Business Images Texas Midwest: 2008 by Journal Communications

BUSINESS

imagestexasmidwest.com TM

OF THE TEXAS MIDWEST

Tilting Toward Success Region emerges as leading wind-energy producer

Accidental Fortune Educational demonstration turns into thriving oil industry

A Tale of Two Mayors Next generation of leaders comes back home SPONSORED BY THE TEXAS MIDWEST COMMUNITY NETWORK | 2008

Established: Brownwood, 1965 Employees: 500 Products manufactured: Copper and Äber optic cable for the telecommunication industry Received a $250,000 grant for expansion from the Texas Enterprise Fund in 2004.

Established: Brownwood, 1975 Employees: 1,100 Products manufactured: Vitreous plumbing Äxtures Achieved one million man-hours without a lost time accident in 2007.

Established: Brownwood, 1965 Employees: 650 Products manufactured: TrafÄc safety systems Received the 2007 Texas Environmental Excellence Award from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

YOUR BUSINESS HERE Development opportunities: 200-acre industrial park subdivision, state-approved enterprise zone, Änancial assistance programs, specialized technical training programs, tax abatement and workforce development programs.

opportunities Brownwood Economic Development Corporation 325.646.6751

Brownwood Industrial Foundation 325.646.9535

CA R I N G FO R G E N E R AT I O N S 24/7 Emergency Care

The Heart Center

Physical Medicine Services

The Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center

Rehab and Fitness Zone

Walker Cancer Center

Outpatient Care Imaging, CT Scan, Bone Density and Mammography

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center Senior Circle Program Healthy Woman Program

Physicians Representing 22 Medical Specialties

Tiny Toes Program

Sleep Center Surgical Services

EXCELLENCE Brownwood Regional Medical Center 325.646.8541 www.brmc-cares.com

BELIEVE. BELONG. BECOME. These three words characterize the beneÄts of an education at Howard Payne University. BELIEVE in your God-given potential. BELONG to a close-knit family of learners. BECOME all that God intends for you to become. Come spend some time with us and let us show you how HPU can make a difference for you and your education.

Home to the acclaimed Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom multidisciplinary honors program and several other hallmark academic programs, Howard Payne University excels in preparing students to be leaders in their chosen Äeld wherever they serve around the globe.

Howard Payne University is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” as a “Top School” and a “Best Value” among the Bachelor’s Degree Granting Colleges in the Western Region. Proud to be a part of the Brownwood community, Howard Payne University offers over 50 majors, minors and pre-professional programs from which to choose. In addition, Howard Payne University offers 12 competitive men’s and women’s sports in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III and the American Southwest Conference.

ACHIEVEMENT Howard Payne University 800.880.4HPU www.hputx.edu

OVER 50 E VENTS & FESTIVALS

SPACIOUS L A KE BROWNWOOD

SPORTSMEN’S PA R A DISE

HISTORIC D OWNTOWN SHOPPING & MUSEUMS

MEMORIES Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce 325.646.9535 www.BrownwoodChamber.org

contents BUSINESS TM

OVERVIEW

BUSINESS ALMANAC

BUSINESS CLIMATE

A Breath of Fresh Air

The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s low cost of living and business-friendly environment are luring newcomers and businesses.

A Tale of Two Mayors

Small Business, Big Clout

E N E RGY

Accidental Fortune

Thanks to a stroke of luck in 1981, Abilene has become the center for the oil and gas industry in the region.

Wind Power

Tilting Toward Success

Learningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Breeze

MANUFACTURING

Strong as Iron

The region has a strong and diverse manufacturing cluster.

On the Cover STAFF PHOTO Wind Farm READ MORE ONLINE

IMAGESTEXASMIDWEST . com LINKS Click on links to local Web sites and learn more about the business click climate, demographics, service providers and other aspects of life here. WEATHER Find current conditions, immediate and long-range forecasts and historical averages.

SHARE E-mail articles to a friend, Digg them, or use the RSS feed function to keep track of content updates. THE MOVIE Take a virtual tour of the Texas Midwest as seen through the eyes of our photographers. ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

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TEXAS MIDWEST

Business Images of the Texas Midwest is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Texas Midwest Community Network. In print and online, Business Images gives readers a taste of what makes the Texas Midwest tick â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from transportation and technology to health care and quality of life.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find the good â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and praise it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

jnlcom.com

I M A G E S T E X A S M I D W E S T. C O M

contents HEALTH CARE

They’ve Got You Covered

The region’s network of hospitals provides a continuum of quality care.

Nurturing the Next Generation

SPORTS & RECREATION

The Thrill of the Hunt

Thanks to its abundant wildlife, Texas is a haven for hunting and ﬁshing enthusiasts. AGRIBUSINESS

Fields of White

Cotton is a staple of the Texas Midwest, a source of livelihood for many who call the region home.

Riding the Rhythms of Ranching

An Authentic Cowboy Competition

PORTFOLIO

E DUCATION

A Culture of Learning

The Texas Midwest has a variety of colleges and universities to meet education and workforce training needs.

A Winning Workforce

ECONOMIC PROFILE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: CITY OF SNYDER

TEXAS MIDWEST

I M A G E S T E X A S M I D W E S T. C O M

BUSINESS

ACTION! ADVENTURE! “IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP! LAPTOP!”” “TEXAS MIDWEST LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

Images of the Texas Midwest

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SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES, EVENTS OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN TEXAS MIDWEST IS PURELY INTENTIONAL!

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OF THE TEXAS MI DWEST 2008 EDITION, VOLUME 1

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

SENIOR EDITOR ANITA WADHWANI COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, KIM MADLOM, BILL MCMEEKIN ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA DENTON STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA MORGAN, KRISTY WISE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAMELA COYLE, TIM GHIANNI, MICHAELA JACKSON, BILL LEWIS, JOE MORRIS, KATHRYN ROYSTER, SARAH WARD REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER TRIP MILLER ONLINE SALES MANAGER MATT SLUTZ SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, WES ALDRIDGE, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, BRIAN M C CORD CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS. MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER CANDICE HULSEY GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, ALISON HUNTER, JANINE MARYLAND, LINDA MOREIRAS, AMY NELSON, CARL RATLIFF WEB PROJECT MANAGER ANDY HARTLEY WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL AD TRAFFIC MEGHANN CAREY, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART V.P/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH MARKETING DIRECTOR KATHLEEN ERVIN MARKETING COORDINATOR AMY AKIN IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE CUSTOM SALES SUPPORT PATTI CORNELIUS SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

Business Images of the Texas Midwest is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Texas Midwest Community Network. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Texas Midwest Community Network 3702 Loop 322 • Abilene, TX 79602 Phone: (325) 795-8626 • Fax: (325) 675-5214 E-mail: tmcn@tmcn.org www.texasmidwest.org VISIT BUSINESS IMAGES OF THE TEXAS MIDWEST ONLINE AT IMAGESTEXASMIDWEST.COM ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member Member

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TEXAS MIDWEST

overview

TOP 10 REASONS TO DO BUSINESS IN THE TEXAS MIDWEST 6. Low Cost of Living Housing prices are among the lowest in the nation, making it an attractive location for relocating families who find they can get a lot more in return for their housing dollars here. In addition, particularly in the rural areas of the Texas Midwest, tax rates are low enough not to cause a burden on business and family finances.

1. Location The Texas Midwest is centrally located in the state of Texas with easy access to both east and west coasts, the industrial Midwest, Northeast and the large emerging markets in Mexico. 2. Thriving and Diversified Industries The Texas Midwest is home to a thriving alternative energy boom. Additionally, manufacturing, health care and distribution business have all found the Texas Midwest to be fertile ground for their growing businesses.

7. Transportation The region is served by interstate and state highway systems, busy rail lines, trucking companies and regional air service. With no traffic congestion and ample scenic beauty throughout the region, travel time on highways is leisurely and pleasant.

3. A Skilled and Adaptable Workforce The region offers an abundant, highly educated workforce and top education and workforce training institutes.

8. Recreation With an abundant supply of recreational activities, from boating to fishing to hunting to museums and festivals to shopping and small town antique adventures, the region offers endless opportunities for fun and discovery.

4. Pro-Business Attitude The State Business Tax Climate Index ranked Texas as having the sixth best business tax environment in the nation. Local officials work hard to create favorable tax incentives for business.

9. Climate The climate is consistently mild with an average 277 days of sunshine each year. Seldom, if ever, are winters so extreme that they hinder mobility or travel time.

5. Superb Quality of Life Short commute times, top-notch health care, low crime rates, plenty of leisure activities, and cultural and heritage amenities throughout the region provide a unique atmosphere in which to do business and to raise a family.

10. â&#x20AC;&#x153;West Texas friendlyâ&#x20AC;? people Whether business associates or next-door neighbors, the people in the Texas Midwest can be described as Texans with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;can-doâ&#x20AC;? attitude, old-fashioned work ethic, good-natured demeanor and a willingness to go the extra mile.

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SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of the Texas Midwest at imagestexasmidwest.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

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I M A G E S T E X A S M I D W E S T. C O M

FRONTERA

Healthcare Network

E X P E R I E N C E the blessings … The phrase “big surprises come in small packages” is apropos in Eden and blessings abound in this tiny community. Designated as one of 10 “Texas Yes! Hardworking Rural Communities” in 2005 and 2007, Eden is located midway between Interstate 10 and Interstate 20 on the edge of the rolling hill country surrounded by amazing stands of grand, live oak trees. Eden is situated at the very busy intersection of US Hwy. 87 and US Hwy. 83. Also known as the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Highway, US Hwy. 83 runs from Mexico to Canada and is a corridor to unique commerce opportunities and exceptional recreational and tourism experiences. Eden is recognized by the state as the “Geodetic” Center of Texas, the official state marker is located 18 miles southwest of Eden, on private property. One blessing in this rural community is The Spirit of Eden Fund, a private, nonprofit corporation, that grants in excess of $150,000 annually to projects directly benefiting the 1,152 residents of Eden. Eden Child Care Center, Eden CISD, various health care initiatives, Eden EMS, Eden Law Enforcement, The Eden Public Library, City of Eden, Concho Springs Golf Course and Don Freeman Memorial Museum are only a few of the entities and projects that have benefited from the Spirit of Eden Fund since its inception. Eden is actively dedicated to attracting new businesses, as well as helping existing business grow and prosper. In 2003, the Eden Economic Development Corporation leveraged local funds, applied for and received a United States Department of Agriculture loan and established a lowinterest revolving loan program. Funds are currently available for a variety of business and community development projects. Applications are available at Eden City Hall and online at www.edentexas.com. Angelo State University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a tremendous “partner for development” in Eden. SBDC counselors meet with applicants by appointment at Eden City Hall or at the Angelo State University Campus, located in nearby San Angelo, to provide assistance for potential applicants through business counseling, business plan development and assistance with application submission. Eden, through its progressive and proactive Economic Development Coordinator also works directly, and partners with Texas Department of Agriculture, Howard College,

Office of Rural Community Affairs, Office of the Governor Economic Development/ Tourism, Texas Midwest Community Network, American Electric Power, the Regional Consortium for Economic Development, The Eden State Bank and Corrections Corporation of America to provide and promote new opportunities for businesses and the community. Additional economic development opportunities can be found in the Eden Industrial Park where an estimated 50 acres are available for business location. Near the Industrial Park you will find one of Eden’s two geothermal water wells. The wells are an estimated depth of 4,000 feet and produce water at temperatures reaching near 130 degrees. Eden is also blessed to have a broad range of medical care facilities. Concho County Hospital, Concho Health and Rehab Nursing Home, Eden Medical Clinic and Frontera Healthcare Network are all located within walking distance of one another. Concho County Hospital is a Critical Access facility and Eden Medical Clinic shares building space with the newest addition to the health care family, Frontera Healthcare Network’s corporate offices. You will be hard pressed to find a community more proud of its history. The beautiful Earl Rudder Memorial Park, downtown on the square pays homage to Eden native, James Earl Rudder. During World War II Rudder headed the Rangers (“Rudder’s Rangers” as they came to be known) who scaled the 100 foot cliffs of Omaha Beach at Pointe du Hoc during D-Day. Later, Rudder served many years as President of Texas A&M University. East of the Rudder Park is Don Freeman Memorial Museum which expounds on the history of Concho County. Highlighted in the museum is Frederick Ede, founder and Englishman for whom the town is named and General Ira Eaker, a favorite son, who organized the 8th Air Force Bomber Command in England during WWII. Eaker was one of six airmen awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Step out of the museum onto the square and you will be delighted to find several unique boutiques featuring the latest in fashion and jewelry designs to antiques, gifts and venison sausage. Nestled among the storefronts on the square, you will also find Eden Public Library. As well as traditional library services, eight computers are available for research and communication. Programs for children and

adults are coordinated throughout the year, copy and fax services are offered, and meeting rooms are available for seminars, trainings and fitness classes. Another blessing in and around Eden is the abundant wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities. Hunting is “year-round BIG business” and is evidenced by the many exotic game ranches in the area. Other outdoor recreation includes two extraordinary lakes for fishing; O.H. Ivie Reservoir and Brady Lake are both within a short 30-minute drive of Eden. The golf enthusiast will find one of Texas’ most well maintained nine-hole courses, Concho Springs Golf Course just south of town on US Hwy. 83, just be prepared to share the course with the many wild turkey and deer! The casual atmosphere, creative and progressive attitude of this tiny rural community is reflected in the annual events sponsored by the Eden Chamber of Commerce, Concho County Saddle Club and area businesses. June brings the excitement and competition of the AJRA rodeo. Eden Fall Fest and World Class Bull Ride are celebrated the fourth weekend of September. The popular Camouflage Cotillion is the community’s hunter appreciation dinner and dance where formal attire includes anything camouflage or hunter orange. Christmas on the Square arrives the first Thursday of December and includes an afternoon parade, Elementary School Christmas Program at Earl Rudder Park, a chili supper, extended shopping hours and the arrival of Santa Claus. Centrally located, business friendly, history rich and progressively minded are just a few ways you can describe the great community of Eden. Come for a visit, experience the blessings and you may just decide to stay! PAID ADVERTISEMENT

THIS AIN’T CHICKEN FEED It was once an old chicken farm, and now it is an art center. The Old Chicken Farm Art Center in San Angelo was founded in 1971 as a place for artists to live and work. Today, it is home to two art galleries, 22 studios, a large pottery shop and foundry, and has grown into a tourist attraction. The three main events at the complex each year are a ceramic workshop in April, a blacksmith get-together in May and a three-day open house at Thanksgiving. The center is also home to a bed-and-breakfast as well as the Silo House Restaurant, which specializes in French and Southwest cuisine.

STROKES OF GENIUS Some stories just aren’t the same without the pictures. The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature in Abilene celebrates the artistic achievements of children’s book illustrators. The NCCIL (pronounced “nickel”) features a gallery exhibition of many artistic works. Each exhibition is eventually booked for travel to venues across the United States. The NCCIL also offers weekly arts events along with special camps for kids that bring children closer to appreciating and interacting with art. The organization also hosts school tours and provides a number of seminars and training sessions for teachers and educators. The NCCIL has nearly 20 artists on staff.

HOW SWEET IT IS The city of Sweetwater hosts the Miss Snake Charmer Pageant and several other activities each year as part of its annual Texas Rattlesnake Round-up. The weekend of fun slithers into Sweetwater every March. The event began in 1959 as a way to rid the city of its yearly infestation of rattlesnakes. Today, local hunters catch snakes before the event to win prizes. Activities also include a Rattlesnake Review Parade, deep-fried Western diamondback rattlesnake meat tasting, and rattlesnake weigh-ins at Nolan County Coliseum.

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TEXAS MIDWEST

business almanac

P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F B R A DY S TA N DA R D H E R A L D

AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL There are only 365 days in a year, aren’t there? Even so, the Abilene Civic Center still manages to book more than 850 events each year and generates more than $4 million in annual convention spending. The center has an auditorium, large foyer, exhibit hall, conference center and meeting areas.

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT

Civic Center officials point out that the facility offers a convenient location between Dallas and Midland, near the geographic center of the state. In addition, conventioneers can enjoy Abilene’s wide variety of fine dining and convenient accommodations options, without any of the accompanying traffic problems of a big city.

Life is a drag in Brady each June when the Heart of Texas Thunder Drag Boat Races roar into action. The sixth annual event will occur June 6-8, 2008, on Brady Lake, with drag boat racers from all over the southern United States competing for cash prizes in several categories. The three-day event draws crowds estimated at more than 15,000 to the Brady Lake shoreline to watch more than 100 drag boats in competition. Brady is also home to an annual World Championship Barbeque Goat Cook-Off every Labor Day weekend. The 2008 cook-off will be the 36th annual.

BOTTLED UP ENTHUSIASM Raise a glass to Dublin, Texas, home of the oldest Dr Pepper bottling plant in the world. The Dublin plant began its operation in 1891, just six years after a pharmacist in Waco invented the drink. The pharmacist named his syrupy invention after the father of a girl he had loved back in his home state of Virginia. Dr Pepper was introduced to the rest of the United States and the entire world at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. The tiny, independent Dublin plant still remains these days, even when corporations have gobbled up most small bottlers. The plant is also producing the soft drink just like it was more than 100 years ago. For example, it still uses imperial pure cane sugar in its drinks compared to less expensive corn sweeteners used by most soda drink producers.

TEXAS MIDWEST

HOLD THE FORT It wasn’t built during the Civil War, but it has a Civil War connection. The Fort Concho Historic Landmark is a year-round destination for visitors wanting to experience Civil War re-enactments. It was established in 1867 along the banks of the Concho River, and today is owned and operated by the city of San Angelo. The fort was constructed to protect frontier settlements, and to help stop hostile threats in the area during those days. The last soldiers left the site in June 1889, and Fort Concho was deactivated and abandoned. Today, the former Army post has 23 original and restored structures, and is open to tourists.

I M A G E S T E X A S M I D W E S T. C O M

Breath

of Fresh Air Successful businesses are now calling cowboy country home

Trees at Fort Phantom Hill Lake in Taylor County. S TA F F P H O T O

I M A G E S T E X A S M I D W E S T. C O M

TEXAS MIDWEST

business climate

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN O. BROWN

Roger Nelson left a demanding big-city job to move his family to small-town Coleman. Left: The offices of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce and Brownwood Economic Development Corp. provide a central meeting site for businesses.

early 40 years ago, Earl Bradley moved his successful iron business, EBAA Iron Inc., out of the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth area into the wide-open spaces of the Texas Midwest. At the time, people thought Bradley was crazy. Now, the company employs more than 400 people in the Eastland and Albany areas and enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with the region. “We’ve never looked back,” says state representative Jim Keffer, son-in-law of Earl Bradley and president of sales for the company. “We’ve never been sorry that we moved out of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. And one of the reasons we’ve been successful is the people who live out here.” Encompassing wide swathes of western Texas known as The Big Country and Concho Valley, the Texas Midwest is a 25-county region with two fast-growing anchor cities: Abilene and San Angelo. Generations in the same family have operated ranches here. But, increasingly, the region’s wide-open landscape, low cost of living, business-friendly environment and the relaxed pace of living that comes with being cowboy country are drawing newcomers to the area. Roger Nelson, a father of 10, left his job as the city manager of Grapevine, a thriving Dallas suburb of about 48,000, to work as the executive director of economic development in Coleman, a

TEXAS MIDWEST

town of about 5,000. His demanding job was taking him away from his family. So he decided to move somewhere smaller, buy a farm and embrace a simpler, higher quality life that has given him more time to watch his children grow up. “It’s a definite change in your lifestyle, and it takes a little getting used to, but I’m happier and healthier,” Nelson says of his new life in Coleman. “I’m not going gray as fast as I was.” The sense of community and authenticity that Nelson and his family have found in the area can’t be matched, he says. “It’s still the old West, but we’ve got cars now,” he says. “I’ll bet you I can walk out of my office right now and look either way down the street, and if there’s more than 10 people out there, one of them is wearing a cowboy hat. And it isn’t a costume.” One of those Texas Midwest cowboys is Billy Green, an Albany rancher who was practically born wearing a cowboy hat. “I never really thought about doing anything else,” he says. “It’s been a part of my life since I was old enough to think about it, I guess.” Green manages one of several ranches that his grandfather established in the 1880s. Green is in his 60’s now, and he’s watched many ranchers bow out of the business. Green says he has no intention of going anywhere.

“I’ll stay out there just as long as I can, because I don’t know how to do anything else,” he says. Military personnel also make up a large portion of residents, particularly around Abilene and San Angelo. As of the fall of 2007, there were more than 16,000 active-duty military, family and support personnel at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, according to Mike McMahan, president of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. “Dyess impacts Abilene to the tune of $446 million annually,” McMahan says, adding that the real value is not the money, but the people. In San Angelo, Goodfellow Air Force Base has a consistent population of about 6,500 people and a yearly budget of $22 million, according to Phil Neighbors, president of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce. “The air force base is involved in every aspect of San Angelo,” Neighbors says. Throughout West Texas, there is a can-do attitude unique to the region, Neighbors says. “You have a lot of folks who come back to the Big Country and the Concho Valley who were stationed here at one time or who went to school here,” he says. “West Texas really is known for its friendly people … people who really care about other people and then reach out to put action to their words.” – Michaela Jackson

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business climate

of Tale Two Mayors New generation of leaders returns to their roots

San Angelo Mayor J.W. Lown grew up in the region, then left to pursue opportunities in bigger cities. Now he’s back and among the area’s next generation of leadership.

I M A G E S T E X A S M I D W E S T. C O M

he jungles of Bolivia and the competitive tennis circuit are very different training grounds. But two young West Texas mayors recount similar life lessons from those divergent experiences – experiences that led them on unexpected journeys right back to where they started. J.W. Lown, 31, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia, is mayor of San Angelo. Dustin Hawk, also 31 and a tennis standout in high school and college, is mayor of Clyde. Both men are natives of the region who left home intending to start careers in bigger cities – but were tugged back by the growing opportunities for ambitious and motivated new leaders in the region. Hawk studied biology and chemistry at Texas Tech and was preparing to enter dental school when he joined a friend in Florida doing post-hurricane reconstruction. Leading a crew of 100 workers, Hawk learned he was good at managing people. He went home to Clyde and Hawk Portable Buildings, where he is vice president of production at the family business. He ran for mayor in 2007, ousting a six-year incumbent. “I was like any kid, I wanted to get out of town,” Hawk says. “Tennis allowed me to travel, see at least 40 states. I thought, ‘I’ve seen it all and this is home.’” Lown, who also has a real estate investment business,

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Small Business, Big Clout

S TA F F P H OTO S

BUSINESSES PROVIDE EMPLOYER GROUP HEALTH CARE

Dustin Hawk returned home to serve as Clyde’s mayor after seeing the country on the the national tennis circuit.

became San Angelo’s mayor at age 26 and in 2007 was elected to his third term. The Peace Corps, he says, taught him the value of relationships. “Any business or social work is involved in trust and relationships,” Lown says. “That takes time to build.” Lown returned from Bolivia to his home town and campaigned on the theme of bringing a fresh perspective to community challenges. He estimates that he attends 1,000 community events a year, listening to what people want. San Angelo, with 105,000 residents, is seeing growth in residential, retail and small business. The city is faced with substantial infrastructure needs, and Lown spends much time explaining those needs, especially after parts of the water system collapsed in 2006 and left much of the city without water for several days. At 3,600, Clyde is much smaller but Hawk sees plenty of work ahead. Under his watch, the city got a $500,000 grant from the state to build its first park, which will be finished later in 2008. Making Clyde more attractive is a top priority. “In the past it hasn’t been that beautiful, and I want the city to be something people can be proud of,” Hawk says. The two mayors are among a growing number of young professionals who are making the decision to return home. Kirt Harle and Sage Diller both graduated in 1996 from Baird High School, earned civil engineering degrees from Texas Tech University and work at engineering firms in Abilene. Diller first made a stop in Lubbock at the state Department of Transportation; Harle, who married his high school sweetheart, headed home right after graduation. “As I got into my college studies, I really thought I’d be in a bigger city first,” Harle says. “I don’t see more and more people wanting to skip that step, but I am seeing more and more people wishing they had skipped that step.” – Pamela Coyle

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For the small businesses of the Texas Midwest, the search for affordable health insurance has come to fruition. In October 2007, the Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN) announced the formation of the Texas Midwest Chamber Cooperative to provide group insurance rates for the region’s smallest employers. “We had feedback from some of our smaller chamber members saying that they wished they had something they could offer their businesses,” says TMCN Executive Director Nicki Harle, who also administers the cooperative. When the Texas Legislature legalized smallbusiness health group cooperatives, TMCN saw the opportunity it had been waiting for. The network partnered with Hendrick Health System, an owner of FirstCare Health Plans, to craft an insurance product to be sold by independent insurance agents. “Hendrick Health System has been a development partner since TMCN was founded in 1994, so it was a natural fit to go through them,” Harle says. In keeping with the program’s mission, the insurance plan was designed with input from area businesses. “We interviewed business owners around the region and ran some test benefit packages by them to see if it would be adequate. We asked what it would take to have health insurance for their employees,” Harle says. Only members of TMCN-affiliated chambers of commerce can purchase the policy, but free quotes are available to all businesses in the co-op’s coverage area. The entire program is truly revolutionary. In more than a year of research, Harle found no other regional organizations like the Texas Midwest Chamber Cooperative. But, she says, trailblazing is all in a day’s work for TMCN. “We’re trying to be creative in our region to benefit business, and we will work harder than other areas to make this a better place to do business. This program is just one little example.” – Kathryn Royster

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energy

Abilene’s Accidental Fortune Unexpected discovery leads to flourishing regional oil and gas industry

n 1981, to celebrate its centennial, the city of Abilene set up an oil-drilling rig to demonstrate the technique of “making hole.” Unbelievably, and by complete accident, the rig struck oil. And the rest, as they say, is history. Abilene is now the center for the oil and gas industry in the region. “[Striking oil] is not easy, so that’s kind of unusual,” says Bill Stevens, executive vice president of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. The Abilene Industrial Foundation reported that half a billion dollars pours into a 12-county region around Abilene every year from the oil industry. Some $300 million of that is generated by gas, Stevens says. Even so, the percentage of jobs created by the industry is not as high as in other parts of the state.

The price break of the 1980s, when oil dropped from more than $40 a barrel to less than $10, hit the Texas Midwest and the rest of the state very hard, according to Stevens. The number of oil and gas operators in the state dropped from about 17,000 to about 7,000. The industry has since begun to rebound, and remains a critical component of the economy in Abilene and surrounding towns. “We notice a lot that as the price of oil or natural gas commodities go up, philanthropic giving tends to go up,” Stevens says. “It’s still a basis for a lot of the wealth here. People that are two generations removed from the business are still receiving benefit from it.” Related industries, such as welding, are indirectly affected by the oil and gas industry.

“I would just say that you can’t turn on your radio or open your newspaper and not read something about the oil and gas business,” says Jeff Jones, an exploration manager for Albany oil producer Van Operating. “This area is going to produce oil and gas as long as there’s an industry. It’s not as noticeable as it once was, but it’s there, and it’s still important.” John Berry is the owner of E.C. Tool and Supply, a company that sells drilling supplies and builds oil rigs. He’s been an industry insider for 30 years, and both his sons are now involved in the business. “It’s a roller coaster, and we ride the ups and the downs,” Berry says. “There’s only one absolute fact about being in the oil businesses and the oilfield service business, and that’s that it’s going to change.” – Michaela Jackson

An accidental oil strike more than a quarter of a century ago has made Abilene an oil and gas production center.

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PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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energy

Wind Po Nolan County produces more wind energy than most countries

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wer

n the Texas Midwest, wind is the new oil. Nolan County is Wind Central: Three of the largest wind projects in the nation are based there. Sweetwater alone has 20 different wind projects, according to Mayor Greg Wortham, who also is executive director of the West Texas Wind Energy Consortium. One project got a big boost in May 2007 when GE Energy Financial Services agreed to invest $180 million in Phase 4 of wind projects in Nolan County. The energy generated will be sold to CPS Energy, a municipally owned company that provides natural gas and electric service to San Antonio. In announcing the investment, Kevin Walsh, GE’s managing director, estimated that the clean power in those two projects alone will avoid 730,000 tons a year in greenhouse gases and serve the equivalent of 90,000 homes. “Texas is very hospitable in embracing wind energy and we are going to lead the way,” says Al Tryon, GE’s director of the Wind Energy Service Center at Sweetwater. In 2006, Texas passed California as the nation’s largest wind producer, now harnessing enough wind to power more than 600,000 average homes. The American Wind Energy Association ranks Texas second only to North Dakota in terms of its potential for wind power and says two-thirds of predicted growth in the United States will take place in Texas. “There is just good wind in Texas,” Tryon says. Wind is a renewable natural resource that can’t be seen by the human eye, but the benefits quickly become apparent: jobs, a tax base for schools and counties, and royalty income for landowners. In West Texas, wind energy represents “$6 billion worth of investment, hundreds of high-paying jobs, new schools,” Wortham says, adding the industry is a clean one that doesn’t use water. As more turbines dot the landscape, companies like GE will need more workers. Texas State Technical College West in Sweetwater stepped up in January 2007 with a five-semester wind technician associate degree program and has a 12month certificate program in the works. “There is such a demand that we aren’t the only school doing this,” says Doug King, program director, citing similar initiatives at colleges in Illinois, Connecticut and New Mexico. For GE, the Wind Energy Service Center at Sweetwater is the first of its kind for the company. Instead of having a standard day shift, the center is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing better service for the companies and communities buying wind power. “If we have a turbine that goes down in the middle of the night, we now have technicians who can go down and fix it at night,” Tryon says. Such projects have put West Texas on the energy map – the region leads the Western Hemisphere in wind energy production and more growth is on the way, Wortham says. If Nolan County were a country, it would have been the seventh-largest wind energy producer in 2007. In 2008, Wortham says, it will be the fifth largest. – Pamela Coyle Wind farms along Highway 351 between Abilene and Albany S TA F F P H OTO

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MITCHELL COUNTY Proud History. Promising Future.

Find friendly people to: Assist in your business development Welcome you to the region Show you a good time The hub of Mitchell County, Colorado City is situated at the crossroads of I-20 and State Hwy. 208 between Midland and Abilene, and Lubbock and San Angelo on a primary line of the Union Pacific Railroad. Over, runs one of three major transmission lines looping TXU’s power grid through the Morgan Creek Power Plant located on Lake Colorado City.

MITCHELL COUNTY BOARD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 131 West 5th Street • Colorado City, TX 79512 • (325) 728-2298 • mitchellcounty@sbcglobal.net

Check out our Web site at: www.mitchellcountyeconomicdevelopment.org

energy

BRIAN MCCORD

Learning’s a Breeze

The Aermotor Windmill Co. has manufactured windmills since 1888.

Tilting Toward

Success Windmill company expands

ermotor’s windmills don’t produce electricity. They pump water. And the San Angelo company is awash in business. “Our business has steadily grown in the last 10 years, and in 2006 we had the best year in 40 years,” says Bob Bracher, Aermotor’s president and chief executive officer. Aermotor has added seven workers, for a total of 25, and expanded its manufacturing facility to 50,000 square feet. A new windmill that will both produce electricity and pump water is in the works. The company is the nation’s oldest windmill manufacturer, launching what was then called the new “mathematical” windmill in 1888. The key was gearing that improved lifting power so Aermotor’s steel machines could do more work than their traditional wooden counterparts. The company has called San Angelo home since 1986 and now has 600 dealers in the United States, plus others abroad. Aermotor’s international customers can be found in Italy, Denmark, Libya, Mexico, Chile, Taiwan, Tanzania and South Africa, among other countries.

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Bracher is especially proud that every single component of each windmill – 122 parts in all – is 100 percent U.S. made. It makes towers for the windmills up to 67 feet high – windmills work best placed above the trees – and has replacement parts for windmills dating to 1925. It’s not unusual for Bracher or one of his dealers to get a call for parts for a motor nearly 100 years old and be able to fill it. The wheel diameter of Aermotor windmills ranges from 6 to 16 feet; prices increase with size: about $3,500 for an 8-foot wheel and $8,900 for a 14-foot one. The four-post towers are extra. Its customers are ranchers in places without electricity or those looking for a less expensive alternative to meet their water needs for livestock, home use and wildlife. Aermotor also has another kind of customer, too, the type with a nostalgic bent and the dream of gazing outside and simply see a windmill. Regional droughts and high oil prices likely will drive even more business Aermotor’s way. “We think we have a really, really bright future,” Bracher says. – Pamela Coyle

Texas State Technical College West’s new associate degree program in Wind Engineering Technology started in January 2007 with about 20 students. By the fall, enrollment was up to 70. “We are looking at 10 percent growth every year for the next several years,” says Doug King, program director. Even then, the Sweetwater college won’t be able to meet employer demand on its own. King, who has worked for General Electric and Florida Power & Light, two industry leaders in wind-generated electricity, says GE alone plans to add 1,000 turbines by 2009. The company hires one technician for every 10 turbines. That’s 100 new jobs with starting salaries that can hit $15-$20 an hour. Midway through its first year, the program got a boost when DeWind Inc., in conjunction with the college, installed a prototype on city-owned land. What makes the DeWind 2 megawatt, 60Hz D8.2 turbine significant is how it runs. Most wind turbines, King says, have a generator that requires power to be converted from alternating current to direct current and then back, using electronic components to ensure smooth 60-cycle power. Not so with the new DeWind machine. It uses a generator with a traditional gearbox and a hydrodynamic drive, meaning the power stays at 60 cycles without the electronics – improving efficiency. Students will work on the DeWind turbine, the only such demonstration project in the nation. The college also steers them to internships with windpower producers. – Pamela Coyle

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manufacturing

Strong as

Iron

Hardy manufacturing sector produced everything from boilers to bathroom fixtures

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EBAA Iron Foundry in Eastland is staying put.

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ince its launch in Dallas in 1964, EBAA Iron Inc. has led the way in the iron industry, manufacturing quality, cutting-edge joint restraint products for ductile and PVC pipe. A national company, with three foundries – one in Eastland; another in Albany and a third in Cordele, Ga. – EBAA succeeds in maintaining top quality control by using the latest technology, without depending on overseas locations. “We understand that consistency is extremely important to our customers,” says Jim Keffer, president of the marketing and sales division, who is also a state representative. “We offer them control quality assurance because we manufacture all of our products at three internal locations and are careful about product development. They know that they can count on us.” All of EBAA’s restraints are coated with MEGA-BOND™ Restraint Coating System, a polyethylene-based, ultraviolet, coercion inhibitor that improves the performance of the product and adds longevity.

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P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F KO H L E R C O .

Elegant and functional bathroom fixtures, made in Brownwood, have made Kohler a household name.

TEXAS BOILERS Backed by 1,700 collective years of experience in building boilers, it’s no wonder that Rentech is the fastest growing boiler manufacturer in the United States. Three companies make up the Rentech family in Abilene: Rentech Boiler Systems, Rentech Boiler Services and Frontier Welded Products. “We are building our reputation, not resting on one,” says Jack Rentz, president. “We are dedicated to serving our customers, helping them get the products that they want and need.” Primary products and services include heat recovery generators for industrial plants, waste heat boilers, fired packaged water-tube boilers, specialty boilers, SCR and catalytic oxidation systems, and field service work. Rentech is as pleased with its employees as the customers are with their products. “Our work force is incredible,” says Rentz. “They come ready, with a very strong work ethic.” REFLECTING ON ITS SUCCESS The 3M manufacturing facility in Brownwood is responsible for innovative reflective sheeting material for traffic signs, construction zone markings and license plates that make roadway traveling easier in harsh or difficult driving conditions. With over 65 years of experience in retro-reflective sheeting, it’s easy to see why 3M is the leader in creating roadway safety materials. “We offer top-quality traffic solutions and are responsible for inventing the reflective sheetings of these applications,”

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says Dean Mill, the Brownwood plant manager. “That’s what truly distinguishes us from other companies in our field.” 3M was launched in 1902 in Two Harbors, Minn. and offers a diverse range of products in the areas of electronics, health care, safety, transportation, office and home. There are between 80 and 100 3M manufacturing facilities worldwide, five of which are located in the United States. The 800,000square-foot facility in Brownwood started in 1965 and employs 650 people. THE KOHLER BRAND When classic design is combined with functional craftsmanship in kitchen and bathroom fixtures, Kohler comes to mind. Reliability and elegant form have made this 132-year-old company a household name and leader in the plumbing industry. Manufacturing facilities span the globe from Shanghai to Australia, with 11 in North America. The Kohler manufacturing facility in Brownwood opened in 1975 and continues to serve the company with its production of vitreous china and fiberglass reinforced plastic fixtures. Due to the high demand for the vitreous china fixtures, popular in the plumbing industry because of their permanence and inability to absorb water, the facility underwent an expansion in 1982. “Strong branding is what distinguishes Kohler from other companies in this industry,” says George Ross, manager of human resources. – Sarah Ward

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health care

They’ve Got You

Covered Network of hospitals provides continuum of quality care

ANTONY BOSHIER

San Angelo Community Medical Center is a 165-bed acute-care hospital.

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endrick Health System in Abilene was established to fill a void in quality health care for the community. More than eight decades later, technology has advanced and treatment is more available, but the focus is still on communities. “Today, Hendrick remains committed to meeting the needs of our community by providing residents with a complete system of innovative and specialized health-care services,” says Tim Lancaster, president and CEO of Hendrick. The hospital sees approximately 17,000 patients each year and specializes in five areas: cardiac care, women’s services, cancer care, rehabilitation and pediatrics, according to Karen Brittain, marketing director for the hospital. The hospital, which emphasizes new technology, was the first in Texas to

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Hendrick Health System in Abilene holds a 70 percent share of the region’s health care market. S TA F F

install a CT imaging system called a LightSpeed VCT XT64-slice, which makes it possible to perform sophisticated diagnostic tests with significantly lower levels of radiation. Hendrick offers state-of-the-art digital mammography technology, which helps to detect breast cancer early on. Meek’s Children’s Hospital at Hendrick is the only children’s hospital in the region to offer a pediatric intensive care unit and specialty-trained pediatric nurses. Hendrick isn’t the only hospital in town when it comes to caring for the youngest patients, though. Abilene Regional Medical Center boasts the only neonatal intensive care unit in the region, according to the hospital’s marketing and public relations director, Debbie McClure.

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“Having a unit like ours is vital,” McClure says. “In 2007, we expanded from eight beds to 16 beds because there’s just such a demand.” The hospital also employs the only neonatologist in the region. “He’s right there taking care of the smallest residents in the Big Country,” McClure says. ARMC also specializes, like Hendrick, in cardiac care. In fact, they were the first hospital in the region to perform an open-heart surgery, according to McClure. In 2008, the hospital will celebrate its 40th anniversary and will have performed more than 40,000 heart procedures. In San Angelo, Shannon Medical Center has served as a not-for-profit hospital for more than 75 years. In that time, the hospital has provided more

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than a half-billion dollars in uncompensated medical care. “Shannon Medical Center is proud to provide recognized physicians, services and staff to care for our friends and neighbors right here at home so they do not have to travel outside the region to receive the care or expertise they need,” says Shannon President and CEO Bryan Horner. The hospital specializes in intensive care, cardiac care, trauma, behavioral health services and senior services. Additionally, the Shannon Clinic features more than 120 practitioners with 30 specialties in 11 locations. Combined, these three hospitals, along with San Angelo Community Medical Center, offer comprehensive health care for the Texas Midwest. – Michaela Jackson

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health care

Nurturing the Next

Generation Abilene alliance creates nursing school

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Kate Woehl, a registered nurse with the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing in Abilene, poses with one of several fully operational mechanical patients.

he Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing is the only intercollegiate program of its kind in the country. A consortium of three private, Christian universities – Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University – the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing serves students from all three. “The consortium offers the students in Abilene distinct advantages,” says Dr. Janet Noles, dean of PHSSN. Among those are access to all three libraries, several options for prerequisite classes, easily transferable credits and close proximity of the universities to one another. Prospective nursing students complete 60 hours of undergraduate work at one of the three universities prior to applying to PHSSN. Once accepted, they can then go on to earn a baccalaureate nursing degree or pursue a masters degree. “The program has room for about 150 undergraduate nursing students,” Noles says. “And we have about 30 in the graduate program.” The masters program offers two tracks – Family Nurse Practitioner, which accounts for 75 percent of graduate students, and Administration and Education, which serves the remaining 25 percent. PHSSN also offers an RN to BSN program, which gives registered nurses the opportunity to complete requirements for a bachelors degree in just one year, with all courses available online. In fact, it was in response to a nationwide need for baccalaureate level nurses that the consortium came about, Noles says. None of the three schools involved had the individual resources to create a degree program and build the necessary facilities, so they came together and, with additional community resources, started PHSSN. The freshman class was admitted in 1979, and the school has been turning out qualified health-care professionals ever since. PHSSN’s facility is top-notch. “In the last two years, we have built a new building that

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is state-of-the-art,” Noles says. “We have several large classrooms that seat 100 students, as well as smaller classrooms that seat 40. All the rooms are equipped with wireless Internet technology, and the classrooms have audience response technology … which promotes interactivity and student involvement.” A clinical simulation laboratory provides valuable handson training, and a computer-activated patient, SimMan, keeps prospective nurses on their toes with his many talents. “The mannequin can be programmed to have a sudden change in condition that must be recognized and acted upon by the student. Students demonstrate critical thinking as well as leadership skills,” Noles says. “Research indicates the simulation experience provides students a nonthreatening environment in which to practice essential nursing skills.” Three missions electives, which cover language and cultural education and include medical mission trips to Mexico and Montevideo, Uruguay, prepare students interested in international medical-missions service. The school also sponsors an international conference in Limuru, Kenya, that provides continuing education programs for missionary nurses. In the last five years, PHSSN has increased scholarship funds by more than 300 percent. Meanwhile, another Abilene partnership is helping fill the need for pharmacists in Midwest Texas. The Abilene Community Partners pledged nearly $15 million to build and launch a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy in Abilene. Doors opened on August 12, 2007, welcoming the first 40 students to the new 36,000-square-foot facility located on the Hendricks Medical Center campus. By 2011, when the inaugural class will graduate, the school expects to accommodate a full capacity of 160 students in its four-year program and employ 42 full-time faculty and staff members. – Carol Cowan

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sports

The Thrill of the

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Hunt

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Hunting and fishing enthusiasts find heaven in the Texas Midwest

hanks to its abundant wildlife, Texas is a haven for hunting and fishing enthusiasts. And that’s especially true in the Texas Midwest, where virtually every county is a hunting and fishing hotspot. Abilene Reporter News outdoor columnist Jerry O’Bryant has been hunting and fishing in the region since 1963. “I remember thinking when I moved here I would only stay a year because it didn’t have enough trees and water to suit me,” he recalls. “But the hunting and fishing opportunities turned out to be fantastic. There are many lakes within 45 miles of Abilene, and many, many lakes within 100 miles. And Texans don’t mind driving 50 miles to fish.” Fish commonly caught in Texas Midwest waters include largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, stripers and sunfish. “The fishing opportunities here are unlimited. You can fish just about any time of year and expect to catch something nice,” O’Bryant says. “The soil here lends itself to fertility in our lakes. We have a lot of 15-pound fish – you don’t raise an eyebrow with an 11-pound bass anymore.” Popular fishing spots in the region include O.H. Ivie Lake in Concho, Coleman and Runnels counties and Hubbard Creek Lake in Stephens County. “Hubbard Creek Lake just refilled after a 10-year drought cycle,” O’Bryant says. “Now, it’s hotter than a pistol – just loaded with fish. And Ivie Lake is a great fishery with huge bass and tons of crappie.” More than 50 state parks and numerous Wildlife Management Areas across Texas offer free fishing to encourage people to get out and enjoy the sport. Texas Parks & Wildlife has waived

normal fishing license and stamp requirements for anyone fishing inside a Texas state park. Hunting is also vibrant in the Texas Midwest, with deer, turkey, quail and dove being the most commonly caught game. McCulloch and Tom Green counties are among the highest producing deer counties in the state. “Deer are kind of new for Tom Green County – they’ve moved there in the last 10 years, and now they’re all over,” says Jerry Lackey, an agriculture writer for the San Angelo Standard-Times. “The Edwards Plateau area is noted for turkey.” Many hunters like to hunt on private deer ranches in areas such as Shackelford and Throckmorton counties. Deer ranches are typically leased out either for the entire season or for threeto five-day hunts. “The ranch people really depend on hunting because it boosts the economy,” Lackey says. O’Bryant especially enjoys quail hunting in the region. “The terrain lends itself to blues and bob whites, and we have a ton of quail during a decent year,” he says. “They’re delicious – they have a slight nutty flavor. They’re fantastic with biscuits and pan gravy.” In addition to the abundance of wildlife and the terrain, the weather in the Texas Midwest lends itself to hunting and fishing. “The summers get hot, but fall and spring are just fabulous, with cool, dry air in the mornings and afternoons in the 70s and 80s,” O’Bryant says. For more information on hunting and fishing opportunities, visit the Texas Parks & Wildlife Web site at www.tpwd.state.tx.us. – Jessica Mozo

Driftwood at Fort Phantom Hill Lake in Taylor County

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agribusiness

Fields of

White

Crop remains staple of region’s agriculture economy

eff Posey has been riding a tractor through vast cotton fields almost since he could sit up. “Cotton farming has been my life all of my life,” says Posey. “Since I was old enough to know anything, cotton farming has been in my blood, I guess.” Posey is now a successful cotton farmer himself in Roby. His grandfather used to let him ride along for hours and hours, soaking everything in: the sky, the leafy cotton plants and, in the harvest season, the cloudlike blooms stretching for acres. “When the fields are ready to harvest, they’re just really beautiful white, like a snow bank,” he says. As important as it is beautiful, cotton is a staple of the Texas Midwest, a source of livelihood for many who call the region home. “In the rolling plains of Texas, there’s three things. There’s cotton, cattle and wheat,” says John Fox, area director for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Cotton Program. “Cotton is a major economic factor in the rolling plains of Midwest Texas.” As of Nov. 1, 2007, the whole state had produced more than 8.1 million bales of cotton for the year, the yield of more than 4.7 million acres, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Survey. In 1997, Texas cotton produced more economic

value than cotton in any other state, to the tune of $1.6 billion. “It’s a large deal, especially to the smaller communities,” Fox says. “What do they say? A dollar in ag generates another seven dollars as it trickles through the area.” The harvest in 2007 brought an exceptional boon to the industry. The crop was the largest they’ve ever seen, according to Fox. Posey also makes note of 2007’s good fortune but says one has to take the good with the bad. He points to the 17-year dry streak between 1987 and 2004. “We really struggled,” he says. “We were in survival mode. This is one of those deals where it’s either feast of famine. But if it’s in your blood, you really love it.” Cotton, though less prominent now than perhaps 50 years ago, is still in the Texas Midwest’s blood, according to both Fox and Posey. Posey has raised his two sons around the fields and the tractors. Now his children, both young men in college, help him on their 4,500-acre farm. “There’s not as many people in the area that are hands-on farmers as what there used to be 20 or 30 years ago, but it still has a large impact on the area,” Posey says. “For those who love it, it’s a great way of life. It’s a tough life when Mother Nature’s not kind to you, but it’s very satisfying.” – Michaela Jackson

The Texas Midwest’s 2007 cotton crop yielded the region’s largest recorded harvest in history .

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P H OTO B Y W E S A L D R I D G E

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agribusiness

Riding the

Rhythms of

Ranching Generations of ranchers find ways to renew land and keep tradition growing

Black Angus cattle on Rick Hanson’s ranch in Albany.

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ick Hanson and Billy Green belong to what the former calls “a small, tight-knit club.” “The ranching community is small,” says Hanson, whose H&M Cattle Co. Ltd. LLC operates the Merrick Davis Ranch in Shackelford County, the Tecumseh Ranch in Throckmorton County and the Taylor County Ranch. “Ranchers share the same ups and downs,” he says. Those peaks and valleys make ranching harder in some ways to make a living for Green than it was for his grandfather, who began W.H. Green Cattle Co. 120 years ago in Shackelford County. But those ups and downs have spurred modern cowboys like Hanson to reach back to the roots of ranching to keep their operations going. In 2007, Hanson earned Texas’ prestigious Lone Star Land Steward Award in

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recognition of stewardship that enhances the wildlife habitat. “We show that cattle and wildlife can exist harmoniously in the same environment,” Hanson says. “We returned the land to the way it was 100 years ago. We have all native grasses” that can deal with the extremes of drought, floods, freeze and heat. In this stewardship effort, Hanson isolates one 1,000-acre pasture each year for a controlled burn to remove unwanted vegetation. They treat the barren soil chemically to get rid of the invasive prickly pear cactus. “Grubbing” – mechanical removal – eliminates mesquite. “We also do rotational grazing. That’s where we move the cattle as a herd from one pasture to another for a short

duration of high-intensity grazing.” In its short stay in a pasture, the herd “creates a lot of hoof action, with all of that manure and urine going into the ground and when the rain comes, it totally enhances the ground.” Leaving brush on hillsides and in creek beds and restoring the land to its natural state pays off when hunters of whitetail deer, bob-white quail or Rio Grande turkey lease his land. It’s H&M Cattle’s second best source of income. “It is especially gratifying to me the idea that I’m leaving the land in a better condition for the next generation,” Hanson says. “It’s also especially fulfilling to watch those baby calves hit the ground and grow so we can produce a healthy food supply for our society.” Green, a board member of the Texas

Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, says the main benefit of ranching is “the way of life. I love cattle and I love horses and I guess being a part of nature highlights it.” Hanson notes that kinship with nature has its challenges in “dealing with the harsh realities of our weather swings. “We go through years of drought, and then have a flood, and then enter our next drought,” he says. Fellow ranchers like Billy Green say that ranching can be challenging. But the most important thing to him is living and working outdoors in the Big Country. “Can you hear the wind?” he asks during the cell-phone interview. “I’m riding on my quarter horse, Snorty.” – Tim Ghianni

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Rancher Rick Hanson

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agribusiness

Old-Fashioned

Cowboy Competition At ranch rodeos, working cowboys get a chance to show off their stuff

The community of Haskell holds Wild Horse Prairie Days, a weekend celebration that features a ranch rodeo.

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anch rodeos, in which real cowboys saddle up to celebrate their lifestyle, spur Big Country excitement. A posse of cowboys and about 40,000 spectators come to Abilene’s Taylor County Expo Center on the weekend of the second Saturday in May for the annual Western Heritage Classic. About 55 miles away in Haskell, called “the crossroads of Texas” by rodeo organizer Sam Larned, the first weekend in June draws 3,000 fans and their riding, roping heroes to Wild Horse Prairie Days. Both rodeos are sanctioned by the Working Ranch Cowboys Association, and the winners go to the world championship in Amarillo. Ranch rodeos are a longstanding tradition in the region, which is still home to cowboys making their day-to-day living on numerous ranches. When the WRCA began sanctioning rodeos in 1995, Haskell’s was among the first two recognized. The other was in Wichita Falls, Kansas. Haskell, now prepping for its 13th annual event, mostly draws people from the 3,000-population city and surrounding ranch country. Abilene’s rodeo has blossomed into a full-scale folk festival that fills up motel rooms in a 100-mile radius, according to Tony McMillan, general manager. “We don’t salute the cowboy way of life. We keep it alive,” says Casey Larned, who helps his dad with Wild Horse Prairie

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Days. “This rodeo would not exist without the help of the 40 to 50 local volunteers.” “We are trying to continue the western lifestyle, the ranching lifestyle,’’ says McMillan of the doings in Abilene, population approximately 116,000. “We started out with the ranch rodeo 23 years ago and it grew into this big festival pertaining to western heritage.” Abilene’s event now includes horse races, herd-dog demonstrations, western art sale, boot-makers and more. “We have the largest bit and spur show anywhere in the country,” says McMillan. “Some of these bits and spurs are real ancient antiques and collectible.” There’s also a “gathering” – in which cowboys recite or sing their poetry and play their guitars. “A ranch rodeo is where you have your certain events based exactly on what the ranches do on their jobs at work, their daily routine from branding to sorting to bronc riding,” says Casey Larned. For example, cowboys compete in penning (rounding up a set of marked calves and bringing them into a pen) and doctoring (lassoing and bringing down a cow as a cowboy would if the animal needed medical attention). Branding, with chalk instead of white-hot iron, also is a part of the competition.

Sam Larned, owner of a used car and truck business in Haskell as well as a quarter-horse raising operation, says the most-popular event is wild-cow milking. “We leave the calves off the cows for most of the day, so she’ll have milk. And then the teams of cowboys have to rope her and milk her. She’ll knock ’em down and drag ’em and all.” – Tim Ghianni

The annual Western Heritage Classic Ranch Rodeo features cowboys from some of the largest, oldest ranches in the nation.

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Crossroads

West Texas SNYDER, TEX AS

Small Town,

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Small Town,

Big Opportunities SNYDER CAPTURES BALANCE BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL LIFE

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The people of Snyder warmly welcome visitors and prospective residents.

rom its downtown square to its friendly, neighborhood feel, Snyder represents the best qualities of a vanishing breed – Small Town U.S.A. But with several major metropolitan areas a short distance away, it is hardly a rural backwater. “We’re a typical small town, but we have a great location,” says Jay Burns, executive director of the Snyder Chamber of Commerce. “In real estate they say ‘location, location, location,’ and it’s the same thing in communities. We’re equidistant from four large population centers, and so you’re no more than an hour and a half from anything you could want.” Having Abilene, Lubbock, Midland/ Odessa and San Angelo nearby offers no end of large-scale amenities, including a major airport and multiple cultural attractions. But Snyder’s location also makes it a sportsman’s paradise. “We’re near the Rolling Plains, High Plains and Permian Basin, so you’re only an hour away from some of the best bass fishing in Texas,” Burns says. “There’s plenty of places to camp, and some of the best hunting around.” Pheasant, dove, turkey, deer and everything in between are plentiful in the countryside near Snyder, making hunting a year-round draw. As far as indoor activities go, Abilene’s Grace Museum is a major cultural destination for the area and, again, it’s just a short drive away. “We’re able to go anywhere we want

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The Roscoe, Synder and Pacific Railroad steam locomotive No. 5 is located on the grounds of the Scurry County Coliseum.

in an hour, and if you’re actually living in the city it might take you that long just to get across town,” Burns says. “And then when you’re back here, it only takes 10 minutes to get wherever you need to be.” Snyder’s booming business climate is evidenced by the newly opened Manhattan CoffeeHouse in the former Manhattan Hotel, two new hotels under construction, as well as new manufacturing enterprises in its industrial park. Snyder doesn’t lack for its own cultural attractions either, such as the ongoing entertainment to be had at the Ritz Community Theatre on the city’s historic square. “We have a lot of festivals and events here, and we also promote and take part in things nearby, like Sweetwater’s Rattlesnake Round-Up,” Burns says. “We benefit from the things other cities around us have, and they benefit from our events. It’s really great being so close to so many other places – it’s something that raises everyone’s quality of life.” Those community partnerships extend to cooperative ventures in work-

force education and training between the area’s colleges, which also greatly enhance life and around Snyder. “We are a region first and foremost, and a community second,” Burns says. “What we work to do is bring people to town for our community celebrations,

but also make sure that our community has all the benefits it can. We’ve got oil and agriculture, but we have a great museum, with another one, the air museum, on the way. We have the Scurry County Arts Alliance, which began this year, and a lot more to offer.”

Snyder’s oldest home, the Cornelius-Dodson House, was built in 1883. It has been restored and is now located in Heritage Village on the grounds of the Scurry County Coliseum. The buildings in Heritage Village are open for tours by appointment.

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new businesses in 2007, and when you’re a town of 10,000 people opening almost a business a month, that’s not too bad,” Burns says. “The chamber, the development corporation, the college, the city and the county are working in concert to promote our area as more than just oil, more than agriculture. We have a great infrastructure here, and we’re exploiting that at every turn.” Major successes in 2007 included the announcements of a new facility for Santa Fe Manufacturing in the SnTx Industrial Park, as well a Holiday Inn Express and Baymont Inn with 60 rooms apiece. Those will come in especially handy during Snyder’s festivals and special events, many of which are produced by or in tandem with the chamber. “We have events throughout the year, from the Snyder Wheels Car Show & Cruise the first weekend in May, which is a classic car rally with different

divisions to compete in as well as a ‘best in show’ vote for the winners, to the Western Swing Music Festival, a fourday event held the first week of June, to the White Buffalo Days celebration the first weekend of October, which includes a family-friendly motorcycle rally,” Burns says. “In fact, the White Buffalo Bikefest has been named among the top six bike rallies in the nation by RIDE TEXAS magazine, just behind Sturgis and Austin.” There’s also the Snyder Fly-In Air Show held the third weekend of June, the Fourth of July activities, which have turned that holiday into a reunion season for Snyder, and other events scattered across the calendar. All those combine for a strong economic impact due to more than 30,000 visitors in 2007 and approximately $2.5 million in visitor-related spending. “What we’re trying to do as a chamber of commerce is redefine our role in the community,” Burns says. “We want to promote community events, but we also are working to become a center for workforce development. We want to keep bringing people to town for special events, but make sure that we have the value-added programs, such as luncheons with guest speakers, for our small businesses and corporations that are here and those that are coming in.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAY D. BURNS

rom economic development efforts to planning community events, the Snyder Chamber of Commerce has its hands in just about every local activity. “We have a lot to offer here, and we promote that in many ways,” says Jay Burns, executive director. “We’ve got a low crime rate, access to good schools, quality health care and a great location.” A Snyder native, Burns spent several years away before returning to lead the chamber in late 2006, so he’s well aware of the big-city-versus-small-city mindset many people have. Snyder is able to bridge that gap, Burns says, which makes it a prime location for business. And the chamber and its economic development partners, including the Development Corporation of Snyder, have been having a lot of success with that reasoning lately. “We had eight ribbon-cuttings for

CHAMBER FOSTERS LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS TO SPUR REGIONAL GROWTH

The Snyder Chamber of Commerce promotes the community through a variety of events such as the annual Snyder Wheels Car Show & Cruise, which is held the first weekend in May.

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Energizing the

Economy

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAY D. BURNS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS CENTER ON BUSINESS PARK AND WORKFORCE TRAINING

ifteen years ago, Snyder voters approved a sales tax increase with an eye toward future economic development. That action spurred the creation of the Development Corporation of Snyder, which has been working to lure business and industry to town ever since. These days, the DCOS has a lot of activity on two fronts. A fully developed industrial park is up and running, and a new partnership with Western Texas College soon will be visible in downtown Snyder. The 300-acre SnTx Industrial Park, located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and State Highway 180, already has begun bringing new business into the area. It is fully built out with water, sewer, electricity and natural gas, and also has a green field site within its boundaries. The industrial park is located in an area designated by the state as an enterprise zone, which qualifies its residents for tax credits for capital investment and job creation. Snyder also offers local real estate tax abatements, as well as a job-creation cash incentive in some cases. “We have two companies there now and space for several more,” says John DeLille, executive director of the Development Corporation of Snyder. “We’re very pleased with the progress there. When we compare ourselves with other communities in the region, we think we’re quite successful.”

On the workforce development front, DeLille says the corporation’s partnership with Western Texas College and Texas State Technical College – Sweetwater is both exciting and far-reaching. We’re working with our college partners to provide training to manufacturers and industries, and we’ll be doing it off-campus,” DeLille says. “They’re opening a storefront in Snyder. In my opinion, this initiative is the most important thing that is going on, economic-development wise, in the community right now.” The College on the Square in Snyder will be a hub for Training Texas, a corporation owned by the two colleges. The not-for-profit entity will be focusing on workforce training for existing and potential industries, which has been identified as an ongoing need throughout the area. Improving the available talent pool and providing a ready labor force is a priority, DeLille adds. “This is one of the most creative delivery systems we’ve seen in a small town, and we’re very excited about it. We’re going to be working with our partners, and everybody’s going to be holding everybody else’s hand to make sure this works,” DeLille says. For more information on the SnTx Industrial Park, workforce development initiatives and other Development Corporation of Snyder programs, visit www.sntx.org.

One of the newest developments in Scurry County is the construction of the Camp Springs Wind Energy Center.

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Vocation,

Vocation

WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE STRENGTHENS WORKFORCE THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH

hen he came to Western Texas College in spring 2007, Dr. Mike Dreith was provided with very simple marching orders: Make workforce development programs happen. The college had various initiatives in place in the past, but the overall program was in disarray when Dreith arrived as its new president. He quickly saw the need – both in terms of helping the community’s economic development organizations recruit and retain businesses, as well as increasing the college’s bottom line. “I believe I was selected for one reason in particular, and that was because I have been able to develop

one- and two-year academic programs that lead to work,” Dreith says. “We’ve hit the ground running trying to develop our occupational and vocational programs.” In addition to new degree and certificate programs, the college has re-energized its workforce training efforts, collaborating with existing industries in its service area throughout Scurry and adjoining counties. In October 2007 the college entered into a nonprofit relationship with Texas State Technical College – West Texas to create Training Texas, a joint effort between the schools to create training and workforce education programs for the area’s business base.

In January 2008, WTC opened College on the Square in downtown Snyder, an extension facility that offers classes and training for both individuals and companies. “We thought it was the perfect, symbolic thing to do,” Dreith says. “We came down from the hill outside of town and into the community.” These efforts will help tie WTC into the region and make it a more effective business and educational partner, Dreith says. “Some of the programs we’re bringing online include computerassisted drafting, and we also have applied to the FCC for our own college radio station,” Dreith says. “That will

Western Texas College has served Scurry County and West Texas since 1971, providing students with access to high-quality, low-cost educational opportunities. The college currently enrolls approximately 2,200 students. STAFF PHOTO

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come with an associate of applied science degree in radio broadcasting. We’re also looking at a full healthcare-related curriculum that includes training to become respiratory therapy assistants, radiation techs, occupational therapy assistants, med lab tech assistants [and other] really needed health care professional positions. Those are positions that every regional rural hos-

pital in Texas needs right now.” The outreach efforts and new degree programs will also take WTC back to its core mission, which is to provide as many two-year programs as it does transfer hours for students wishing to continue on to a four-year institution. Producing graduates at a higher rate can only bode well for the region, Dreith says.

“Our strategic plan is to get the two-year, terminal degrees back into proportion,” he says. “We are one of the biggest industries in town, and everybody wants us to be successful. We have a lot of support for what we’re doing from the chamber of commerce, from our local development corporation, and the city and county governments. Everybody is pulling the same direction.”

Good Sports, Close to Home WTC REACTIVATES ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, GENERATES ENTHUSIASM

ntil recently, if Snyder residents wanted to check out a college baseball or basketball game, they had to watch ESPN or do some traveling. These days, they can just head over to the Western Texas College campus. In the last ﬁve years, the college has revived its men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as its baseball, softball, cross-country, volleyball and golf programs. Beginning in 2008, soccer and athletic trainer programs will join those ranks. “They disbanded the last athletic program in 2000, and for two years we just had rodeo,” says Dave Hanes, athletic director. “The programs were cut for funding but now we can afford them, so we’ve been bringing them back over the last few years.” The college plays in Division 1 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference, and has been enjoying strong interest, both on campus and off, in the reconstituted sports teams. That’s been especially true of basketball, which came back in the 2006-07 school year.

“When we started the basketball program, it had been gone for 16 years,” Hanes recalls. “We went out to the community to see what kind of support we could expect, and pretty much everyone agreed that it was a great idea, and the time was right.” When baseball and softball came back in 2002, the college had no facilities, so it used county fields. In 2003, a new ballpark was built on campus. The basketball teams continue to play in the college’s gym, which is a bit antiquated but provides its own form of home-court advantage. “The fans and coaches love it because they’re right on top of the players,” Hanes says. The athletics roster may soon include programs for tennis as well as track and field, but no date has been set for those as yet. “We want to get soccer up and running, and get at least a year under our belt,” Hanes says. “But we’re looking at building a soccer field which would have an eight-lane track around it. That would get us ready.”

Western Texas College recently reactivated its athletic programs, including men’s and women’s basketball, above, as well as baseball, softball, cross-country, volleyball and golf. In addition, WTC added soccer and athletic trainer programs in 2008.

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Dr. Ronny Collins has served the Snyder Independent School District as superintendent since 2003.

Consolidating Efforts SNYDER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT CONCLUDES A MULTI-SITE BUILDING CAMPAIGN THAT ALLOWS ROOM FOR FUTURE GROWTH

ith a new elementary school up and running, and longoverdue renovations under way at its other facilities, the Snyder Independent School District is working hard to prepare its students for the future. The district, which has approximately 2,500 students, is wrapping up a multisite campaign that saw the shuttering of some unused buildings, the construction of a new elementary school that can expand and contract as needs dictate, and renovations at other schools. The goal throughout the process has been to offer the best facilities possible while planning for future changes, says Carmen Carpenter, a former principal who is now an assistant to SISD Superintendent Ronny Collins. “No one likes change and this has been very hard at times, but the parents, the teachers and all the people in the district knew we needed to make a change,” Carpenter says. “Most everybody went into this with the idea that it was the best plan, and we’d try it

and see how everything worked out.” The district had six elementary school buildings at one time; it now has four buildings. But with the recent opening of Snyder Elementary School, it brought together all of the district’s elementary students under one roof. The lone exceptions were students enrolled in pre-kindergarten, early childhood and special education programs, who attend classes at the Stanfield Elementary site. “We just couldn’t sustain that many schools for the number of students we had,” Carpenter explains. “So we built the new elementary to house 1,200 students, which makes it one of the largest in the state.” To make that happen, the Snyder ISD needed community support, which it got: In 2003, voters approved a $24.5 million bond to build the new school and renovate the junior and senior high buildings. The new elementary school is at its maximum enrollment, but was designed so that if a new wing is needed it can be

added, and it also can contract if future consolidation should become necessary. “It’s set up like two schools under one roof,” Carpenter says. “If for some reason we had to consolidate the high school and junior high, we could put all grade levels in that building. We don’t need to do that right now, but it can be reconfigured if that should become necessary.” Going forward, the district will be wrapping up its work demolishing the three old school buildings, Carpenter says. When that is done, the focus will continue to be on the remaining buildings and upgrades they need. “We’re upgrading our technology, and along with that and the new and renovated facilities, we’re focusing on our students,” Carpenter says. “We have a lot of testing requirements, and we’re focusing on meeting those benchmarks. We’ve had a lot of things to work on in the district, and now that a lot of that is done, we’ve got some other issues coming that we’ll be working on gradually.”

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Building on Success SNYDER HIGH WRAPS UP MAJOR CAMPUS RENOVATIONS

or the last two years, pep rally banners have competed with yellow construction tape on the walls of Snyder High School. The school has been undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation that includes everything from new paint to heating and air conditioning upgrades. All its classrooms have been wired for new technology, as well as fitted with computer projectors, boards and mobile computing workstations. The gymnasium got a facelift, as did the science labs. Everything from ADA-related upgrades to a new hog barn at the school’s agriculture farm was included, says Larry Scott, principal. “It was a mess, and we’re definitely glad to be finishing up,” Scott says. “They’ve done the majority of it during the summer, and also they’ve done what they can at nights and on weekends, But it still has been a lot to work around.” The school houses 725 students. Officials decided that the basic structure was sound, so rather than build a new high school, the upgrades were planned. “What really needed work was the infrastructure,” Scott says. “Most classrooms had only one electrical outlet, so that needed to be fixed. Now the teachers have all these tech upgrades, and it’s going to help them a lot. It’s great for the students, too; they want everything fast and

furious, and we have that now for the delivery and presentation of lessons.” The last of the current round of work will include replacing some windows and enclosing the breezeway, all of which should be done by the start of the fall 2008 school year, with more to come later. “We’ve got some more plans for the building,” Scott says. “We’re looking at an all-purpose sports facility on campus, indoor workout space for football, baseball, softball. But that’s just in the planning and proposal stages. We’re hoping to make that happen if everything can get approved.”

Snyder High School Assistant Principals Bill Bell and Al Phillips flank Principal Larry Scott.

New Look, Same Vision SNYDER JUNIOR HIGH PREPARES STUDENTS FOR TRANSITION

ike the other schools in the Snyder Independent School District, Snyder Junior High has seen more than its fair share of renovation and upgrades in the last couple of years. But now with the hammering and sawing over, the school is polished and ready to meet today’s challenges. “We’ve gotten new ﬂooring; painted the lockers, classrooms and halls; and put a lot of new technology like Promethean boards in the classrooms,” says Kellye Starnes, principal. “We’ve also gotten a lot of new electrical work done and new heating and air conditioning systems.” The school was built in the

1950s, and was more than ready for some updating. It currently houses 538 students and can go up to 600, so there’s plenty of room for expansion within the physical plant. With the new computers and other classroom advances, Snyder Junior High is ready to help its students prepare for high school and life beyond the classroom. “It was really essential to have the new projectors and smart boards,” Starnes says. “Our students really need those things, and our teachers are very, very pleased.” The challenge now is to continue working to improve test w w w.snyderchamber.org

scores and other requirements of No Child Left Behind, but also to make sure that students get the most well-rounded junior-high experience possible. “Our community is very proud of our schools and the heritage we have here,” says Starnes, herself a graduate of the Snyder ISD. “We’re proud of our background, and want to maintain that into the future. The schools here are a big part of the community, and we support each other. We’ll continue to maintain and upgrade our building where we can, so when parents and former students come back to visit, they are really pleased with our facility.”

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BIGGEST

Little School Ever NEW SNYDER ELEMENTARY KEEPS NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL

t may hold 1,200 students, but the new Snyder Elementary School doesn’t overwhelm its students, or its surroundings. The school, which opened in fall 2007, was built to consolidate the city’s K-5 school populations under one roof. It also was designed to be able to take in higher grades should future consolidation be necessary. But much attention to detail during the design phase has created a building that doesn’t seem to

be as large as it is, and keeps younger and older students segregated for much of the time. The library, cafeteria, computer lab, gymnasium and other common areas reside mid-campus, allowing that middle section to act as a buffer between the wings. And even though Principal Karen Saunders says the facility could accommodate as many as 1,350 students if need be, she hopes to keep class size around 22 students, where it is now.

“It really is multipurpose,” Saunders says. “They wanted to bring everybody together on one campus, but the building has a two-in-one philosophy. We have K-2 on one side, and the other grades on the other, with the central area for combined usage.” Even though the Snyder Independent School District wanted to make sure it had plenty of room for growth and expansion in its new school, planners also listened to parents and neighbors

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on the computers. They are actively involved with communications and technology, and it’s vitally necessary for us to have those things for them.” Even though its first full year of operation isn’t over yet, the new school is already a hit with students, parents and teachers. “We had a lot of open houses, and have a lot of opportunities for parental involvement,” Saunders says. “And although people who haven’t been here before are very impressed by it, for the rest of us it’s become just the school. The fact that they don’t see it as this massive building is something we feel really good about.”

The new Snyder Elementary School has been designed to incorporate gradespecific areas, as well as common amenities such as the library, at left.

Special Scholars STANFIELD ELEMENTARY SERVES PRESCHOOLER POPULATION

ith more than 100 preschool-age students, Stanfield Elementary School is a lively place. And with major renovations to the physical structure now complete, the school is fully engaged in its mission to give the community’s children a good start on lifelong learning. Stanfield is now the Snyder Independent School District’s early childhood learning center, and as such instructs both regular and special-needs students. Its preschool program is a qualifying program, which requires that students meet specific guidelines, says Thomas Fogleman, principal. “They have to be age 4 on or before September 1, qualify for the federal meal program, not understand or speak the English language, or be a dependent of an active-duty service person or one who has been wounded or killed in action,” Fogleman says. In addition to the preschool program, Stanfield also houses the district’s special-needs students, those with a physical disability or a mental impairment that requires an alternative classroom setting. Those include everything from a physical handicap to a delay in development or language learning and comprehension. Much of the building’s recent physical upgrading was designed to meet those students’ needs, Fogleman says.

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who didn’t want a gigantic building dropped into the middle of their neighborhoods. “A monster campus is a scary thing,” Saunders says. “What this has done, with the way the wings are set up, is that it just doesn’t appear to be a big building. The community really likes that; they don’t feel overwhelmed by it.” In addition to its innovative layout, Snyder Elementary also is outfitted with the latest in technology, part of an upgrade that encompassed every school in the district. Having the best teaching and learning tools available is key, even at the earliest grade levels, Saunders says. “We have to prepare our children to be global thinkers, to be able to compete in the world that’s coming,” she says. “Even at the kindergarten level we need them to be working with technology. They’re using technology today like we used paper and pencils years ago. And you can tell the children who have had their hands on the Promethean board,

“We had a lot of codes to meet, since the building was built in 1961,” he says. “All of our new restrooms are ADA-accessible, and we’ve installed new doors in many classrooms and other areas of the building to handle wheelchairs.” The total campus renovation has met with approval across the board, with teachers, parents and students excited about all the new features at Stanﬁeld. “Everybody just loves it here, we’re really stateof-the-art. We now have a 24-station computer lab, so our students are exposed to technology early on,” Fogleman says. “That’s so very important now because of our international society. The earlier students can master this technology, the more successful they’re going to be in using what are now everyday tools in their lives.”

Stanfield Elementary is state-of-the-art thanks to renovations.

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Hitting It Out of the

Park

RENOVATIONS, UPGRADES BRING NEW SHINE TO TOWLE PARK

hen there is a public event in Scurry County, chances are it’s going to start at, take place in or finish at Towle Park. For more than 50 years, the park has been a gathering space for the community. In recent years it had begun to show its age, so when the county obtained grant money five years ago for improvements, some big plans for the park took shape. “We’ve put in hiking and nature trails, an amphitheater, a splash pad, a skate park … it’s been very extensive,” says County Judge Rod Waller, who chairs the Scurry County Commissioner’s Court, which in turn supervises the county’s parks and recreation department. “The improvements have made a big difference. They’ve made the park very attractive.” The $1 million renovation – half of which came from county matching funds and individual contributions – was planned by a citizens’ committee that also spearheaded many fundraising efforts, making the project a true community effort. “It’s a county park, so we are responsible for its main-

tenance and the work on it, but the committee really tried to involve everybody in town,” Waller says. “They really did 99 percent of the work on the whole thing.” The park also has the county’s baseball and softball fields joining it, so it’s become a hub of outdoor activity year round. “People are using it,” Waller says. “It’s surprising how many people are coming out for the hiking and walking trails, and we’ve also got outdoor basketball and volleyball courts there now, and they’re very well-used, as well.” Towle Park is only one of a network of outdoor facilities in the county, which also has an active senior citizen facility, library, airport and coliseum – all of which host a variety of community-oriented events. “They’re all assets to the community, and are in good shape,” Waller says. “Now we’re taking a look at our swimming pool. We haven’t been able to use it for three years, and we’re looking to build a new pool and bathhouse facility in Towle Park near the splash area. We’re hop ing to make a lot of kids happy.”

Towle Park has been a hub for recreational activity in Scurry County for more than 50 years. In addition to recent improvements that have added several new amenities, the park adjoins the county’s baseball and softball fields. PHOTO BY WES ALDRIDGE

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Peek into the Past SCURRY COUNTY MUSEUM OFFERS INSIGHT INTO REGION’S RICH HISTORY

ince 1971, Scurry County residents and visitors have been able to fully understand the forces that shaped their home, thanks to the Scurry County Museum. The 14,350-square-foot museum, which was built at a cost of $345,000, sits on the Western Texas College campus. It is owned and maintained by the college, but the collections and day-today operations are handled by the Scurry County Museum Association. Despite its small size, the museum is in very big company. It is accredited by the American Association of Museums, one of a group of 700 museums out of close to 17,000 nationwide to be so recognized.

“We’re very proud of that,” says Charlene Akers, director. “We’re private, and we have to raise our own funding. We get some support from the county and the college, but the rest we do in memberships and donations.” Since the outset, the museum’s mission has been “increasing the knowledge and understanding of the history of Scurry County and the surrounding area of the Southern Rolling Plains.” To make that happen, it has a strong platform of collections, exhibits and educational efforts. A major push is now being made to renovate the permanent gallery, as well as electronically catalog the 10,000 objects in the permanent collection.

The Scurry County Museum is making plans to renovate its permanent gallery space.

“The gallery has been in place 37 years, and if everything goes ahead as we have planned it, we’ll have a humanities focus with four major themes, and each of these themes will touch on unique aspects of Scurry County, positioned with respect to the national setting of what was taking place in history at that time,” Akers says. The museum also is working on its education programs, with a focus on dramatically affecting how a visit to the museum translates for guests. “A museum encounter is different today than it was 37 years ago, and we’re trying to design programs that will meet the needs of our changing audience here in Scurry County,” Akers says.

STAFF PHOTO

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C ro s s ro a ds of We s t Te x a s

Hip to

Be on the Square ONGOING REDEVELOPMENT, NEW BUSINESSES REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN SNYDER

ith the refurbished Ritz Community Theatre as an anchor, Snyder’s downtown square is in the midst of a major renaissance. The Ritz has gone from closed-down movie house to vibrant community arts hub in the last decade, and now has been joined by the Manhattan CoffeeHouse in the old Manhattan Hotel, with more to come. For those who saw the square through some lean years, including a major fire in 2003, all the activity is more than welcome. “The theater had been vacant for 20 years or so when we bought it,” says Ellie Dryden, a former member of the theatre’s board of directors and one of the founders of the nonprofit organization that operates the building. “The roof had been vandalized, there was trash everywhere, but we thought it could really be something.” From that point on, the work was pretty much nonstop. “We had a professor from Texas Tech come in with his architecture students, and they took it on as their spring semester project,” she recalls. “It was redone for live theater, and we’ve done everything inside now except the walls.” Dryden, a former drama and theater teacher at Snyder Junior High, says she’s pleased with how the theater has become a focal point for the city. “I think it was the first major redoing of anything on the square, and a lot has been happening since then, especially over at the Manhattan Hotel,” she says. Indeed, the work at the Manhattan is causing quite a bit of excitement. Built between 1910 and 1916 as a sanitarium, the three-building hotel features pressed-tin ceilings and many other unique architectural features. They were pretty much hidden beneath and behind decades of additions and changes, so polishing this gem has been a lot of work, says Marianne Randals, who bought the property a couple of years ago. “It had fallen into nothing, so when it came up for sale I saw it as a good investment,” says Randals, a Snyder native who, along with son Bill Robertson, owns and operates the Windmill Ranch Preserve. The first of the three buildings is now the Manhattan CoffeeHouse, serving up lattes and espressos à la Starbucks. With free Wi-Fi on site, it’s fast become a gathering spot for

college students and other tech-minded individuals. Next up will be a deli and wine bar in the second building, while Western Texas College has leased the third building and is converting it into the College on the Square, an extension for workforce training and classes. “Those two buildings are two stories, while the coffeehouse building has three,” Randals says. “I’m hoping to take the two stories upstairs into condos and a bed-and-breakfast. But the ink is barely drying on the plans as we speak, so that’ll take a while.”

Renovations to the Ritz Community Theatre have helped create a renewed interest in investing in downtown Snyder.

Special Advertising Section

STAFF PHOTOS

Snyde r, Te x a s

History of Healing COGDELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HAS SERVED COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS

ince 1954, Cogdell Memorial Hospital has been improving the lives of Snyder residents and those living in the surrounding area. Begun with a donation of land and $200,000 by D.M. Cogdell, a local rancher and oilman who also left a trust for the care of elderly patients, the hospital has continued to grow and add new services to meet the area’s changing health-care needs. The facility opened with 50 beds, and doubled that number in 1960 when a two-story unit was added into the hospital. Over time, the obstetrical wing was converted into a 10-bed cardiac intensive care unit. Cogdell Memorial now offers a full obstetrics department, including a family-centered labor and delivery room; rehabilitation services that include

occupational, physical and speech therapy; a wellness center; a radiology department that provides bone densitometry testing, CT scans, fluoroscopy, MRI, mammography, nuclear medicine and ultrasound; and respiratory therapy including cardiac stress testing and pulmonary function testing. The hospital also serves a sevencounty area with its home health care program, in addition to operating the Cogdell Family Clinic. The clinic is a rural health clinic, and uses nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide primary care. A physician, who provides direction for each specific patient’s needs, oversees these staffers. The clinic’s services include: physical exams and medical histories; infection/injury diagnoses and treatment; diabetes

Cogdell Memorial Hospital employs approximately 250 individuals.

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testing and treatment; blood pressure testing and treatment; lab, X-ray and diagnostic services; family planning; and sports physicals. The hospital also is able to provide specialist medical services through the Cogdell Specialty Clinic, with 10 medical specialists in the area available each month by appointment. And Cogdell Memorial honors its founder’s legacy and wishes by operating the Cogdell Assisted Living Center, a residential program for senior citizens. The center offers daily assistance while allowing its residents to maintain their independence in private rooms. It offers community dining, two common parlors, organized activities including crafts, and a beauty shop. This special section is published for the Snyder Chamber of Commerce by Journal Communications Inc.

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

For more information, contact: Snyder Chamber of Commerce 2302 Ave. R • Snyder, TX 79550 Phone: (325) 573-3558 • Fax: (325) 573-9721 ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this special advertising section may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. On the cover: White buffalo statue Staff Photo

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Relaxation Ranch

LONGTIME FAMILY OPERATION PROVIDES TRANQUIL GETAWAY

Windmill Ranch Preserve is located eight miles west of Snyder and provides “a truly West Texas experience.”

BRIAN M C CORD

Longtime Snyder residents know all about Randals’ Corner, but newcomers might be forgiven if they’re looking for Windmill Ranch Preserve: It’s the same place. Since the early 1940s, when local lumberman Dick Randals and his wife Josephine bought their first parcel of land, what became a 1,000-acre ranch was known as Randals’ Corner. The property, now owned and operated by the Randals’ daughter Marianne and her son Bill Robertson, has gotten a new direction as Windmill Ranch Preserve, a multi-use facility handling everything from weekend getaways to weddings to corporate functions. “About three years ago somebody from Dallas called my mother wanting to buy some of the land,” Robertson recalls. “Oil wasn’t doing anything at the time, so she wondered why. They wanted it for hunting purposes, and that spawned the idea for Windmill Ranch.” Robertson, who had been working as a television news anchor in Nashville, Tenn., joined forces with his mother in what has been an ongoing – and expanding – enterprise ever since. “We originally started off as a hunting preserve, and that quickly morphed into more of a conservation and retreats type of center,” he says. “We’ve had seminars here on everything from digital photography to scrapbooking. And then it morphed into a place for weddings, company parties and a bed and breakfast.” Guests who prefer indoor accommodations can stay in either the big or little house, the latter a top choice for honeymooners. Or, if they’re feeling a bit more adventurous, they can sleep out in a tent. But it’s some tent. “Mother liked the movie Out of Africa, so these tents are good wool and have electricity, hot and cold running water, antique beds and other appointments,” Robertson says. In addition to all of this, Windmill Farm has become a breeding site for miniature cattle, as well as a more native animal. “We brought in prairie dogs, initially for preservation and conservation,” Robertson says. “But they’re at the bottom of the food chain, and so their being here has increased the predatorial wildlife, and that’s made for more hunting.” – Stories by Joe Morris

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portfolio

Saddling Up Texas Flags H

undreds of people line the crowded streets, clapping and waving as the colorful parade drifts along. Then, in the distance, six white horses round the bend, ridden by smiling girls bearing stately flags. The crowd erupts in a roar. These are the storied Six White Horses of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. This scene has been repeated hundreds, maybe thousands, of times at parades, rodeos and other events around the world since the 1920s. The Six White Horses representing the university bear riders carrying the six flags that have flown over Texas since it was first claimed by Spain some 400 years ago. Debra Jones, director of the Six White Horses Program at Hardin-Simmons, recalls a parade in Dallas when the horses rode in front of the school’s Cowboy Band. “When we start coming down the road and we turn the corner to start the parade, it’s just a constant roar, the whole time we

go down the street because people get so excited,” she says. “It just gives you goosebumps. We represent our Western heritage.” The horses make 100 appearances every year at events from parades and rodeos to birthday parties and watermelon festivals, Jones says. The riders accompany the horses to about half of their events. Jones has been director of the program since 1997. She began her involvement as a judge who helped select the riders, who are judged on their horsemanship and their appearance. “Each horse and rider is a team. They work together,” she says. “Each one of the horses has their own personality. Each performance brings a swell of pride to Hardin-Simmons supporters of all stripes. “We ride to music. It’s almost like a ballet. The music, the people yelling – it’s exciting,” Jones says. “There’s a lot of history there.”

Hardin-Simmons University is known world-over for its Western-style riders on Six White Horses. The riders make appearances around the world carrying the six flags that have flown over Texas since it was first claimed by Spain some 400 years ago.

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I M A G E S T E X A S M I D W E S T. C O M

portfolio

A Harvest of Dollars & Scents T

Many of Joyce Lavender’s customers use the plant medicinally. It reduces stress, depression and insomnia. It has also been known to aid in the treatment of arthritis, injection bruises, cuts and burns. Flanagan said she even uses the oil on her children’s mosquito bites. The business is profitable, but – more importantly – Flanagan says it gives her family the opportunity to spend time together. “My dad was really excited about it as a way to get all the kids and grandkids out to the ranch on a regular basis,” she says. Flanagan says her family doesn’t know of any other lavender farms in the Texas Midwest because the plant is difficult to grow. The lavender is a beautiful and powerful flower, though. “It’s just beautiful,” Flanagan says. “It’s amazing. And the smell is just intoxicating. It really does relax you to walk among the rows of lavender. Even the bees are sedated.”

hree weekends a year, Joyce Lavender Ranch throws open its gates and allows thousands of f lower-lovers to cut their own blooms from fragrant purple acres. The ranch is part of a 700-acre cattle ranch in Hermleigh that has been in the same family for five generations. “This is a new extension of how to use the land for living,” says lavender farmer Cherisse Flanagan. Her husband had the idea to start the farm after talking with a lavender farmer from the Hill Country, and her parents own the ranch where the farm is situated. “You’re not really prepared for when your husband comes home and says, ‘Hey, you want to be a lavender farmer?’” she says. “But it’s worked out fine.” The family, who all contribute something to the lavender effort, sells a variety of homemade products from the f lowers, including lotions, oils, soaps and sachets, on their Web site, www.joycelavender.com.

Lavender, an unexpectedly popular crop

A Ride Through Texas History D

S TA F F P H OTO

riving along a certain 650-mile stretch of road through the Texas Midwest, curious travelers can see much more than asphalt and mirages. The Texas Forts Trail, a 29-county

The remnants of Fort Chadbourne

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journey that starts and ends in Abilene, is one of 10 driving trails in the state that blends community hospitality with historic preservation. Anchored by eight frontier forts and one Spanish Presidio, the trail gives travelers the opportunity to explore both the state’s rural areas and its rich history. “You will learn about the impact and the struggle of civilization in this part of Texas, and the clash of culture between Indians and American settlers,” says Margaret Hoogstra, regional coordinator for the Texas Forts Trail. “And we’re not only promoting our history, but our culture and the things that are happening in our region today.” The trail is a powerful tourist attraction – its brochure is one of the most consistently requested at state visitor centers, Hoogstra says.

“I tell people that the Texas Forts Trail is the Texas that you really want to see,” she says. “When you come into the Forts Trail Region, you are going to see the working ranch, the working cowboy. You’re going to see cattle; you’re going to see goats; you’re going to see oil wells.” The trail is also an enticing getaway for big-city dwellers. “So the visitor or the person in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who wants to get out and experience rural Texas or get back to their roots or see stars because they can’t see them in Dallas – some of my communities do star parties – I promote that as well,” Hoogstra says. “We feel like we’re just another asset to the region to help build that commonality and that common drive to better the region, to promote the region.”

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or a few lucky people in this world, work is not an obligation but a passion. Damon Albus, the owner of 5D Custom Hats and Leathers in Abilene, is one of those fortunate few. “I’ve had my store for 10 years, and I still have yet to have a day where I have to go to work,” he says. “I get to go to work.” He stays at the shop sometimes until the wee hours of the morning making hats, wallets, purses and even cowboy cell phone holsters. Some people get so enthralled in a book that they can’t turn out the lights. “That’s the way the leather is for me,” he says. “I can’t wait to see how it’s going to turn out.” After a decade, business is still clipping right along, he says.

“I’ve got everything from the bank president to the, sure enough, cowboy day worker. And I’ve got everybody in between,” he says. Albus custom designs his hats, which run from $220 to $650. “I tell people when they put it on that I take the break-in out of the hat. So when you put it on, it fits,” he says. Albus won’t let his customers pay for their goods up front. Instead, he creates them, and the customer pays when, and if, they’re happy. “If that customer’s not 100 percent satisfied with it, I will do it again,” he says. “I do strive to make everybody happy. Now granted, you’re not ever gonna make everybody happy, and I realize that, but I don’t quit until I’m absolutely out of chances.”

S TA F F P H OTO

Hat Maker to the Texas Stars F

At 5D Custom Hats and Leather, the cowboy hats are custom-fit.

No Lonesome Cowboys Here I

n 1935, legendary cowboy Will Rogers was spotted in the stands of an amateur rodeo in Stamford. He wasn’t in the stands for long though. As soon as he was noticed, he was drafted to center stage of the Texas Cowboy Reunion, where he wowed the audience with his cowboy magic. That was the last time Rogers performed publicly before he was killed in a plane crash, according to Gary Mathis, president and general manager of the Texas Cowboy Reunion, the world’s largest amateur rodeo. More than 70 years after Rogers’ impromptu appearance, the Texas Cowboy Reunion is still going strong. The event draws between 650 and 700 cowboys and approximately 20,000 spectators every July. This year, the 78th annual reunion will converge on Stamford July 1-5. “The cowboys come and associate with one another, and a lot of the fellows that come, of course they like to win in the competition, but if you don’t win, it’s still just like a family reunion,” says Mathis, a cowboy himself. In addition to bull riding and barrel

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racing, the cowboys (and the cowboys at heart) enjoy chuck wagon cook-offs and rodeo dances. The event, which brings cowboys together for friendship’s sake, also honors the traditions of their daily lives. Before one of the final events, the old timers’ calf rope, the crowd and cowboys observe a moment of silence.

“We start off by turning out what we call a memorial calf, and they just open the gate and let the calf go out into the arena and the whole audience is silent and it’s a way of honoring the old-time cowboys and the ones that’s been here and gone,” Mathis says. “It’s a pretty special event.” – Stories by Michaela Jackson

The Texas Cowboy Reunion, founded in 1930 as a tribute to the Texas cowboy, draws 20,000 people each year during the July 4 holidays to Stamford.

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education

A Culture of Learning

Universities offer appealing choices to future students

I M A G E S T E X A S M I D W E S T. C O M

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communications and marketing at Angelo State University. “This was intentional so that undergraduates could be the focus of the program.” The university was recently added as one of three institutions that comprise the Texas Tech University System, an enhancement that enables ASU to gain the support and services it needs from institutions with similar needs and goals. “For ASU, I see it as a great opportunity to increase enrollment and expand programs,” says Dr. Joseph C. Rallo,

president of Angelo State University. Starting in 2008, ASU will offer a new scholarship that will enable students with a certain grade-point average the opportunity to study abroad for the same price as attending school on campus at ASU. “My goal is for every student at ASU to experience studying abroad,” says Rallo. “I know it sounds impossible, but I think that it is something that everyone should have the opportunity to do.” – Sarah Ward

S TA F F P H OTO S

he Texas Midwest has a variety of colleges and universities to meet the needs of students. Ranked as the 17th city in the nation for higher education in 2006, Abilene is home to several quality higher education institutions, including three religiously affiliated universities: Hardin-Simmons University, McMurry University and Abilene Christian University. For many at the graduate and undergraduate level, Abilene Christian University has set the standard for academic excellence in the area. Nationally ranked as the fifth-largest private university in the Southwest, ACU offers a broader education than most by emphasizing the importance of academic focus but also leadership and studying abroad – all accomplished with a strong commitment to faith. “The 21st century needs a wider academic focus,” says Robert Heil, assistant vice president for enrollment marketing at ACU. “Few universities can accomplish excellent academic education coupled with a strong faith commitment. We are focused on what our graduates can accomplish.” Once a year, the top business students in the College of Business Administration program meet in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a one-week short course called Leadership Summit. They attend lectures given by Fortune 500 company leaders and learn how to incorporate faith in the marketplace along with ways to balance work with having a family. “This kind of faith integration is standard at our institution,” says Heil. “Every department incorporates a similar emphasis into their curriculum.” While ACU is known for its academic excellence and emphasis on Christian faith and leadership, Angelo State University (ASU), located in San Angelo, Texas boasts a nationally acclaimed physics program along with a strong emphasis on studying abroad. With a physics program ranked 21st in the nation, it is obvious that the faculty and students at ASU take their science program very seriously. “Our physics program is undergradonly,” says Preston Lewis, director of

Angelo State University emphasizes the sciences. Left: Abilene Christian University

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education

Learning in the Texas Midwest THE REGION IS HOME TO MANY HIGH QUALITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

S TA F F P H OTO

• Abilene Christian University, Abilene • Angelo State University, San Angelo • Cisco Junior College, Cisco & Abilene Campuses • Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene • Howard College, San Angelo • Howard Payne University, Brownwood • McMurry University, Abilene • Ranger College, Ranger • Texas State Technical College, Breckenridge, Brownwood & Sweetwater Campuses • Texas Tech University College of Engineering, Abilene • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy, Abilene • Western Texas College, Snyder

bright

Future ahead

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Ranger College 110 0 C ol le ge Ci r. Ranger, T X 76470 (254) 6 47-3234

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A Winning

Workforce

College and businesses team up to provide training

any of the region’s largest employers are partnering with Texas State Technical College West Texas at Brownwood to ensure that workers have the customized training they need to be successful on the job. It’s a partnership that’s paying dividends for employers such as 3M, says Danny Perry, plant-site contract coordinator for 3M Brownwood. The plant manufactures reflective products that enhance traffic safety, including materials that make license plates and road signs more visible. 3M benefits from having a better-trained workforce, while employees benefit from new economic opportunities, says Perry. “It’s enabled us to have more temporary employees to meet seasonal demand. Often, temporary jobs lead to full-time permanent employment. It’s really a gateway to full-time employment,” he says. 3M relies on TSTC to provide safety training for its temporary workers at the Brownwood facility, which encompasses close to 1 million square feet of space and has 600 employees, says Perry. “Thanks to TSTC’s program, we are one of the safest plants in our entire company,” he says. Employers rely on the program for training tailored to meet their particular needs. Previously, 3M partnered with TSTC to provide computer-training classes. “They did a great job, and our relationship stretched out from there,” says Perry, who praises the flexibility of the TSTC Corporate College training programs. That is the mission of the TSTC Corporate College, says Dixon Bailey, vice president of TSTC Corporate College, which provides the training. TSTC West Texas encompasses four locations – Brownwood, Abilene, Breckenridge and Sweetwater. The two-year technical college contributes to the educational and economic development of the state by providing quality, occupationally oriented programs emphasizing specialized and emerging technical areas.

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Participating companies include Kohler Co., 3M Brownwood, M&F Gauge and Specialty Co. Inc., Superior Essex, Loadcraft, and Wind Clean Corp. “The partnerships have allowed TSTC to create customized training programs targeted to the specific skills needed to perform area jobs,” says Bailey. For example, in partnership with the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation, the Texas Workforce Commission and area companies, TSTC Corporate College is developing a Fast Track Welding program to meet an urgent demand for welders. There is a 100 percent placement rate among welding graduates. “We are committed to assisting businesses of all sizes to provide our partners with a lifetime of learning opportunities and support,” says Bailey. – Bill Lewis

Full-time student Cooper Mitchell works on a project in the welding lab at Texas State Technical College West Texas.

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ECONOMIC PROFILE BUSINESS CLIMATE

TRANSPORTATION Highway Interstate 20 Rail Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Airport Abilene Regional Airport (325) 676-6367 www.abilenetx.com Brownwood Regional Airport (325) 643-1482 www.brownwoodtx.com San Angelo Regional Airport (Mathis Field) www.sanangelotexas.us

TAXES Texas has no state income tax. The local sales tax and property tax varies by city and county.

REGIONAL POPULATION/INCOME INFORMATION The region has 24,221 square miles with a population density of 20.25 residents per square mile, compared to a statewide density of 79.54 residents per square mile. According to the 2000 census, the Texas Midwest region grew in population from 465,169 in 1990 to 490,468 in 2000, an increase of 5.4 percent. (Source: www.tmcn.org)

The Texas Midwest Region is home to a diverse business and industry climate that benefits from a well-educated, hardworking workforce. The region is strategically located for business initiatives. The area’s largest cities are Abilene, San Angelo and Brownwood. The Texas Midwest Community Network is a regional organization, founded in 1994, focused on the economic development of the Midwest Texas region.

TEXAS MIDWEST COMMUNITY NETWORK

EDUCATION STATISTICS

The Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN) is a nonprofit organization whose members include 43 communities in 25 counties surrounding the anchor cities of Abilene and San Angelo. For marketing purposes the name TEXAS MIDWEST was selected to better define location. Other familiar tags used throughout the region include Big Country, Concho Valley and Rolling Plains. Texas Midwest is east of the Dallas–Fort Worth area and encompasses 24,221 square miles, a landmass the size of Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut combined. With a total population of more than half a million, the region offers a workforce of just over 200,000 people. Through regional partnerships between workforce centers, economic development organizations, universities and industry leaders the workforce needs of employers are addressed and fulfilled. TMCN strives to support, encourage and facilitate these partnerships.

Percentage of population who finished high school or higher, 75.3% Percentage of population who completed bachelor’s degree or higher, 17.5%

Can you imagine … a world without children?

MEMBER CITIES Abilene Albany Anson Aspermont Baird Ballinger Brady Breckenridge Bronte Brownwood Buffalo Gap Cisco Clyde Coleman Colorado City Comanche Cross Plains De Leon Dublin Early Eastland Eden Goldthwaite

Visit Our Advertisers Abilene Industrial Foundation MCM Eleganté Suites www.developabilene.com www.mcmelegante.com City of Aspermont

We Can’t. Call 1-800-996-4100 to help. www.stjude.org

City of Brownwood www.brownwoodtx.com City of Dublin City of Eden www.edentexas.com Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Inc. www.gsec.coop Hendrick Medical Center www.ehendrick.org

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McMurry University www.mcm.edu Mitchell County EDC www.mitchellcounty economicdevelopment.org Ranger College www.ranger.cc.tx.us Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas www.workforcesystem.org

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economic profile Gorman Hamilton Hamlin Haskell Knox City Merkel Munday Ranger Rising Star Robert Lee Rotan Roscoe San Angelo Santa Anna Snyder Stamford Sweetwater Throckmorton Tye Winters

Verizon, Inc., 1,350

LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN SAN ANGELO

Per Capita Income (2002), $22,809 Average Weekly Wage (First Quarter, 2004), $510.65 Household Income (2000), $53,167

Goodfellow Air Force Base, 6,015 Shannon Health Systems, 2,206 San Angelo Independent School District, 2,012 Angelo State University, 1,360 SITEL, Inc., 1,350

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City of San Angelo, 944 Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson), 841 San Angelo State University, 753 San Angelo Community Medical Center, 715 (source: www.sanangelo.org)

POPULATION BY RACE/ETHNICITY White, 83.1% Hispanic, 21% Black, 4.5% Other, 1.3%

INCOME STATISTICS

LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN ABILENE Dyess Air Force Base (Mil/Civ) 5,810/872

Abilene Independent School District, 2,698 Hendrick Health System, 2,761 Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 1,163 City of Abilene, 1,197 Abilene State School, 1,230 BlueCross BlueShield of Texas 1,150 Abilene Christian University, 850 Abilene Regional Medical Center 739 County of Taylor, 537 Sears Methodist Retirement System, 579

FOR MORE INFORMATION Texas Midwest Community Network 3702 Loop 322 Abilene, TX 79602 Phone: (325) 795-8626 Fax: (325) 675-5214 www.texasmidwest.org

SOURCES: The source for all information, unless otherwise noted, is www.texasmidwest.org

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