medical professionals. do your patients choose you? We feel we are part of our community, and we want to take care of our community. We attend local events, and you can usually find us participating in local fundraisers for the important nonprofit organizations that help our community. We enjoy seeing our patients in the office and saying hello at the local grocery store.

provide: • Routine checkups • Health-risk assessments • Immunization and screening tests • Chronic illness management • Coordination

NWTPG.COM FOR LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE, DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS AND THE NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

EXPERTS SETH WILHELM, M.D.JOHN SLATON, D.O.

What does your team do best? We offer easy, fast home loans for mortgage customers. Our loans combine the convenience of online applications with the speed and service of Amarillo National Bank. That’s why we are the largest mortgage lender in the Texas Panhandle. Every year since 2005, we’ve been named Amarillo’s Best Mortgage Company because of our local, hard-working Home Loans team. How long have you been offering home loans? The history of Amarillo National Bank extends back to 1892, when Amarillo was brand-new and residents were starting to build some of the city’s first homes. None of our current employees were around then, but ANB has been making home loans for 130 years. How does your team maintain its expertise? We have worked hard to build relationships with local real-estate agencies, developers and title companies to make sure we are familiar with every aspect of the home-buying process—especially in this market. We know the Amarillo/ Canyon area and we know local neighborhoods. Why do your customers choose you? We are local. Our loan officers live here. If you call when the bank is open, they will answer the phone. We know our customers and we know their neighborhoods, and in a world of online mortgage lenders based in other states, that kind of customer service stands out. Beyond that, ANB is very competitive in the market with rates and fees, and we offer a variety of loan products. What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? The national average for closing a mortgage loan is 42 days, but in most cases, we close at least twice that fast. In fact, ANB typically closes eligible loans in two weeks or less. The big online lenders just can’t compete with that kind of speed. What do you enjoy most about your work? Home ownership is a major part of financial independence and a big part of the health of this community. We love playing a role in that! It’s always fulfilling to help people get into their dream homes—especially first-time homebuyers. We also enjoy building strong friendships and relationships with the area’s Realtors and real-estate companies. We work closely with them and are always inspired by their passion. | ANB.COM

806.378.8000

AmarilloNationalBank

HOMEEXPERTSLOAN

EXPERTS [ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]

What does your team do best? We put our customers first! Our top priority, before making any loan decision, is to understand our customer’s business needs. As a family-owned bank, we aren’t publicly traded, so that means we can make fast decisions on behalf of our customers instead of putting shareholders first or worrying about Wall Street. How long have you been in business? ANB has been making commercial, business and agribusiness loans since 1892. We’ve been in business in this area for 130 years, which is almost as long as Amarillo has existed. How does your team maintain its expertise? We don’t just sit at our desks waiting for our small-business customers to call or come see us. We are incredibly involved in our community. You will often find us out “in the field” learning about our customers’ businesses, serving on nonprofit boards, and digging into the details of the local economy. Why do your customers choose you? We know that running a business can be tough, so we want to streamline our customers’ banking relationship as much as possible. By serving as their personal bankers—a one-stop shop for their needs—we help them focus on operating their business instead of worrying about banking.

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EXPERTSSMALL BUSINESS LOAN EXPERTS

AmarilloNationalBank

What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? We’ve put together an incredible small-business banking team at Summit Financial Center, located at 34th and Coulter and connected to Palace Coffee. From there, we can take care of almost every business banking need. Our team can open business accounts, cash checks and take deposits. We can help business owners set up business online banking, remote deposit capture machines, merchant processing and more. Summit also has fabulous mortgage lenders and a Raymond James financial advisor. In addition, Heath offices downtown as a part of our incredible small-business banking team. We truly can take the best care of a business and their employees. What do you enjoy most about your work? It’s definitely our customers, because their creativity and resilience always inspires us. We also enjoy the authentic and fun culture at ANB. Our team loves what we806.378.8000do!

What does your team do best? Our customers are always our primary focus. We establish special relationships with our customers to make sure their assets are managed according to their wishes today—and also with an eye on future generations.

What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? Hiring ANB as a corporate trustee or executor isn’t just about protecting wealth or seeking good investment returns. It can actually make our customers’ lives easier. If nothing else, it helps avoid a lot of heartache. As fiduciaries, we are held to the highest ethical standard. That requires us to follow a trust document or will to the letter, which puts the burden of hard decision-making on us rather than an individual or family.

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PERSONALEXPERTSTRUST

What do you enjoy most about your work? We love our customers. Knowing that we have the ability to truly make a difference in their financial well-being—and the well-being of the next generation—is incredibly 806.378.8000fulfilling.|

AmarilloNationalBank

ANB.COM

ANB is family-owned and in its fifth generation of family leadership, so we definitely know the value of maintaining a legacy and passing that legacy on to the next generation. How long have you been in trust services? Trust, estate and wealth management planning is something our bank has been involved with since we began 130 years ago. We have been providing trust and estate services since 1950! Combined, our current team has decades and decades of experience. How does your team maintain its expertise? Laws, tax rules and regulations are always changing. They never seem to get simpler, and always seem to become more complex. With certified professionals on our team having financial, legal, accounting, and tax expertise, we are well-positioned to stay up to date with these changes as they happen. Why do your customers choose you? We are fiduciaries. That means we are legally obligated to put our customers’ interests ahead of our own. This helps our customers know we are always choosing the option that serves them best. We take pride in those relationships and make a point of understanding their needs, goals and risk tolerances. Maintaining and protecting family legacies is a huge responsibility. ANB is known as a fun workplace, but we take our trust and estate work very seriously.

EXPERTS

JENNIFER AND ROBBY STAGGS

| CHAMPIONBBQSUPPLY.COM

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How long have you been in business? We are excited to be celebrating our 5-year anniversary. We have been in business since 2017 and competing in the barbecue community since 2014. We opened our second location in Oklahoma City last year. How does your team maintain its expertise? Our award-winning team competes in barbecue and steak competitions throughout the year, and continuously learns new techniques and methods to share with our customers. We love to talk barbecue!

BBQChampionSupplyAmarillo

What’s one thing the public might not understand about what you do? Owner Robby Staggs is a Steak World Champion and competes in barbecue and steak competitions throughout the country. He travels to educate others on barbecue techniques during the year. Owner Jennifer Staggs also competes and has done well in world and state competitions. We balance our business and our love of competing to increase our expertise for our customers. We sponsor many barbecue teams in Amarillo and Oklahoma that give us feedback and help us promote our stores. We sponsor events and give back by supporting local charities and raising awareness in our community. What do you enjoy most about your work? Sharing the love of barbecue and helping others create togetherness with their family and friends. We have introduced many people to the competition world and love to share tips and techniques for them to be successful in competitions or at home as a backyard pitmaster. We enjoy hearing about their last gathering and what they cooked. We love our customers and appreciate their support over the past 5 years! 806.418.6647

7306 SW 34TH AVE., SUITE 10

BARBECUEEXPERTS

What does your team do best? As owners of Champion BBQ, we think it is important that we are active in the barbecue community and learning new techniques, finding hot new products and bringing what we have found back to our customers. We pride ourselves as being experts that can help the customers get their cook to the next level. We always keep something fresh and new in the store and keep our customers excited about barbecue.

Why do your customers choose you? We take pride in our customer service and helping clients become better cooks. We love sharing our recipes and what we have learned over the years. The Champion BBQ team will go above and beyond for our customers to make sure they have a good experience. We have built the largest seasoning wall in the country and a huge grill assortment by researching the best in the industry. Our customers know they can find good products in our stores that we stand behind.

What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? We work with businesses of all sizes. Our commercial loans have covered everything from commercial purpose real estate loans, business operations and working capital loans to truck, fleet and company vehicle financing. We also provide a full range of bank services for all our commercial customers, including ACH origination, merchant credit card processing and remote deposit capture.

LOANCOMMERCIALEXPERTS

Business is about relationships, and our commercial loan customer’s experience is a constant conversation. We never forget its importance.

Why do your clients choose you? Whether our commercial customers are purchasing additional inventory or funding a major expense, we want them to enjoy fast service and a personal touch. They also value decisions made locally, which sets us apart from many other commercial lenders.

What do you enjoy most about your work? Amarillo is a great place to start and operate a small business—or a business of any size—and we love working with our commercial customers as they succeed. We are always inspired by the creativity and problem-solving we see in this area. Panhandle people work hard and are ready to meet all kinds of challenges. We get a lot of fulfillment when a commercial loan from FBSW helps them achieve success.

FBSW.COM

On-going training is required regularly, and we also emphasize advanced lending-related training.

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How long has FBSW been in business? We were established in 1907 and have been serving the Texas Panhandle for 115 years. How does your team maintain its expertise? We share ideas and experiences and have frequent discussions about the state of the economy and financial and business trends.

SouthwestFirstBank

What does your team do best? We interact personally with the customer to provide the best possible commercial banking experience, including commercial loans and lines of credit. We know these resources are essential to helping businesses grow. Our lenders, as a group, have wide-ranging experience and we can accommodate most types of requests.

EXPERTS

FURNISHINGHOMEEXPERTS FurnitureRockwoodCo.

What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do?

A lot of people have misconceptions about Rockwood Furniture Co. For starters, people have a certain idea of what “Amish” furniture is. However, Amish furniture is not a style, it is a standard of excellence. It is furniture that has evolved into styles for today and remains timeless for generations to come. We carry furniture for every room in your home, as well as outdoor living spaces. We strive to have every style available in multiple price ranges as well. We truly want to have something for every home and budget.

How long have you been in business? This year, we are celebrating our 15-year anniversary. Ten years ago, we built a larger showroom in our current location on I-27. Since then, we’ve grown our inventory, even adding a beautiful mattress showroom with the industry’s best brands. We also enclosed our patios, and feature the area’s largest selection of comfortable outdoor furnishings.

Why do your customers choose you? Our customers have come to expect the best quality furniture and exceptional customer service when they visit Rockwood. We’re committed to Amarillo and our clients, who often feel like family.

What do you enjoy most about your work? Meeting with the Amish, picking out new styles for the showroom, and meeting new people from all walks of life are at the top of the list. But our absolute favorite is when we have a customer that is so happy they share photos with us of their homes and new furniture. It’s a pleasure knowing we have contributed to enhancing their lives and living spaces. 11570 I-27 |

What does your company do best? At Rockwood, we offer solidwood, handcrafted furniture. We specialize in customization, enabling the customer to choose their style, wood species and stain color. Our clients can adapt any furniture item and create a showpiece for their home and lifestyle.

How does your team maintain its expertise? Throughout the years, we have forged friendships and business relationships with each of our Amish craftsmen and their families. We make a trip to visit them at least once a year, where they are happy to share their skills with us. They are committed to expanding their artisan skills and creativity into evolving styles. We keep up to date with the finest accessories and offer only the best quality in every item we sell.

ROCKWOODFURNITURECO.COM806.358.8778 HENRY REMPEL AND JAKE STEPHANIEANDREMPEL[SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]

What does your company do best? We curate and implement effective, sustainable and dynamic marketing strategies for companies with a focus on value-based returns.

What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? We are more than a singular type of agency—we combine traditional and digital methodologies to apply what we like to call a tradigital approach to marketing. Not only are we one of only 40 agencies selected for Google’s Elevator Program, we also maintain working relationships with traditional media providers (TV and radio). We work with clients of all budget sizes to capitalize on growth opportunities. We bring an inline approach to balance brands regardless of the media mix. We are here to help you launch, grow and evolve.

What do you enjoy most about your work? We challenge traditional thought every day and dream of innovative ways of stepping outside the status quo. We work in an ever-evolving industry and we are invested in growth and expansion—for GriffinWink as an agency and for the benefit of our customers. It is extremely rewarding to see designs, commercials, magazine ads, and videos come to life and serve as elements leading to the success of our clients. Celebrating with them through their achievements and serving as a trusted advisor keeps our entire team energized, motivated and 806.206.6120excited.

GriffinWinkAdvertising

GriffinWink is a locally based agency with global reach, and we leverage our combined knowledge and expertise to provide unparalleled service for our clients—creating value and setting the foundation for incredible growth.

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How long have you been in business? GriffinWink was founded in 1975. We now have offices in Amarillo, Albuquerque and Lubbock. How does your team maintain its expertise? Our team manages relationships with industry leaders like Google, Meta and Podium to stay on top of an ever-changing industry landscape. We are also big fans of webinars and workshops led by industry-specific thought leaders. Why do your clients choose you? We are committed to growth.

ADVERTISINGEXPERTS

9301

What does your team do best? We prepare students in grades 6 to 12 for success in college and beyond. Our students are already planning to attend college when they arrive at Ascension, but they come here for the tools and skills to become confident, collaborative lifelong learners who are prepared for success in college and in life. Ascension Academy instills in them a challenging, faith-affirming environment to maximize their potential. How long has Ascension been open? Ascension Academy began as the shared vision of a group of concerned parents and educators in the 1990s. They recognized the need for an independently run secondary school that would provide a safe, nurturing, faith-respecting, and academically challenging environment for young people in the Amarillo metro and surrounding area. The Ascension Academy Board of Regents welcomed the school’s first group of students in September 2000. In August 2006, Ascension Academy moved into its permanent facility off Soncy Road.

AscensionAcademy

How does your team maintain its expertise? We are members of several key independent school organizations and further leverage the role-specific groups within these organizations to engage with leadership in accrediting organizations, as well as with our peers in independent schools across the country. Our faculty are subject-area experts in their fields of study, and spend countless hours staying on the cutting edge of learning to support our students. Our College Guidance Counselor communicates with college recruiters and college admissions officers to discover new admission processes, added programs/majors, and up-and coming careers.

PREPARATORYCOLLEGESCHOOLEXPERTS

Why do families choose you? At Ascension, you’ll find a close-knit community that recognizes each student’s individual gifts and talents. Students feel safe to be themselves and are included in and encouraged to be a Scholar, Artist, Athlete and Leader—the Four Pillars of a well-rounded individual. Students have opportunities across all Four Pillars—the sky’s the limit.

What does your team enjoy most about their work? We enjoy seeing the development of our students from the first day they arrive on campus to the day they graduate. From working with prospective students and their families as they begin their journey with Ascension, to watching them mature and develop their unique gifts and talents, and then watching them head off to college as confident young people ready to conquer the world, it’s truly a rewarding experience. ASCENSION PKWY. 806.342.0515

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What’s one thing the public might not understand about what Ascension does? We have a diverse student body that ranges in social and economic status, athletic ability, artistic expression and academic skills. We have a dedicated College Guidance Counselor to help upperclassmen pinpoint where they would best begin their college careers, what schools specialize in general or specific areas of study, and coach them to maximize scholarship opportunities, internships and dual credit programs.

EXPERTS

CREDITEXPERTSUNION

EDUCATIONCU.COM806.358.7777success.

What does your team do best? We find ways to show kindness and love for fellow team members, the community and our members. How long have you been in business? 87 years. How does your team maintain its expertise? We are constantly looking for talented individuals to join our team. Our employees are experts in their fields, bringing new knowledge to share and help grow our credit union. Why do your customers choose you? We are committed to the community and we put our members’ needs first. What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? While our roots and credit union were formed from education, anyone who lives, works or worships within 10 miles of any of our branches can become a member of Education Credit Union. What do you enjoy most about your work? I love to encourage and foster creativity in others, and then watch their

EXPERTS MARCUS SMITH, INTERIM CEO[ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]

EducationCreditUnion

What do you enjoy most about your work? Being able to help people and transform my employees into 4500leaders.S.SONCY ROAD | STREETTOYOTA.COM806.355.9846

What’s your area of expertise? I lead and train a team that is responsible for helping customers with their journey of finding the perfect vehicle and showing them how to use the features on their vehicle. What do you do best? I feel like I am very good at listening to customers’ needs and helping them discover their wants, along with helping them if they have any issues. How many years of experience do you have? 9 years How do you maintain your expertise? I am constantly learning about leadership and new ways to be the best for our customers. I want to make sure they have an exceptional experience with us. I attend a couple of automotive-specific conferences a year to further sharpen my skills.

Why do your customers choose you? Street Toyota has an excellent reputation in Amarillo because we are involved in the community and take care of our customers. I follow that example. I am involved in Toastmasters International and No Boundaries International, along with a few other boards and groups in the Amarillo Community. What’s one thing the public might not understand about what you do? We have a BDC (Business Development Center). This is our call center for the dealership. We schedule appointments for our customers so we can have everything ready for them when they arrive to speak with a sales representative and look at a vehicle.

EXPERTSEXPERIENCECUSTOMERSERVICEEXPERTS ToyotaStreet

COURTNEY PASCHAL [ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]

DRY U.S. Cleaners

EXPERTSCLEANING

EXPERTS

What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? Some people see “dry cleaners” and think that is all we do: dry cleaning. But we offer a lot more than that! We launder, and can use light to heavy starch. We wet clean. We will “wash ’n fold” your home laundry if you’re short on time or energy. We even provide linen services. Customers love our concierge service, which offers pick-up and delivery to your home or office. What do you enjoy most about your work? We cherish community outreach. As a local business, we believe strongly in giving back to the community that has been so wonderful to us over the years. We take opportunities to sponsor local fundraisers. We also donate free cleaning to several organizations and nonprofits in town. We are always looking for new ways to give back and support our community!USCLEANERSAMARILLO.COM

CARON TURNER SANSING AND TAYLOR VAN VALKENBURG

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What does your company do best? Dry cleaning and laundry. From suits and dresses to starched jeans, and even your bedding. We do it all.

How long have you been in business? We have been family-owned here in Amarillo for 27 years and counting! How does your team maintain its expertise? We are members of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), which provides continuing education and a wealth of resources from experts in our field. We stay up to date with the newest technology and best products. At the trade show we attended this past summer, we purchased advanced new dry-cleaning machines and presses, which will allow us to maintain the quality of the finished product. We also have experts come to our production facility to train our employees in proper procedures for the worst kinds of stains, like getting wine stains out of your blouse or your kid’s glue out of your pants. Why do your customers choose you? We work hard to be a local business you can trust. We believe that we produce the best product at the best prices with the best service. We also stand by the service we provide, and our customers trust us to take care of them if we miss the mark.

InsuranceFarmersMasseyLeslie

EXPERTSAUTO/HOMEINSURANCEEXPERTS

What does your team do best? We are very good at helping our clients understand their policies so they can make educated decisions on coverage. We are also excellent at helping clients through the claims process. How long have you been in business? 13 years. How does your team maintain its expertise? Like the Farmers Insurance commercial says, we know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two. That’s a catchy tagline, but there’s a lot of truth to it. In the insurance business, experience is a very valuable lesson. We also keep up with our licensing requirements and attend seminars and conferences as available. Why do your clients choose you? We are very friendly and genuinely care about our clients. Insurance is still a “who do you use?” kind of business, and people trust recommendations from their friends and family. So we do our best to provide the kind of personal service that will result in a recommendation. Also, we are always looking for ways to help our community and I think that resonates with local people. What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? As insurance agents, we don’t set the rates or decide coverage in a claim. Those are the things that are most likely to frustrate the public, and they are entirely out of our control. What do you enjoy most about your work? I love getting to know my clients. They become like family. 2700 S. WESTERN ST., SUITE 700 FARMERSAGENT.COM/MMASSEY806.352.7388

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EXPERTS

MARKETINGCREATIVEEXPERTS

Walcot Studio Deidre Dixon

What do you enjoy most about your work? The connection that’s created with bringing someone’s idea to life. Blending strategy and intuition into each design. The freedom to run my business and lead my team from INSTAGRAMWALCOTSTUDIO.COManywhere.@WALCOTSTUDIOHELLO@WALCOTSTUDIO.COM

What’s your area of expertise? What do you do best? I’m Deidre Dixon, the Founder and Creative Director of Walcot Studio. We’re a comprehensive brand design studio, offering lifestyle-focused branding and modern growth strategies for small businesses. How many years of experience do you have? I started the consulting aspect of my company in 2015, because I believed small business marketing needed both aspects of design and strategy elevated. I also saw the processes of designing a brand and building a website to be a stressful obstacle for business owners instead of the fuel behind making a profit. I then began to grow my business from consulting to branding and web design. Over the years, I’ve grown from a solopreneur with a handful of local clients, to a fully remote team serving clients across the U.S., Canada, Australia and the UK. How do you maintain your expertise? I have a BBA in Marketing that was basically outdated as soon as I walked across the stage, so I have to contribute everything I’ve learned to hands-on experience. Over the years, I’ve intentionally built my team with people who share the same core values but have specific skill sets that support our clients as technology and the needs of our clients’ businesses evolve. Why do your clients choose you? Our clients crave impact and, together, we design unforgettable brand experiences that engage their customers. We design brands that are stunning and strategic, unforgettable identities, and intuitive experiences. What’s one thing the public might not understand about what you do? Branding shouldn’t be seen as another cost counted against your marketing budget. There’s a time and a place for DIY—your brand is not one of them. Branding is an investment; do it with purpose the first time. A cohesive, well-articulated brand increases the effectiveness of marketing initiatives and will save advertising money down the road.

What do you enjoy most about your work? We are fortunate enough to have clients that fully trust us to create arrangements— we love the freedom to be creative. We come to work every day and get to create beautiful things for our clients!

EXPERTSDESIGNFLORAL GardenAvant

AVANTGARDENAMARILLO.COM806.322.3598WEST[SPECIALADVERTISINGSECTION

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2475 I-40

EXPERTS

What does your team do best? We create elevated designs. We love to take our customers’ ideas and put our signature modern twist on them! There’s no mistaking an Avant Garden floral design. We truly listen to our customers and what works best for them. How long have you been in business? Avant Garden officially opened in October 2019. Even though our storefront has been open for about 3 years, our team has a combined 35 years of knowledge and expertise. How does your team maintain its expertise? We are believers in continued learning and collaboration! Whether it’s a new book or a web-based class, our designers are always mastering new techniques to bring to our clients. Why do your clients choose you? We pride ourselves on customer relationships and top-notch service. Our team goes above and beyond to make sure every arrangement is perfect. Whether you only need one floral arrangement, or a full-scale wedding, we pay attention to every detail and follow through with expectations. Rachelle Tuls, our owner, has created a beautiful, curated boutique and florals that stand out in Amarillo. What’s one thing the public might not understand what you do? One thing people may not know is that we’re not just an ordinary floral shop. We’re a one-stop shop for any occasion. If you need a small arrangement, come in and grab something from our graband-go collection or pick a gift from our curated boutique. In addition to our gift items, we also facilitate parties and weddings of any size. Our entire team is highly skilled in designing, planning, and coordinating events.

PerformingAmarilloArtsCenter

@AMARILLOPERFORMINGARTSCENTERINSTAGRAM806.418.4271|AMARILLOPAC.COM EXPERTS SCHAE BURLEY[SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]

What’s your area of expertise? Dance instruction. We create space and opportunities for children to find a passion for performance arts through structured activity. What do you do best? My entire staff and I are committed to providing a safe space for students to openly express themselves through movement and inspire them to pursue happiness, inside and outside of the studio. We foster creativity and a love for dance in every child who comes into our space. How many years of experience do you have? My mother walked me into my first dance class at the age of 3, and dance has been a constant journey in my life since then. Now with more than 20 years of teaching experience, I can confidently say I am meant to be here. This is my passion, love and expertise. How do you maintain your expertise? I am grateful to spend time furthering my education in dance/tumbling/acrobatics technique, instructor training, and mentorship studies. As the leader of my studio, I am continually striving to raise our service to new heights, from empowering my staff to bettering family/studio relationships. Ultimately, we are creating new opportunities for our students! Why do your students choose you? I truly desire for our families to choose APAC because of our core values and our commitment to making a positive impact on young lives. We also offer an outstanding program designed to produce technically advanced dancers, who can choose to pursue collegiate and professional dance paths. What’s one thing the public might not understand about what you do? It’s more than a dance class. It’s more than the steps. It’s more than great technique. It’s about the experience, commitment and memories made—we love what we do and cherish our opportunity to share that passion with our students. What do you enjoy most about your work? The relationships made with clients who became family and students who I now call “my own” are invaluable and forever a motivation to continue growing and enhancing the experience we create at APAC.

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INSTRUCTIONDANCEEXPERTS

What’s your area of expertise? Electronic payments. What do you do best? Merchant services: payment processing provider, point of sale systems, value-added features. How many years of experience do you have? 25 years. How do you maintain your expertise? Continuing education at trade shows and conferences. Why do your clients choose you? The main difference is my depth of knowledge of the industry and how to select the best solution for each specific business. I have access to multiple processing platforms, gateways, POS systems, value-added services, as well as system integrations that set me apart from most of my competition. Not to mention the rates and service level provided are unmatched by other service providers. Plus, clients are supporting local when they choose to do business with me.

1220 S. GEORGIA ST., SUITE C

CoCard

TRACERCOCARD.COM806.373.4166 [ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]

EXPERTS PROCESSINGPAYMENTEXPERTS

What’s one thing the public might not understand about what you do? The electronic payment industry is a very technical system that is complex. I like to make it simple; I provide services that help businesses improve their bottom line and increase the efficiency of their operations. Our Point of Sale Systems for retail and restaurants save businesses time and money with detailed reporting capabilities. Additionally our kNOwPAY service reduces or eliminates fees paid per transaction, allowing a business owner to pay NO processing fees. Crypto the latest payment technology that is often not well understood, yet there is a turnkey solution which allows merchants to accept this alternate form of payment with no risk or volatility. What do you enjoy most about your work? I love this industry. It is constantly changing and advancing consumer payment processes and how commercial accounts receive payments for their services.

Flavor Profiles and Combinations

Harvest Hummus

HARVEST HUMMUS

The sky’s the limit, m’dears! Once you get the hang of creating in the kitchen, you will begin to understand what flavors go together.

Fresh green onions Pumpkin seeds or pine nuts

Baby SlicedSlicedcarrotsnectarinescherrytomatoes

Heat oven to broil. If you have a gas stovetop, char poblanos over an open flame. Roast poblanos for 8 to 10 minutes on each side, or until charred. Remove from heat and let cool. In a food processor, add chickpeas, sundried tomatoes, garlic cloves, cilantro, cumin, lemon juice, tahini paste, salt and pepper. Lock the lid and begin processing. As chickpeas break down, slowly add olive oil through the top shoot of the food processor. Blend for a few minutes, or until hummus is creamy and smooth. Add in a few ice cubes to make hummus extra creamy. Remove lid and add poblano peppers (stems removed). Place lid back on and process until peppers are fully incorporated into hummus. To plate, choose a large platter. Carefully spoon hummus onto platter, using a spoon to smooth it around the dish. Arrange toppings around the hummus, then drizzle with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with seeds and hemp hearts. If you’d like to make an oil-free version, you can omit the tahini. Instead of adding olive oil in a stream as you process the hummus, add ¼ cup water.

Fresh corn kernels from the cob Sliced beets

elevate your plate

WITH RUTHIE LANDELIUS

Mediterranean Harvest Hummus Herbs and Spices: basil, chili, garlic, leeks, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme Produce: bell peppers, capers, lemon (also try preserved), olives, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes

Chickpeas: This is the main ingredient. Chickpeas are a great protein source and give you a full feeling (satiety) which, in turn, can make you less likely to snack between meals. You can also use cannellini or navy beans in place of chickpeas for a creamier texture.

¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, hydrated in water for 10 minutes

1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ cup olive oil

Use for lovely toppings and crudité:

Sliced blueberries

Hemp Hearts

Mexican Harvest Hummus Herbs and Spices: cilantro, chilis, coriander, cumin, garlic, onion, paprika, parsley, saffron Produce: avocado, bell peppers, corn, jicama, lime, roasted poblano, zucchini Indian Harvest Hummus Herbs and Spices: anise, cardamom, chili, cinnamon, cumin, clove, curry, garam masala, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, poppy seeds, saffron, sesame, sumac, thyme, onion Produce: bell peppers, cauliflower, coconut, eggplant, lemon, spinach, tomato

2 tablespoons tahini paste

Soon you’ll become so bold you start to combine flavors that aren’t usually put together. The beauty of cooking is to find yourself.

Lemon Juice: This additive puts the zing in hummus. Please use freshly squeezed lemon juice whenever possible. Trust me on this one.

The five main components for a stellar hummus are:

Ruthie owns Black Fig Food catering and is proprietor of the online cooking platform Elevated Plant Plate. Learn more at elevatedplantplate.com and blackfigfood.com.

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Garlic: When we’re talking about hummus, there is no such thing as hummus without garlic. It’s a traditional ingredient in the dish that dates back to 13th century Egypt. I usually add 3 to 4 cloves because I like it good and garlicky.

2 poblano peppers

Tahini: Sesame paste is another component that will give hummus an extra-smooth quality. It has a nutty, bitter taste that can be too much for some, but overall, it is another source of protein.

RUTHIE LANDELIUS

There are so many different hummus recipes, you’d be a fool not to try them all. Here are a few flavor profiles and suggested ingredients you can use to make or embellish hummus.

4 garlic cloves 1 bunch fresh cilantro 3 teaspoons ground cumin Juice of 1 large lemon

Makes 8 to 10 servings

y favorite season of the year is upon us! It’s time for our bodies to ease slowly into hibernation mode. And with that transition come tasty food options we can munch on at our leisure. There is nothing better than having ready-made morsels to grab when a snack attack occurs. One of my favorites is a heaping pile of harvest hummus. I’m not talkin’ about any plain old hummus. This is a hummus so dreamy you’ll want to make it time and time again. In this recipe, I’ll teach you how to embellish your spread with splashes of wow so you can enjoy your hummus tenfold.

2 (15-ounce) cans garbanzo beans, drained (save aquafaba liquid for other use)

Olive Oil: This ingredient is another must in a hummus-making repertoire. It adds a luxurious texture to the spread. An extra-virgin variety is best, as it’s much lighter than pure olive oil. I like to drizzle about ¼ cup into my hummus as I blend it in the food processor. You can also top hummus with a bit more and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts for a visual aesthetic.

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right, colorful and always Instagrammable, French macarons have exploded in local popularity in recent years. These meringue-based confections date back to the Renaissance in Europe but have only captured Americans’ attention over the past decade.

An Amarillo native, Cara graduated from the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University in Louisiana, then interned with celebrity cake designer Elisa Strauss in New York City. After spending several years in NYC bakeries and restaurants, Cara eventually opened her own cake business in Brooklyn until moving back to Amarillo a decade ago. In 2020, she bought the former Uptown Sweet Shoppe at 34th and Coulter, and has recently rebranded it with a new name.

Cara says “elevated sweets” are her passion. The bakery uses only organic cane sugar. “Everything we do is with the best ingredients,” Cara says. “That’s really important to me. We don’t use cake mixes or icing from a bucket. Everything is from scratch here.” This includes her popular macarons. “People go crazy over them. We sell a ton,” she says. We asked her to walk readers through her step-by-step process of creating these sweet, delicate cookies in a home kitchen.

“To be honest, when I was in culinary school in 2005, they were not a thing. I had never learned how to make them,” says Cara Linn, founder and owner of Sweet by Cara Linn, an Amarillo bakery and dessert bar. “They started taking off in the past few years so I had to learn how to make them.”

MacaronsMaking BY KAILI CARA

REVELES CARA LINN OF SWEET BY

kitch

To begin, sift the almond flour and powdered sugar together. Cara recommends using an overly large bowl for the dry ingredients, which helps you manage the batter more easily later in the process.

Fill ’em Up After baking and letting the shells cool, it’s time to add the filling, turning the individual shells into colorful cookie sandwiches. The filling is what gives a macaron its flavor, and Cara says the sky is the limit. “There are no rules on the filling,” she says. “You can use ganache, jams, buttercream icing.” She created delicious, fall-friendly Orange Rose, Candy Corn, and Caramel Apple flavors for.

“There are myriad options and flavors for macarons.”

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A French macaron—not to be confused with the coconut-derived macaroon—is made up of two primary parts: the crisp macaron shell and the flavorful fillings. When made right, the whipped egg white base gives the shell a crisp-yetchewy texture.

Cara stops at this point to urge patience for home bakers. Macarons aren’t easy to make. “They are very finicky cookies,” she says, and baking them requires precision. “That’s why people buy them. But if you’re making them at home, they don’t have to look perfect. They’ll still taste delicious.”

Sift the Flour and Sugar

Mix the Egg Whites

Cara uses fresh egg whites rather than liquid egg whites. While separating the eggs, she says to take caution to keep any yolks out of the mix, as any fat will impact how well the meringue sets up. Like other experts, Cara recommends letting the egg whites “age” in the refrigerator for around 24 hours before mixing, which improves elasticity during whipping.Thewhipping is important. Mix for several minutes until the egg whites form stiff peaks. “That’s one of the most common mistakes,” Cara says. “Knowing how long to whip the egg whites.” For instance, not mixing long enough can leave the shell grainy or lumpy. Overmixed egg whites can end up cracking in the oven. Properly stiff egg-white peaks won’t drip or move on their own. “Some days, we still mess up a batch,” Cara says. Add Color When it comes to the macaron shell, the fun colors are cosmetic only and the result of gel food coloring. (Without food coloring, they’ll taste just as good but might look a little boring.)

It’s important to use gel food coloring instead of liquid, which can alter the batter’s consistency. Add one to two drops of gel coloring directly to the egg whites by slowly folding it in, or beating at low speed on a mixer. Once the food coloring has been added, sift the almond flour mixture into the mixing bowl and use a rubber spatula to fold it into the batter “until it flows off the spatula like lava,” Cara says. When it reaches that consistency, put the batter in a pastry bag and fit it with a piping tip. Pipe It Cara recommends using silicone macaron molds, which are flexible and non-stick. The piping process needs to take place quickly so the batter consistency doesn’t change. Pipe the batter into the mold in circles—typically these are around 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter—using a swirling“Oncemotion.youstart piping, don’t let the batter sit,” says Cara. “If you don’t do the swirl right away, it can keep you from getting that smoothAgain,texture.”macarons are finicky.

To avoid air bubbles, Cara then slaps the silicone mold onto the pan a couple of times, and even bangs the pan on the counter. If necessary, use a toothpick to pop any leftover bubbles, which might create cracks in a macaron shell after baking. Then let the piped circles rest. Cara recommends at least 30 minutes, or until the tops of the shell are dry to the touch. This gives them time to rise and develop the little “feet” that add to the chewy texture. Don’t let them rest too long, though. After an hour or so, they might start to deflate.

122 grams almond flour 122 grams powdered sugar 92 grams egg whites 82 grams granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 to 2 drops gel food coloring

Sift together almond flour and powdered sugar in a bowl. Set aside. In another glass or metal bowl, add egg whites and granulated sugar and set on top of a pan of boiling water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved. Place egg white mixture in a mixing bowl and add cream of tartar. Whip to glossy, stiff peaks. Add food coloring, then place a sifter on top of mixing bowl and sift the almond flour mixture into it. With a rubber spatula, fold batter until it flows off the spatula like lava. Place batter in a pastry bag and pipe in circles. Let circles rest for about 30 minutes until tops are dry to the touch. Bake in a 240 degree oven for approximately 24 minutes, flipping pan halfway through. Once macarons are cooled, fill with your favorite filling. We use buttercream icing flavored with extracts, white and dark chocolate ganache, jams, or lemon curd. Yields approximately 2 dozen macarons

MacaronsFrench

CANDY MACARONSCORN

CARAMEL

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2022-23 SEASON For ticket information, call our box o ce at 806.355.9991 or visit our website www.amarillolittletheatre.org (Plays and Dates are subject to availability) Sept. 8 - 25, 2022 Feb. 23-March 5, 2023 November 10-20, 2022 February 2-12, 2023January 19-29, 2023 May 4-14, 2023 August 18 - 28, 2022 December 1-18, 2022 April 13- 23, 2023 (COMEDY/DRAMA) (MUSICAL COMEDY) (MUSICALCOMEDY) Winner of 1958 Tony Award for Best Musical, 1982 and 2006 Olivier Award Outstanding Musical, and 1992 Tony Award Best Musical Revival (DRAMATIC COMEDY) Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play. ALT Academy collaboration (MYSTERY COMEDY) (MUSICAL) (DRAMA) (MUSICAL COMEDY)(DRAMA) Winner of the 2008 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical.

ARTS IN SUNSETTHE THE LEGACY OF ANN CROUCH NEW BEGINNING 2023 Following extensive renovations, the Arts in the Sunset facility will include education, working, and display space for the arts, including the Amarillo Art Institute, Resident Artist Studios, public galleries, event venues, and the AJ Swope Performance Plaza. Keep up to date with progress at artsinthesunset.org or follow Amarillo Art Institute on Facebook!

ne of Amarillo’s highest-rated restaurants on TripAdvisor isn’t particularly easy to find. Fire Slice is located facing the alleyway north of the Summit Shopping Center at 34th and Coulter. But that hasn’t kept this spot from attracting fans of its creative, brick-oven pizzas. “We’re a little off-the-beaten path, so if you’re coming here, you’ve got a reason to come here,” says owner/operator Cody Blair.

A two-decade restaurant industry veteran, Blair and his wife, Gina, bought Fire Slice from the previous owner in 2018.

FIRE PIZZERIASLICE O THE HONEYBOMB BAKED GREEN CHILE TORTELLINI BLACKBERRY BREAD PUDDING RICHARDSONSHANNONBYPHOTOS 91 BRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT

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“We make everything from scratch,” Blair says. That includes the dough, meatballs, and even the ice cream on the dessert menu. He says their pepperoni pizza is the most popular dish—which is pretty much the case with any pizza restaurant—but Fire Slice is beloved for its more unique pies. The Honeybomb combines sliced meatballs, smoked ham and jalapeños with hot honey for a sweetand-spicy kick. The Hot Momma, which pairs pepperoni and house-made Italian sausage with green chiles, is another favorite. But there’s more to the menu than pizza, from the baked green chile tortellini and cheese to the blackberry bread pudding, which is served with vanilla ice cream. A rotating dessert-of-the-month has a charitable focus, with Fire Slice donating $1 to a local nonprofit every time it’s ordered. “We are definitely charity-driven. We love giving back to the community,” says Blair. 7306 SW 34th Ave. (in the alley) 806.331.2232 | fireslice.com

Here’s what we know: A recent Hey Amarillo guest of Laotian descent identified this spot on the Boulevard, across from Sonic, as her absolute favorite place for Asian food in Amarillo. It serves Lao, Thai and Vietnamese dishes and its pho is among the best in town. 1006 Amarillo Blvd. East, 418.6143 $

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The name refers to the year Amarillo was founded, but the atmosphere is way more modern than that. This dinner-only spot inside the downtown Embassy Suites specializes in small bites. There’s a full restaurant setting, but the spacious, trendy bar area gets the most traffic. 550 S. Buchanan St., 803.5504, hilton.com $$

This tourist destination is packed at all hours of the day. Everyone talks about the 72-ounce steak challenge, but other standouts include the popular “Mountain Oysters,” normal-sized steaks, chicken-fried steak and ribs. The onsite brewery recently added a hard seltzer to its menu. 7701 I-40 East, 372.6000, bigtexan.com $$

BEEF ‘O’BRADY’S Amarillo is not exactly a haven for Irish food or drinks. But this familyfriendly chain offers the closest thing to it—at Beef ‘O’Brady’s, the pub food is “Irish-inflected”—all wrapped up in a sports bar atmosphere. There’s a sizable party room, too. 7306 SW 34th Ave., 358.0997, beefobradys.com $$

BOMB CITY KITCHEN

This meal-prep service opened in 2018 in Western Business Park serving two things: prepared meals to take home and coffee. The food is healthy, high-protein and low-carb, with a willingness to swap ingredients by request. Think breakfast (bagels, scones, cinnamon rolls, breakfast burritos) and lunch. Closes at 3 p.m. 4132 Business Park Drive., 677.92419, bombcitykitchen.com $$ This is not a comprehensive list of local restaurants. From issue to issue, we will try to include a wide variety of dining options based on the space available. If you notice an error, please email mm@brickandelm.com. Most entrees under $10 Most entrees $11 to $20 Most entrees over $21$$$$$$ , Suite

THE 806 COFFEE + LOUNGE Art meets coffee—and a surprisingly delicious vegetarian and vegan menu—at this locally owned, atmospheric shop on Sixth. (The brunch is especially good.) Time it right and you’ll catch live music or an art show. If you’re ready to ditch the minimalist coffee scene, start here. 2812 SW Sixth Ave., 322.1806, the806.com $

BANGKOK RESTAURANT

THE BIG TEXAN STEAK RANCH & BREWERY

2700 S. Western St.

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In a city known for its Thai food, Bangkok is truly authentic—and a legit Amarillo Boulevard dive. Take it from patrons with experience: If they say it’s “spicy,” they mean it. Get ready, and make sure you’ve got plenty of water. 5901 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.9008 $

ASIAN BISTRO

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After opening in 2015, this North Heights restaurant quickly gained a diverse, dedicated clientele from across the city thanks to its generous portions and made-from-scratch flavors. (The buttermilk pie is worth a trip by itself.) The downtown menu is slightly smaller but just as good. 1300 N. Hughes St., 803.9111, delvinsrestaurant.com $

This relatively new Town Square restaurant is already getting raves for its classic Tex-Mex fare. The savory birria tacos are wonderful, and so are the salsa selections—with 22 beers on tap and excellent margaritas to wash it all down. Try the weekend brunch! 9200 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1000, 418.6976, cadavezamarillo.com $$

If you’ve driven from Amarillo to the Metroplex, you’ve passed this wood-paneled dive right after exiting I-40 for 287. It’s open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays, and serves dinner until 7:45 p.m. on Fridays. The chicken-fried steak is highly rated, and the portions are huge for weekly specials like enchiladas and meatball subs. 12800 S. US 287, 335.1938 $ COYOTE BLUFF CAFE

This family-operated and chef-owned cafe is an always reliable local gem. Brent Lancour brings a taste of Santa Fe to a broad menu, and his wife, Heather, is one of the best gluten-free bakers in the city. Both are committed to using locally sourced produce and agriculture, resulting in a fresh, delicious community table. Pro tip: Try the weekend brunch. 3701-B Olsen Blvd., 398.2160, brentscafe.com

Open 24 hours a day, this ancient restaurant has a reputation for one of the cheapest and best breakfasts in the city, with daily specials from 6 to 11 a.m. Expect to spend around $10 for almost everything. The portions are plentiful and the smoking section will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. 3801 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.4818 $

Quietly, this little cafe on the Boulevard had built a reputation as one of the best and most authentic Vietnamese spots in the city. It’s under new management as of 2022, with a new menu, served in a clean, upscale environment. 5316 Amarillo Blvd. East, 367.9780 $

CECIL’S LAST CHANCE BAR & GRILL

It’s located in a little shack. It’s been featured on national TV shows. It’s one of those places locals love to take visitors. This tiny, iconic burger joint has a big reputation for its green chile burgers, its ribeye steaks, and—if you can handle it—the mouth-blazing Burger from Hell. A true Amarillo dive. 2417 S. Grand St., 373.4640, coyotebluffcafe.com $

CATTLEMAN’S CAFE

BRENT’S CAFE

#tucumcariproud 10:22 Tucumcari, New Mexico Fall 2022Experience Nostalgic Savor ExploreBRICKANDELM.COM 2022SEPT/OCT 94

In Amarillo, nostalgia is spelled D-O-U-G-S. Generations of locals visit this teensy little shack, which developers have just built around at 34th and Georgia. Your friends ate here in high school, regardless of your age. You won’t go wrong with a chopped beef sandwich and a bowl of beans. 3313 S. Georgia St., 352.8471 $ SO MUCH TO DO, YOU’RE GONNA NEED TWO.

DOUG’S HICKORY PIT BAR-B-QUE

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Slow down and savor your next visit in Tucumcari. Book an extra night and take time to explore our museums and murals, play a round of golf or disc golf, take a walk on our nature trails, or just enjoy our tasty eateries. In the evening, check out the vintage neon on our Historic Route 66, visit around a motel fire pit, or enjoy local events. Don’t just make it Tucumcari Tonite - make it Tucumcari TWO-nights! NM.COM

DELVIN’S RESTAURANT & CATERING

CAFE BLVD. & BAR

Enjoy

A little hard to find—this pizzeria is hidden on the back-alley side of the Summit Shopping Center—but it’s definitely worth the discovery. We love the fun atmosphere, calzones, paninis, craft beer and shareable starters. The brickoven pizza toppings are inventive, too. 7306 SW 34th Ave., Space 10, 331.2232, fireslice.com $$

Ordering a burger in this long-lived San Jacinto drive-in feels like stepping back in time—in all the best ways. You may wait a few minutes for your order, but the old-fashioned burgers and fountain drinks are worth the wait. One of the carhops has worked there for more than 30 years! 2618 SW Third Ave., 374.3566 $

THE GOLDEN LIGHT CAFE

EL BURRITO RICO

The opulent, moody atmosphere of the Drunken Oyster feels like you’ve stepped out of the Panhandle and into the heart of the bayou. The Louisiana-style cuisine never disappoints, from the fresh oysters to the jambalaya and crawfish étouffée. It’s also a great spot for live music. 7606 SW 45th Ave., Suite 100, 418.6668, drunkenoysteramarillo.com $$

This little red-and-yellow, walk-up hut is one of the true gems in the River Road neighborhood. Located near Pleasant Valley Elementary, it’s locally owned and open early for breakfast, serving incredible breakfast burritos and tortas. The well-seasoned lunch and dinner portions are large. 4404 River Road, 383.4545 $

FIRE SLICE PIZZERIA

A relative newcomer to the city’s Asian restaurant scene, this is one of just a few places with decent ramen, dumplings and bao in Amarillo. The lunch specials are served until 3 p.m. and the orders arrive fast. Like most new restaurants around here, it stays busy. 2219 S. Georgia St., 803.2219 $$

Brent's Café is chef-owned and family-operated. We use locally sourced ingredients to provide inspired cuisine. Full bar and seasonal patio! live music Friday & Saturday nights. 3701-B Olsen Blvd. | 806.398.2160 | brentscafe.com

This doesn’t need an introduction from us, but are you a real Amarilloan if you’ve never dined at this icon? In business since 1946 at the same location, it’s the oldest-operating restaurant in Amarillo and maybe even along

ELMO’S DRIVE-IN

Located in an old Taco Villa building, this locally owned lunch-and-dinner spot offers traditional Mexican dishes with Latin American flair. The birria tacos and barbacoa tacos are customer favorites, as is the dessert menu. Local foodies rave about this place. 701 Amarillo Blvd. East, 367.7304 $ FUN NOODLE BAR

FLAMINGO’S LATIN BAR & GRILL

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THE DRUNKEN OYSTER

KABUKI ROMANZA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR

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Always a popular date-night choice, Mac Joe’s is an Amarillo institution known for elegant ambiance and attentive service. The menu relies on Italian dishes but also offers fantastic steaks—with one of the best wine lists in all of the Texas Panhandle. 1619 S. Kentucky St., Suite D1500, 358.8990, macaronijoes.com $$-$$$ MY THAI

If you want ramen in Amarillo, look no further. Ichiban is so wonderful and … so rarely open. Watch your food and noodles being prepared thanks to the open kitchen. Stop by for lunch. It shuts down mid-afternoon but re-opens in time for dinner. Most days. Closed on weekends. 3309 Wimberly Road, 355.5031 $ K-N ROOT BEER DRIVE-IN This legendary, traditional drive-in opened in 1968. And while it recently lost its iconic covered parking in a windstorm, the wonderful burgers, shakes and floats are still around. And the root beer is served in a frosty cold mug! As the sign used to say, it’s “truly a bargain at today’s prices.” 3900 Olsen Blvd., 355.4391, knrootbeer.com $

MACARONI JOE’S

Hot dogs aren’t just meat, bun and mustard at this relatively new downtown dive, known for gourmet dogs. There are plenty of fun, flavorful options featuring all-beef franks, hot links, or jalapeño Polish sausage. The corn dogs, fried pickles, and real ice cream floats are also worth an order. 518 SE 10th Ave., 318.3228 $ ICHIBAN NOODLE BAR & ASIAN CUISINE

GRANDMA’S COCINA

The first true Japanese steakhouse in Amarillo—vintage Amarilloans remember it from way before the move to the boatshaped dining room on I-40—Kabuki always pleases. If you like flamboyant fried-rice prep interrupted by rain and light shows, this is your spot. Dinner only, with 2 p.m. openings on weekends. 8130 I-40 West, 358.7799, kabukiromanza.com $$

The FM 1151 location south of town isn’t particularly convenient for Amarillo residents. But this takeout-only shack is worth the bite. The big cheeseburgers are amazing, as is the busted-egg sandwich. (For a side, get the cheese curds.) Then grab a cherry-lime or Mexican Coke and enjoy it on the nice, sunny patio. 1505 E. FM 1151, 335.5644 $ LA PASADITA You don’t really expect to find this little, walkup restaurant in the middle of a residential area, but just get in line and go for it (the line moves quick). The menu is limited but the Chihuahua-style food is fresh, traditional, and fast. Takeout only. Try a breakfast burrito, menudo, barbacoa or chile rellenos. 2730 NE 16th Ave., 381.2309 $

Route 66. Fantastic greasy burgers with outdoor dining and a music venue next door. 2908 SW Sixth Ave., 374.9237, goldenlightcafe.com $

THE HOT DOG HUT

The Fuller family has operated this eatery for more than 25 years, and it consistently offers Amarillo’s best fine dining. We love the bar area and outdoor patio, as well as its buffet-style lunch and weekly chef specials from Chef Josh Fuller. Pro tip: The Bar Burger is the best burger in town. 619 S. Tyler St., 373.3233, ohmscafe.com $$-$$$619 S. TYLER ST. | (806) 373-3233 |

Just like Abuela’s house, the full menu is available all day long at this little spot on 45th. New owners took over in early 2021, but the quality continues. Locals swear by the breakfast burritos as well as the fresh-cut fries and burgers and Tex-Mex favorites like asada and chili verde plates. 3609 SW 45th Ave., 398.9999 $ HENK’S PIT BAR-B-QUE

One of the original Thai food restaurants in a city famous for them. My Thai has been family-owned since 1986 and is absolutely a local favorite. In fact, My Thai is probably the standard for comparing the quality of the rest of the city’s Thai restaurants. Lunch specials daily. 2029 Coulter St., 355.9541, mythaiamarillo.com $ OHMS CAFE & BAR

OHMSCAFE.COMAMARILLO’SUPSCAL BISTRO

Located right off I-40 on Grand, this BBQ joint has been pleasing downtown diners and neighborhood residents since the 1970s, with the usual chopped beef sandwiches, hot links, ribs and beans that locals love. Think traditional counter-serve Texas barbecue. 1508 S. Grand St., orderhenksbar-b-que.com372.9011$$

LANDSHARK BURGERS

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RAIN PREMIER SUSHI BAR & LOUNGE

Everyone loves Chef Ron, but they especially love his West Texas twist on Gulf Coast and Cajun cuisine. This downtown dive is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday, and lunch only on Saturdays—and don’t miss the Sunday brunch. Try the Pit Master Mac & Cheese. 112 SW Sixth Ave., 418.6477 $$

THE PLAZA RESTAURANT & BAR If you remember its original strip-mall location with the indoor, lighted fountain, then you’re already a loyal customer of this longtime Tex-Mex favorite. The menu is still affordable, with excellent fajitas, enchiladas and sopapillas—with a full bar. 2101 S. Soncy Road., 358.4897, theplazaarestaurant.com $

When a national build-your-own-burrito place opened up in Amarillo, locals were largely unimpressed. Because Sharky’s is far better, and it’s been here way longer. Besides, the owners are very community oriented. Sharky’s catering is one of our favorites for large groups. 1612 S. Georgia St., sharkeysburritocompany.com359.7330, $

SHARKY’S BURRITO COMPANY

TAQUERIA EL TAPATIO MEXICAN RESTAURANT Most locals assume the most authentic Mexican food is on the city’s east side, but this joint serves authentic Jalisco-style Mexican food near 34th and Coulter. The menu is huge, but we love the breakfast, massive parrillada meals and seafood. (There’s also a Dumas location.)

This Louisiana-based chain has been around for more than a decade, but the Amarillo location is brand-new. The portions are big and the prices are low for shrimp or crawfish po’boys, catfish, crab, seafood platters, shrimp and more. Our city may not be known for seafood, but Sam’s is. 4317 Teckla Ave., 437.1349, samssouthernamarillo.com

SOMALI AFRICAN SAFARI RESTAURANT Amarillo has a strong Somali community and this restaurant is their gift to us. Expect East African meals like goat with basmati rice, or a surprise daily special. The flavors are big and bold. This place is a true dive— there’s no formal menu so just ask for what you’d like, or what they recommend. 5945 Amarillo Blvd. East, 471.0490 $$

PHO 84 In a city with few traditional Vietnamese options, Pho 84 is a local favorite. We love the pho, of course, but you also won’t go wrong with the spring rolls, dumplings, curry and other Asian fusion dishes. Plus: Vietnamese coffee. 5713 SW 34th Ave., 437.1626 $

PANCHO VILLA RESTAURANT Amarillo’s other restaurant with “Villa” in the name, this small place in River Road has exactly as much legacy and character as the faux-wood paneling suggests. Locals rave about the chips and salsa, along with the authentic barbacoa, enchiladas, menudo and low prices. 4601 River Road, 381.0105 $

The name is a play on cattle brands—say “X-Bar”—and this newish Town Square steakhouse definitely knows beef. It’s locally owned, has a full bar, and the prices are extremely reasonable for such a swanky atmosphere. We hear great things about the weekend brunch, too. 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1311, 322.4227, xbarsteakhouse.com $$-$$$ ELM

3410 S. Coulter St., 331.6248, tapatiotx.com $

The sushi is good and the all-day Wednesday Happy Hour specials are even better. Popular with the downtown crowd, this spot is open for lunch and dinner, with a full bar and contemporary Asian cuisine. During Happy Hour, sushi rolls and appetizers are incredibly affordable. 817 S. Polk St., 331.1155, rainamarillo.com $$ SAM’S SOUTHERN EATERY

X– STEAKHOUSE

WESLEY’S BEAN POT & BBQ River Road restaurants aren’t always on the radar of every local resident, but Wesley’s has been around forever and deserves its legendary reputation. Loyal customers return again and again for the genuine Texas-style barbecue, especially the baby-back ribs, brisket and—yep—the beans. 6406 River Road, 381.2893 $

For more than 50 years, we have been a trusted provider of behavioral health services. Patients from Texas and beyond count on our specialized inpatient and outpatient programs for children and adolescents, adults and older adults, including treatment for substance use disorder, detoxification and a dedicated Uniformed Services Program. Highly trained mental health specialists customize treatment plans, incorporating group and individual therapies to help patients achieve their highest level of independence and personal growth. If you or a loved one is struggling, turn to the professional, compassionate caregivers at Northwest Texas Healthcare System Behavioral Health. HELP AND HOPE ARE A CALL AWAY 800-537-2585 | 806-354-1810 No-cost assessments available 24/7 Model representations of real patients are shown. Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northwest Texas Healthcare System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. 22615980-978100 8/22 nwthsbehavioralhealth.com 1501 S. Coulter St., Amarillo, TX 79106 Behavioral Health FORWARD Find your way In the midst of a behavioral health challenge, it can be hard to know where to turn. Northwest Texas Healthcare System® Behavioral Health can help.

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THE CITADELLE IN CANADIAN he town of Canadian is widely considered one of the most beautiful places in the Texas Panhandle. That designation comes from the sprawling river breaks and the rare presence of trees in this area. But this town of less than 2,800 residents, located 100 miles northeast of Amarillo on the Canadian River, is also home to another kind of beauty. And it’s housed in an old Baptist Church.

First Baptist Church was built in Canadian in 1910. It became home to the local Church of Christ beginning in 1955, and ended up vacant around 1975. The historic building had been slated for demolition until a local family bought it in 1977.

Dr. Abraham and his wife, Therese, saw an opportunity in the church property, which they bought for $15,000. They loved its brickwork, tall white columns, stained glass windows and 8,000 square feet of space. They moved in and spent years renovating the landmark. People thought they were crazy, so Therese posted a sign outside that said “We think you’re crazy, too.” (The sign, shown below, was received with humor. Therese spent most of the 1980s as the mayor of Canadian.)

Now just one of only three art museums across the 26,000 square miles of the Texas Panhandle, The Citadelle has become a prominent tourist destination, hosting thousands of visitors and students every year. It offers one of the most robust education programs in the state, providing art enrichment and art-making experiences to more than 30,000 students—including small, rural school districts who can offer little in the way of fine arts education. Meanwhile, visitor programs challenge the viewer to reframe their knowledge of art and give artistic relevance to history. Recent visitor and student experiences have featured veterans and film, art-centered musical performances and even theater, public art, and artist residencies. Smithsonian exhibits have traveled here, as have curated exhibitions featuring the art of Rembrandt, Cassatt, Chagall, Degas, Ansel Adams, Texas Impressionists, and modern artists.

For local residents, Canadian has become a prime destination for viewing fall colors. Its historic Main Street will be hopping during the town’s annual Fall Foliage Festival the weekend of Oct. 15-16. In addition to its regular Saturday hours—followed by a Cowboy concert featuring R.J. Vandygriff—the Citadelle will open on Sunday, Oct. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Learn more about the Citadelle and coming events and exhibitions at thecitadelle.org

road trip

This coming year, The Citadelle has plans to conduct student projects with West Texas A&M University and Rice University. It serves as the institutional anchor of Canadian’s state designated Cultural District—the northernmost and smallest such cultural district in the state—and only the second in the vast Texas Panhandle.

They weren’t afraid to laugh at themselves, and in the process they created what became one of the most talked-about homes in the Panhandle. Malouf and Therese filled it with a growing art collection. A serious art collection, with dozens and dozens of fine pieces. Then, in 2008, the family decided it was time to open up the mansion to the rest of the town. The Abrahams donated their home and full art collection to the community of Canadian as a public museum. It has since been transformed once again into a place filled with creativity, inspiration and beautiful things, all intended to help shape the cultural education of this rural town.

The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors 65 and older, with children under 18 always free. Upcoming events include an artist reception featuring George Mendoza on Sept. 29, whose Colors of the Wind exhibition is on loan from the Ellen Noel Museum until mid-December. A blind artist and world-class runner— Mendoza holds the world record for blind athletes running the mile with a time of 4:28—the artist paints the vibrant colors and wild landscapes he sees in his dreams.

It wasn’t just any local family, either. Malouf Abraham, Jr., M.D., was the grandson of a prominent family who had immigrated to the Texas Panhandle from Lebanon. He felt out of place in the isolation of this rural community—Abraham describes it as having “a hole” in his soul—but discovered what was missing while attending Trinity University. It was art. When he returned to Canadian to practice medicine, he wondered whether other children in this remote community could benefit from similar inspiration, especially in the form of visual art.

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Find Wyrick’s work on Instagram.

dedicated early-morning runner, Jeff Wyrick began documenting his runs on an Instagram account he titled @nosleeptilwolflin in 2021. These moody, black-and-white moments from before Amarillo wakes up—captured in all seasons of the year using an iPhone—offer a unique perspective on the city’s architecture and neighborhoods.

Running early allows Wyrick the gift of seeing Amarillo in a different light. “When you remove the things that make a city a city—humans, the cars they drive, the sounds they make, the scents they emit—the cityscape changes dramatically,” he says. That void transforms the city, if only for a few dark hours. “Parking lots become vast concrete pastures. The main thoroughfares become well-lit and spacious running tracks. The bustle of commerce is reduced to a gentle snore of humming street lights or whirling air conditioners,” Wyrick says. “In fact, sometimes the runs feel a little like sleepwalking.”

Wyrick’s three- or four-mile jogs always start from his home in the Olsen Park neighborhood at 4:44 a.m. They follow a variety of routes. Sometimes he runs alone, but not always. “NoSleepTilWolflin is a small assembly of desperate, insomniac runners who traverse the dimly-lit streets of central Amarillo well before dawn,” he says. By running at these hours, he explains, the runners beat the heat, avoid the highest winds and steer clear of dangerous traffic.

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back when s the sweltering Texas Panhandle summer of 1887 began its gentle turn toward fall, just 135 years past, Potter County and Amarillo sprang to life as a greening pasture making up for lost time.

Historian and author Della Tyler Key, in her 1961 book In the Cattle Country—History of Potter County, recounts that a bawdy railroad construction camp called Ragtown in what is now the Cliffside area was the first settlement that might pass for a town in Potter County, but it was a townsite called Oneida about three miles to the southeast that was chosen for the county seat. Oneida was just barely in Potter County, but it had a ready supply of water in the form of Wild Horse Lake and was in the crosshairs of the new Fort Worth and Denver Railway building up from Washburn, making it a prime location for shipping cattle to market.

“For every nine or ten-pin alley or any other alley used for profit by wherever and called, constructed or operated upon the principal of a bowling alley, and upon which balls are rolled without regard to the number of pins used or whether pins are used or not, whether the balls are rolled by hand or with a cue—$500.”

After an electorate composed mostly of LX and Frying Pan Ranch cowboys voted to organize Potter County on Aug. 30, 1887, newly anointed county commissioners got to work furnishing the new Eden with the comforts of bureaucracy and taxes. And they had a newly hatched capital city from which to exercise their authority.

Commissioners also put the squeeze on tricksters, slapping a $5 tax on “every sleight of hand performance exhibition of leger-demain.” That’s fancy talk for shell-game operators. And if you weren’t getting skinned in that fashion, you could easily blow your paycheck on a “clairvoyantor mesmerist” or a “daguerreian,” so the palm readers and photographers got taxed, too.

When commissioners sat down for their first meetings in September, they speedily appropriated money for a temporary jail. Then they turned to the matter of taxes to pay for this and other necessities, making sure to include occupation taxes for some of the less reputable trades that were likely plied back in Ragtown. An entire paragraph in those early meeting minutes is devoted to bowling alleys and pool halls, which, based on the amount of taxes levied, commissioners apparently hoped to price out of the market:

These taxes may have cleansed the county of idle pursuits, but the town ended up anything but tidy. When it rained hard, the original town section of Amarillo was prone to flooding, seeing as how a large part of it was a playa lake (not that this should ever stop development in Amarillo). Mix a prodigious amount of manure into the muck and Amarillo was probably pretty stinky, as well. Henry Sanborn, Joseph Glidden’s partner in the barbed wire business and co-owner of the Frying Pan Ranch, took care of that problem by luring Amarilloans to his salubrious Glidden and Sanborn Addition on higher ground, one mile east. Around his luxurious Amarillo Hotel at Third and Polk, the new Amarillo began to prosper, and by 1910 it had brick-paved streets, a street railway system and almost 10,000 residents. Less than a decade later, a trove of fossil fuel reserves were discovered in these parts and Potter County. Its seat of government, as they say, started cooking with gas. So it was geography, geology, good timing and some lucky breaks that gave Potter County and Amarillo the advantage as area towns sought top-dog status in the Panhandle, a fait accompli that C.F. Rudolph, editor of the Tascosa Pioneer, saw coming as far back as 1890 when Tascosa began its inexorable decline: “Truly this is a world which has no regard for the established order of things but knocks them sky west and crooked, and lo, the upstart hath the land and its fatness.”

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It wasn’t much to look at in the beginning, but in the wild imaginations of those about to cash in on the boom, the clumps of frontier settlement clinging to the searedover crust represented the nexus of human—and bovine—endeavor.

Folks up in Tascosa, the aging queen city of the Panhandle, had already been calling this southern section of Potter County the “Amarillo country” because it lay between the headwaters of West and East Amarillo creeks. Once chosen as the seat of government, Oneida was renamed Amarillo, the Spanish word for yellow (which apparently is what brown looks like when the sun hits just right).

My three most recommended books are ... The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey; The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, by John Maxwell; and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne.

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My biggest pet peeve is ... when people approach others with judgment instead of understanding. Everyone in Amarillo needs to experience ... the Holiday Pops concert performed by the Amarillo Symphony. It’s a tradition for me and it’s always a great way to get in the holiday spirit! If I could change any one local thing it would be ... I wish local people sought more diversity in their lives. I think it’s important for everyone to be exposed to different cultures and beliefs. We get so used to what we see around us that we forget there’s a much larger world out there—even in Amarillo, Texas. This city is amazing at ... coming together for a good cause or a big need in the community. My favorite place in Amarillo is ... my home. BUT if I get out, it would have to be Six Car Pub. I LOVE their brunch and their patio. A local organization I love right now ... It’s really hard to pick just one! My consistent favorites are: Vessel of Humanity and Compassion (Tremaine Brown), 101 Elite Men, Snack Pak 4 Kids, Storybridge, Leaders Readers Network and Northside Toy Drive. KARAH GILBERT

ATHLETIC/GENERALIST ADVISOR, AMARILLO COLLEGE FOUNDER, SOLIDARITY ISN’T SILENT

To me, success means ... setting a goal, doing your best to meet that goal and letting that goal positively impact other people.

The best advice I ever heard is ... “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the water. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”

People who know me might be surprised that ... I am an introvert. Home is my safe space and where I’d rather be almost always.

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SEPT. 24 SAM HOUSTON PARK, AMARILLO REGISTRATION 9 A.M. | WALK BEGINS AT 10 A.M. R E G I S T E R AT PDSG. ORG FOOD | GAMES | EVENTS PRIZES FOR ALL PRESENTED BY: www.octanestudios.us Two Color

SHEPARD FAIREY: FACING THE GIANT CANNUPA HANSKA LUGER: REUNION SEPTEMBER 2 – DECEMBER 31, 2022

REUNION IS A SOLO EXHIBITION AT THE AMARILLO MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTED BY MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST CANNUPA HANSKA LUGER, AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE THREE AFFILIATED TRIBES OF FORT BERTHOLD (MANDAN, HIDATSA, ARIKARA AND LAKOTA). UTILIZING PERFORMANCE, VIDEO, CERAMICS AND MONUMENTAL SCULPTURAL INSTALLATION TO TELL A STORY ABOUT PLANETARY INTERCONNECTIVITY, LUGER URGENTLY IMPLORES AUDIENCES TOWARDS RELATIONAL REPAIR—WITH EACH OTHER, WITH MORE-THAN-HUMAN RELATIVES AND WITH THE LAND. TRAVELING BOTH BACKWARDS THROUGH HISTORY AND FORWARDS INTO THE FUTURE, THE WORK CHALLENGES AND EMPOWERS HUMANS TO DEVELOP DEEPER KINSHIP WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. FACING THE GIANT IS A CURATED SERIES OF IMAGES CHOSEN FOR THEIR IMPORTANCE AESTHETICALLY AND CONCEPTUALLY, AND FOR ADDRESSING CRITICAL TOPICS AND THEMES FREQUENTLY RECURRING THROUGHOUT FAIREY’S CAREER. THE EXHIBITION IS COMPRISED OF UNIQUE SCREEN-PRINTS ON COLLAGED BACKGROUNDS WITH ADDITIONAL STENCILING AND EMBELLISHMENTS COMPLETED IN 2019. “THIS SHOW IS A REFLECTION, NOT A RETROSPECTIVE, BECAUSE I’M STILL VERY ACTIVELY CREATING NEW ART, BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF HIGHLIGHTING BOTH THE CONTINUITY AND EVOLUTION OF MY ART AND CONCEPTS OVER –30 YEARS.”SHEPARD FAIREY, 2019. THIS EXHIBITION WAS ORGANIZED BY THE LANDAU TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS, LOS ANGELES, CA IN ASSOCIATION WITH OBEY GIANT ART

SEPTEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 31, 2022 OPENING RECEPTION SEPTEMBER 16, 7-9PM ARTIST TALK 7:30PM Wednesday – Saturday: 11 am to 5 pm & Sunday: 1 pm to 5 pm | amoa.org 2200 S. Van Buren Street | Amarillo, Texas 79109 | 806.371.5050 SEASON SPONSORS Anonymous, Dr. & Mrs. Michael Engler, Mr. & Mrs Alfred Smith, David D. & Nona S. Payne Foundation, and Dr. Kent Roberts & Ilene Roberts Balliett Foundation EXHIBITION SPONSORS SHEPARD FAIREY, Make Art Not War, 2019 Silkscreen and mixed media collage on paper, 30 X 41 inches CANNUPA HANSKA LUGER, Muscle, Bone & Sinew, Film Still, Cinematographer Lucas Mullikan, 2021 SHEPARD FAIREY, Rose Shackle, 2019 Silkscreen and mixed media collage on paper, 30 X 41 inches