Lighting up the night
Quilt club honors veteran
Claud Ewald Robison
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Claud Ewald Robison, 74, of Howardwick on January 6, 2026, just 3 days shy of his 75th birthday.
Claud was born on January 9, 1951, to Jim (B.J.) and Billie Jean Robison of Turkey.
He attended and graduated from Turkey High School where he served as Jr. Treasurer of the Turkey FFA from 1965 – 1966. Claud served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He returned to Turkey where he farmed, ranched, and started his family. Claud worked several jobs over the years before finding his true calling. He was a well-respected and successful salesman for Chamberlain Motors in Clarendon.
Claud never met a stranger, and his magnetic personality and sense of humor made him a joy to be around. He retired after a long and prestigious career. Claud had many interests, like playing the guitar but one of his favorites was attending the annual Bob Wills Celebration in his hometown of Turkey. There he donated his FFA jacket to be displayed proving to be a generous gift and an honored piece of Turkey High School history.
His greatest joy was his grandchildren. Claud was a beautiful soul who lived a restful, peaceful life and will be forever missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law Loyd and Charline Mays, and sister-in-law Shelley Robison.
He is survived by his wife Deena Robison, of the home, his sons, Billy Robison and wife Kathy of Fowler, Colorado, JoDee Robison and wife Amy of Silverton, Texas, Ryan Robison of Howardwick, beloved grandchildren, Destiny King of Fowler, Colorado, Joseph and James Robison of Silverton, Chloe Robison of Howardwick, brother James (Jimbo) Robison of Amarillo, niece, Halley McCarty and husband Russ of Spring, Texas, great-nephews, Jace and Jaxon McCarty of Spring, Texas, and brother-in-law, Lynn Mays and wife Laura of Howardwick.
Claud’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Church of the Nazarene in Clarendon. Visitation with the family will be held in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Church of the Nazarene, 273 Hawley St, Clarendon, TX 79226.
Martha Iralene Willis Smith
Martha Iralene Willis Smith, 72, of Clarendon passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 15, 2026, in Clarendon.
Martha was born July 24, 1953, in Midwest City, Oklahoma to Dorothy Lea Leighton Willis and John Charles Willis, giving John Terrell Willis a baby sister. The family moved to Kingston, Oklahoma where Martha became a basketball star, a beauty queen, and drum majorette. After high school, Martha worked at Donut fishing barge on Lake Texhoma, where she met Lige Everett Smith. A shared love of fishing and the outdoors, the couple wed on March 11, 1972.
Two years later, they welcomed Daniel Gene, the first of 3 boys. Charles Ray Preston burst onto the scene in 1976, and Jacob Dean followed two years later in 1978. Martha loved being a mother, and spent long days working part-time, and taking care of her family full-time while living in Atoka, Oklahoma. She was a sought after florist at Anna’s Flowers, played amateur basketball, and visiting with friends and neighbors.
In 1987, the family moved to Clarendon where she found a new home and a great many new friends. She continued to work as a florist at Harlan’s Flowers until 1994, when she began working at The Nook where she designed the seasonal displays to beautify downtown Clarendon. In 2000, she went to work at Clarendon College. At the college, she worked her way up to become the head of admissions and earn her associates degree. After retiring in 2020, Martha enjoyed her freedom from work and indulged in her hobbies of gardening, candy making, fishing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and John Willis; her son, Jacob Smith; her brother, Terry Willis; her niece, Ginny Willis-Rex; and nephew, Woody Willis.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Lige Smith; her sons, Danny Smith and Charlie Smith and husband Mat Ryan.
Memorial services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood, officiating.
A celebration of life will follow on Wednesday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at The Roost in Clarendon.
Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Robert “Bob” Gault McCombs
Robert “Bob” Gault McCombs, 88, of Amarillo passed away December 27, 2025.
Bob was born July 4, 1937, in Amarillo to Robert Leslie McCombs and Margaret Gault McCombs and raised in Vega, Tx.
After graduating high school Bob joined the military and proudly served in the Marines and National Guard from 1956-1962 with Honorable Discharge from both branches. He then moved to Childress where met his wife of 63 years, Patricia Ann McCombs. He worked 35 years for the US Post Office in Childress and Clarendon. He also served on the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department for close to 20 years. Clearly, he was dedicated to a life of service and will be remembered for all that he gave.
Bob is preceded in death by his wife Patricia McCombs.
He is survived by a sister Linda Cheek, a stepdaughter Sandy Jobert and husband Mick, daughter Wendy Walsh and husband Cary, grandchildren Marla, Lori, Dakota and Kaitlyn, great grandchildren River, Jayden, Chase, Lucy and Clay.
Editorial: Our family’s continuing commitment
It’s safe to say that most – if not almost all – Enterprise readers were taken by surprise last week when we announced online that we had purchased The Red River Sun. I still find it a little hard to believe myself. It all happened so fast.
& Editor
We had talked back and forth with the owner of that paper and researched the possibility of expanding our business for a few months, but two days before Thanksgiving, we engaged the warp drive on the deal. We technically took the helm of the newspaper serving Childress, Wellington, and Memphis on December 1 in a leap of faith and then spent the next four weeks ironing out the details and signing the purchase agreement on December 30.
More than a decade ago, The Childress Index, The Wellington Leader, and The Hall County Herald (previously known as The Memphis Democrat) along with a newspaper in Hollis, Oklahoma, were all combined into one regional newspaper – The Red River Sun. Coverage of Hollis was dropped at some point, and the paper has gone through a couple of different owners, the most recent being Hicks Media, which until last year owned several other newspapers in Texas. The Sun was the company’s last newspaper holding, and they were in search of a buyer.
Our family – with more than 75 years of newspaper ink in our blood in Donley County – decided it would be a good fit for the Enterprise to acquire the Sun. Our communities have so much in common here in the Greenbelt of the Texas Panhandle. We share the history of the railroad, ranching and farming heritage, and more. Clarendon College serves all our communities, and we share our water supply.
More than anything, we saw an opportunity to preserve and promote local journalism in the southeast Panhandle. In addition to being the first paper in the Panhandle in 1878, the Enterprise is one of the most decorated weekly newspapers in the state with regional, state, and national awards to its credit. Like Farmers Insurance, “We know a thing or two, because we’ve seen a thing or two.” When we take our experience and share it with the amazing staff at the Sun, our entire region will reap the benefits.
We appreciate the graciousness of Mark Hicks during the process of the sale and transition. We also want to thank our new staff members – Managing Editor Elizabeth Tanner and Circulation Director Synghyn Beasley-Vasquez in the Childress office and Associate Editor Bev Odom and Reporter / Sales Director Shauna Salinas in the Wellington office. They have been a great team during the changeover, and we look forward to working with them going forward.
The Childress Chamber of Commerce and the Childress Municipal Development District have helped make this venture possible, and it is clear they are serious about wanting what is best for their community and the area.
I’d be remiss if I did not thank Ashlee for her steadfast support of this new chapter in our lives, as well as Ben and Ella for their unwavering dedication to the old man and our family business. And we can’t leave out Advertising Manager Tara Allred, who sometimes thinks I’m crazy but never says “no” when we take on something new.
Changes will be in store for the Sun, but what’s next for the Enterprise? First and foremost, The Clarendon Enterprise will continue as its own publication. It will be the flagship of our expanded family business, and its commitment to the people of Donley County will not waiver. We will continue to cover the news, we will continue to stand for the public’s right to know and for government transparency, our defense of the Freedom of the Press as a foundation of democracy will not change, and we will hold fast to our belief that a strong community deserves a strong newspaper.
But we do have some things in mind to make the Enterprise even better. We will be redesigning the paper to give it a fresh look, and we will be working on ways to expand coverage in Hedley and Howardwick. We plan to combine the classified pages of the Enterprise and the Sun to expand the reach of those sections, and we will offer local advertisers more ways to reach readers in the area.
Ultimately though, the “what’s next” for this newspaper (and any newspaper really), depends entirely on readers and advertisers. A mentor of mine likes to say a newspaper’s first duty is to be here tomorrow. If we don’t plan and work for the future and have the backing of readers and advertisers, then even the greatest reporting won’t save us. Local journalism matters – now more than ever. We’ll do our part. We ask you to keep doing your part. Let us know if you have an event happening. Send us your pictures and news items. Buy an ad or buy a subscription or both!
Our family of newspapers has a strong history in the Greenbelt area. Now, it’s time to get busy writing their next chapters.
Michael Gerald “Mike” Spier
Michael Gerald “Mike” Spier, 76, of Clarendon passed away Monday, December 22, 2025.
Services were held Monday, December 29, 2025, in the Clarendon Church of Christ. Burial followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are under the care of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Michael Gerald Spier was born on April 4, 1949, in Memphis to J.H. Spier Jr. and Wilma.
Mike and his brothers grew up working for their father at Junior’s Food Market here in Clarendon. He graduated from Clarendon High School in 1967. Following in his father’s footsteps, Mike enlisted in the United States Navy because Junior said he would always have a dry bed and a warm meal. Mike served in Vietnam before returning home to work at the family store.
Mike became engaged to Neva Dale Morrison on Thanksgiving in 1973, and they were immediately married on December 30, 1973. Together they built their life in Clarendon and would have celebrated 52 years of marriage this year.
In addition to the store, Mike worked at Texas Saddlery and for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was best known for his greatest passion—serving for 30 years as a Donley County deputy sheriff, protecting and serving the community he lived in his entire life. He retired in 2017.
Mike was a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ. He served with the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and Clarendon EMS. And for 25 years he was in the press box as the voice of the Clarendon Broncos.
Mike was also probably the town’s biggest prankster. If you ever had a horn, siren, shotgun, taser, etc go off around you, then you know exactly who was responsible.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, J.H. Spier Jr.; his mother, Wilma Spier; and his brothers, Lynn and Bill Spier.
Mike is survived by his wife, Neva Spier; daughters Nichole Rivera (Jeff) of Pike Road, Alabama, and NeAnne Clinton (David) of Enid, Oklahoma; and sons Darren Spier (Melanie) of Canyon, Texas, and Hunter Spier (LeeAnn) of Amarillo, Texas. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Justin and Julia Rivera; Brady, Joshua (Bria), Ryan, Jessica, and Abigail Clinton; Jake and Jensen Spier; and Hunter Jr., Haylie, and Harley Spier.
He is further survived by three great-grandchildren, Clara and Dakota Clinton, with great-granddaughter, Nora, on the way.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Clarendon EMS or the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department.
Opinion: Rural voices matter in primaries
In much of rural Texas, elections are effectively decided in March. By the time the November election rolls around, the field is narrowed, the outcome is possibly set, and the real choice is long past. That’s not my opinion – it’s how politics works in a state where primary elections, especially Republican primaries, determine who will ultimately represent a district.
That reality puts real weight on the next 60 days.
Primary voters – far fewer in number than general-election voters – hold enormous influence. In March 2018, about 2.6 million Texans voted in the primary, roughly 17-18 percent of registered voters. In November of that same year, more than 8.3 million Texans turned out to vote. That gap shows just how much power a relatively small group of primary voters holds. In many races, particularly in rural Texas, the primary determines who will serve, and November simply confirms it.
Because Texas remains a Republican-leaning state, the Republican primary often decides who will go on to win the general election. That means small coalitions of engaged voters – especially rural voters – can have an outsized influence in statewide elections, if they are willing to use it.
That brings us to the heart of this election cycle: brush up and show up.
Rural Texans need to take the job of vetting candidates seriously. Not casually. Not based on campaign mailers, yard signs, or whatever happens to be loud on social media. Serious vetting means researching beyond the slogans, following the money, and paying attention to who is funding a campaign – whether it’s neighbors and everyday Texans or a small group of wealthy donors whose interests may not align with rural communities. It also means listening closely to how candidates talk about kitchen-table issues and asking direct questions about how their policies would affect daily life back home.
That vetting should be grounded in real-world priorities.
Water policy determines whether a town – or our agriculture industry – has a future. Cuts to school funding show up in teacher shortages, deteriorating facilities, and whether students have meaningful opportunities close to home. A lack of rural healthcare policy means local clinics close, and maternity and emergency care are suddenly hours – sometimes even a helicopter ride – away. Rural economic development resources determine whether communities can create jobs to keep our kids close to home, keep our families rooted, and ensure support for Main Street businesses. Infrastructure decisions determine whether roads, bridges, and water systems hold up in places where distances are long and alternatives are few.
Really understanding candidates takes time. It requires listening carefully, sifting through the issues, and asking hard questions – not to score points, but to understand whether someone truly understands rural Texas or is just passing through it. If we don’t press candidates on the basics before an election, we live with the consequences afterward.
The second half of the equation is participation.
Being informed only matters if people vote. Primary elections are decided by turnout, and turnout sends a signal. When rural voters engage in meaningful numbers, candidates notice. When they don’t, rural priorities are easier to overlook or take for granted.
This election cycle is an opportunity for rural Texans to be intentional about where their support goes. Votes in rural Texas should be earned – not assumed. Candidates who understand rural communities, respect local decision-making, and focus on serious, practical issues deserve consideration and support.
State policy is felt first in rural communities. It shows up at the water tap, on the school bus route, at the clinic door, and on miles of highway that have to be maintained with limited resources. These decisions determine whether small businesses survive, whether families can afford to stay, and whether a town has a future.
March is when leadership is chosen, and priorities are set. If rural Texans are willing to do the homework, focus on kitchen-table priorities, and show up when it counts, our voices don’t just matter – they carry weight. That’s how self-government works best in Texas: close to home, grounded in real life, and shaped by the people who live with the consequences.
Suzanne Bellsnyder is the editor of the Hansford County Reporter-Statesman and Sherman County Gazette. A former Capitol staffer with decades of experience in Texas politics, she focuses on how state decisions shape rural life. Subscribe to her newsletter at TexasRuralReporter.Substack.com.
Christopher Duane Hugh Woodburn Wilson, IV
Christopher Duane Hugh Woodburn Wilson, IV, age 44, of Clarendon, Texas, passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025, in Dallas, Texas.
Viewing with visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Robertson Funeral Directors in Clarendon, Texas. Services will be held privately. Cremation and arrangements are under the care of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Chris was born on July 8, 1981, in Houston, Texas. He was raised in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 2000. In 2008, he made Clarendon his home, where he later married the love of his life, Samantha Kelly Vargas, on August 5, 2009.
Chris dedicated many years of service to his community through his work. He was employed by Greenbelt Water Authority for 14½ years before beginning his career with the Texas Department of Transportation. Known for his strong work ethic and commitment, Chris took pride in everything he did.
He found peace and joy in what he fondly called his “wind therapy” — riding motorcycles, which he dearly loved. Chris also had a passion for model trains and music, and he enjoyed playing guitar, bass, and drums. Above all, he cherished time spent with friends and family, especially his children and beloved grandson. A true people person, Chris had a way of connecting with others and making them feel welcome.
Chris shared a special bond with his daughter Elika through their membership at the Amarillo Railroad Museum, and they also enjoyed playing golf together. He was a former member of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and served his community faithfully as a board member for both the Saints’ Roost Museum and the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce. Chris was an active and devoted member of Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700, where he took great pride in being a Mason.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Hugh Woodburn Wilson, III, who raised him as a father and remained a profound influence in his life.
Survivors include his wife, Samantha Wilson of Clarendon; his parents, Ricky Jimenez of Amarillo and Lori Wilson Sauceda and husband Dave of Amarillo; his grandmother who raised him as a mother, Renee Wilson of Amarillo; his daughters, Raylind Touchstone and husband Bryant of Amarillo and Elika Wilson of Clarendon; his son, Hunter Wilson of Amarillo; his sisters, Sheri Boatright of Tyler, Traci Kay of Dallas, Eren Shelton and husband Kerry of Lubbock, and Ereka Nokes and husband Thomas of Amarillo; his grandson, William Touchstone of Amarillo; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
The family requests that memorials be made to Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700.
Chris will be remembered for his generous heart, his love for people, and the deep devotion he held for his family, friends, and community. His presence will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Enterprise purchases Red River Sun
Hicks Media LLC and The Clarendon Enterprise today announced the sale of The Red River Sun to Roger and Ashlee Estlack of Clarendon.
The sale brings the Sun under the management of the Texas Panhandle’s oldest newspaper although the two papers will continue to be separate publications.
The Red River Sun covers Childress, Collingsworth, and Hall Counties and combines the heritages of The Childress Index, The Wellington Leader, and the Memphis Democrat / Hall County Herald.
Although the sale of the Sun did not become finalized until December 30, the Estlacks took over management of the paper December 1, 2025.
“We’re excited for our family to become more active in our neighboring communities, and we look forward to working with Managing Editor Elizabeth Tanner in Childress, Associate Editor Bev Odom in Wellington, and their staff to continue providing strong local journalism to the Greenbelt of the Texas Panhandle,” publisher Roger Estlack said.
“We appreciate what Mark Hicks has done for the Sun and for the community. He has been so gracious and helpful during this sale and transition, and we also want to thank our intrepid new staff for their helpfulness and dedication as well. This new chapter for the Sun has also been made possible by the support of the Childress Municipal Development District and the Childress Chamber of Commerce. The MDD and Chamber boards, led by Sheabree Nix and Susan Leary, have been a pleasure to work with, and we appreciate their support and their faith in this newspaper.”
The two papers carry a long heritage of covering local news in the southeast Panhandle, and the Estlack family plans to build on that foundation to serve the readers and advertisers of the area.
“The Higleys, the Wells, the Combs – those families were all contemporaries of our family, and they all shared a commitment to serve their communities,” Estlack said. “History is important to us, but so is working for the future.”
The Estlack family has 75 years of publishing history in the Panhandle, printing The Donley County Leader from 1929 to 1974 before Roger purchased the Clarendon paper in 1995. Ashlee joined the paper in 2002 and continues to be involved in the business as a contributing editor. The couple’s children – Benjamin, a junior at Texas Tech University, and Elaina, a junior at Clarendon High School – have grown up in the newspaper business and continue to help.
Sun readers will notice a slightly different size to the newspaper starting with the January 2 edition as printing moves from Lawton, Oklahoma, to Shamrock, Texas. Other changes will come in the next few weeks and months as the papers become more familiar with each other’s operations and determine where functions overlap and can be made more efficient.
“We will be redesigning both the Sun and the Enterprise. You will see the classified pages combined to give broader coverage for advertisers, and we will be exploring areas where we can expand or improve coverage,” Estlack said. “Liz and Bev are doing a great job for us. We want to support them all we can, make their jobs easier where possible, and be able to cover more local news in the Greenbelt area.”
Deadlines for the Sun remain unchanged at this point. Advertising policies and subscription rates are all being reviewed, and the Sun’s digital footprint will be examined as well.
“We remain committed to the printed newspaper, but our family has long realized the importance of digital communications for today’s readers,” Estlack said. “One of Ashlee’s specialties is social media, and we like to think of our business not just in terms of print circulation but overall audiences – print subscribers and digital subscribers as well as website and social media readers.”
The Estlacks also ask the communities for their support of the newspaper.
“A strong newspaper is an indicator of a vibrant and growing community,” Estlack said, “but we need your help to continue the tradition of local journalism and make it even better. We welcome your suggestions for changes, but we can’t do anything without the support of readers buying subscriptions and local businesses and organizations advertising with us. We want to work together to make our region the best place it can be for families and for business.”
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