Serving those who served
Party to honor CC’s NFR qualifiers
By Ted Harbin
The Clarendon College rodeo team has been gaining some incredible momentum over the last few years, and it has only gotten better in 2021.
The proof is in the pudding with three former Bulldog cowboys having earned qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale that features the top 15 contestants from the regular season in each event.
Leading the way is two-time qualifier Wyatt Casper of Miami, Texas, who finished the 2020 season as the reserve world champion. He became the first national champion in Clarendon history when he won the saddle bronc riding crown in 2016. He will be joined by fellow bronc rider Tegan Smith of Winterset, Iowa, who finished third at the 2019 College National Finals Rodeo; Smith finished the 2021 PRCA regular season in 10th place, one spot behind Casper.
Cole Franks rounds out the trio of qualifiers, earning his spot by finishing 12th in the bareback riding world standings. Franks, the son of Clarendon College rodeo coach Bret Franks, is coming off a tremendous 2021 campaign; he was named the PRCA Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year.
All that came after being one of the guiding forces behind Clarendon’s men’s team title at the college finals this past June. He dominated bareback riding to claim that national title, then added to it by qualifying for the championship round at the CNFR in saddle bronc riding, securing the all-around national title, too.
All three will be recognized and honored during an NFR Sendoff Party and Prime Rib Dinner, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Donley County Activity Center. Tickets are $100 (for two people), and proceeds will go to the Clarendon College rodeo team.
“I think it’s a pretty special deal that we have three NFR qualifiers from our little college, so we wanted to put something together to honor them,” Bret Franks said. “We also want to put something together to raise awareness and money for the rodeo program. Every ticket will be entered into a $1,000 cash drawing.
“We will also have live music and a silent auction, so we hope it’s a lot of fun for everyone and gives them a chance to wish our cowboys luck in Las Vegas.”
For more information about the sendoff party and prime rib dinner, contact Franks at 806-440-1366.
Giving Tuesday to benefit local community fund
As part of a national day known as GivingTuesday, the local Donley County Community Fund (DCCF) is participating in The Panhandle Gives campaign.
For nine days from November 22 through November 30, all funds raised locally will be increased through a match from the Amarillo Area Foundation.
“Participating in this campaign is an opportunity for our local fund balance to grow,” DCCF chair Jacob Fangman said.
The DCCF is a local board whose purpose is to raise money for a perpetuating fund while contributing a portion of the money to local organizations.
Over the past five years, the DCCF has been able to give $6,000 to local charities while increasing its own fund balance, thanks to support from county-wide residents.
So that the local DCCF can benefit from the match, anyone wishing to participate will need to give their donation by Monday, November 29, so that the final deposit can be made on GivingTuesday.
Contributions can be mailed to Donley County Community Fund, c/o Jacob Fangman, Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226. Checks should be made out to The Panhandle Gives, with DonleyCCF written on the memo line.
Other board members are Shauna Herbert, Sherol Johnston, Diane Skelton, and Roger Estlack
Plans set for Christmas fun
Join the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce in celebrating Small Business Saturday, November 27, and support your local merchants.
In addition to sales and activities being planned with local merchants, a Craft Show & Vendor Fair will be held in two locations – 118 S. Kearney (inside the former steakhouse building) and at the Lions Hall. Vendors, and artisans will be set up from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
At 5 p.m. kids can deliver their letters to Santa at the Courthouse. The 8th annual lighting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m.
On Sunday, November 28, the Mulkey Theatre will have a showing of The Polar Express at 6 p.m. Admission is a donation to the Donley County Community Fund, and everyone will receive hot chocolate and cookies. You are encouraged to wear your pajamas and join us on this adventure.
Other activities and promotions will be announced soon.
Barbara Ann Hawkins
Barbara Ann Hawkins, 66, of Howardwick passed away on Sunday, November 14, 2021, at her home.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, November 19 at 11:00 a.m. at the Howardwick Community Center.
Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Barbara was born on September 1, 1955, to Charles Bachus and Goldie Hill Bachus in Chicago, Illinois. Later, Barbara’s family moved to Amarillo where she graduated from Tascosa High School in 1973. Barbara completed her associate’s degree before starting her career in communications.
Barbara moved to Howardwick in 1999 and married her husband, Ronny Hawkins on January 7, 2000, in Clarendon. Barbara loved camping and spending time in the outdoors.
She also enjoyed doing arts and crafts projects and cooking.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Barbara is survived by her husband Ronny Hawkins; two daughters, Brandy Robertson and husband, Brady, and Rachel Womack; son, Heath Hawkins and wife, Jody; two brothers, David Bachus, and Richard Bachus and wife, Les Lee; five grandchildren, Taylor Wood and wife, Brianna, Jordan and Jerrek Esparza, and Tucker and Dodge Hawkins; and niece, Casey Stetler.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Howardwick, 235 Rick Husband Blvd, Howardwick, TX 79226.
Gary Lynn Shields
Gary Lynn Shields of Lelia Lake peacefully passed from this life at home surrounded by his family on November 13, 2021.
Graveside services were held on November 16, 2021, in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley with Larry Shields, officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Gary was born on January 24, 1956, in Groom, Texas to Arthur and Thelma Moss Shields. He grew up in Claude and Clarendon, Texas and was a 1974 graduate of Clarendon High School.
On July 12, 1974, he married the love of his life, Renee White in Hedley, Texas. He was a lifetime member of the church of Christ. He spent the majority of his life behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler.
He is survived by his wife, Renee Shields of Lelia Lake; his daughters, Carrie Linquist and husband Kelly of Hedley, and Heather Brown and husband Seth of Canadian; his son, Landon Shields of Lelia Lake; his grandchildren, Mekinna Ford, Collin Ford, and Raelea Brown of Canadian, Payton and Kaylin Hicks of Hedley, Farrah Shields of Calera, Oklahoma, and Lillie Linquist of Claude; a great grandson, Kooper Andrews of Canadian; his brothers, Larry Shields and wife Pat of Amarillo, Craig Shields and wife Cathy of Friona, and Audie Shields and wife Sonye of Mineral Wells; his mother in law, Mary Ruth White of Hedley; his sisters in law, Tanya Gibson of Hedley, Shauna Herbert and husband Tim of Hedley, and Pat White of Clarendon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Thelma Shields; father in-law Harold White; brother in-laws Danny Monroe and Bob White; niece Tracy White and nephews Dustin Monroe and Clayton Shields.
The family asks that memorials be made to Rowe Cemetery Association, PO Box 213, Hedley, TX 79237.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Juanell Tate Carson
Juanell Tate Carson, 92, of Hedley passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 9th, 2021, at her home surrounded by her loved ones.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at the Hedley Methodist Church.
Juanell Tate Carson was born on December 14, 1928. Dr. Webb delivered her at home on the Tate Place. He held her up and said, “Isn’t she a fine one!” She was the youngest of three, born to Thomas Zack Tate and Myrtle Lola Clark Tate. Her brothers, Tommy Dean Tate and Orval Winfred Tate preceded her in death. Juanell was a 1945 graduate of Quail High School as was her husband, Billy Don.
Juanell and Bill were married on October 5,1947 at the Hedley Methodist Church. Juanell was a secretary, bookkeeper, co-owner of Morton Lumber in Borger and Moffitt Hardware in Hedley with her husband Bill. Juanell and Bill retired to the farm in Hedley, the Tate Place, that was settled by the Tate’s in 1907. Bill and Juanell farmed, raised cattle, & delighted in having a big garden and participated in the Farmer’s Market in Amarillo.
Juanell is survived by her daughter, Susan Carson Cosby, and son-in-law Stan Cosby and son Tom Carson and daughter-in-law Patricica, 5 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and 9 great great- grandchildren and a host of friends!
Juanell was a member of the Hedley Methodist Church, Hedley Lioness Club and the Quail Booster Club, and was an amazing seamstress.
The family would like to thank Kindred Hospice and the many loving caregivers that provided care for Juanell.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Rowe Cemetery Association, Inc., P.O. Box 213, Hedley, TX 79237.
Betty Yankie
Betty Yankie, 69, of Clarendon passed away on Thursday, November 11, 2021, in Dallas.
Services will be held at a later date.
USDA grant helps fund Hedley truck
A new trash truck is making the rounds in Hedley thanks to a grant from the US Department of Agriculture and the hard work of city officials.
City Manager Kim Davis said USDA provided $60,000 and the city financed the remaining $112,000 through Herring Bank in order to purchase the new truck.
The new Mack truck will take the place of a 1979 truck that the city had purchased used about six years ago, according to Mayor Carrie Butler.
“I’m just super excited for our little town,” Butler said. “We’ve been struggling for a long time with the old truck, and Kim has done a wonderful job and the council has been onboard.”
Butler said the new truck is part of a bigger effort to clean up Hedley and make improvements around town.
“We want to get all of our alleys cleaned out so we don’t scratch up our new truck” she said.
In addition to collecting trash from Hedley residents, the city also services several rural accounts and hopes to add more accounts now that it has more reliable equipment.
City foreman L.W. Henshaw said there were several times that only miracles kept the old truck running, and he said that it was showing less and less power as it got older.
Davis started working on the grant to get a new trash truck back in March with the help of Clyde Jenkins at the Amarillo USDA office.
Hedley officials saw they will now turn their attention to applying for a Texas Parks & Wildlife grant to create a new city park for the community.
Owls honor their most faithful fans
By Julio Vega, Amarillo Globe-News
Prior to last Thursday’s kickoff, the 11 Hedley football players kneeled down in front of 20 people. The folks weren’t just random Hedley fans, but the legacy of two very specific Hedley fans that had been a staple of the Owls’ sidelines for decades, Buford and Geraldine Holland. The game that followed was almost an afterthought, especially when most fans knew how it was going to end.
But the game went on, with Follett downing Hedley 54-6 after three quarters due to the mercy rule in a District 1-1A Division II contest. The Panthers (10-0, 4-0) secured their undefeated mark, while the Owls (8-2, 2-2) enjoyed one of the program’s best campaigns in years. Plenty of touchdowns were scored, but the loudest cheer of the night came from the home crowd as Hedley put up its only score in the final seconds of the first half. But those two very special fans were missing from the home sideline, their cheers not heard but felt. Buford Holland passed away October 15, 2021, while his wife, Geraldine, died nearly two years prior on December 8, 2019.
Both were honored for their longtime fandom and impact on the community of Hedley. It was the first home game for the Owls since Buford Holland passed away, and the final game of the Hedley season, marking the end of an era. But at the same time, a new beginning. The Owls won eight games this season, something that had never been done prior and could happen next fall with the team graduating one senior. Though barely connected to the Hollands at all, the timing may have been a sign from the universe.
Everyone knew the couple. They were always at football and basketball games, community events and were active with their neighbors and immersed in the community. The Hollands had four children, Darrell, Glyndol, Lynn and Gail, who all graduated from Hedley. They also have grandchildren and great-grandchildren who went through Hedley. They left their mark in the town of less than 300. And it will continue.
Gail Hill (formerly Holland) said after she and all her siblings graduated and moved on from Hedley, her parents found their calling in being the parents and grandparents of the Hedley community.
“They just loved to go to games and see the kids,” Hill said. “That was just their life. They enjoyed seeing the kids and supporting the school. That was just what they did.”
Grandson Lynn Holland, named for his late uncle, even went as far as to make a six-part documentary, highlighting the various aspects of their lives and the pillars they lived by: simplicity, community, hard work, commitment, and family. Lynn Holland said he started filming parts of the documentary starting in 2015 but started really working on it in the final weeks of his grandfather’s life.
“We played the documentary for the family after Buford’s funeral,” he said. “It really brought us all together. That will go down as one of the proudest moments of my life. The process of working on the documentary transformed me by revealing what was truly important in life.”
Buford and Geraldine Buford lived a simple, yet enjoyable life, but their impact has been felt across the community – young and old. Despite the lopsided scoreline and the curtain falling on Hedley’s season Thursday, the Holland’s impact went far beyond their presence on the sideline and in the community.
Hedley assistant coach Eric Alston grew up with the Hollands on the sidelines. He played in front of them, then eventually returned to coach on the sidelines for the Owls.
“When you look over and don’t see them, there’s just a hole over there,” Alston said. “They represented that small-town support. They were always here, even when they had no family to support. They were here to support us, the team, the town. For us, that means a lot.”
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