EDUCATION CENTER

ABOUT THE EDUCATION CENTER

The Texas Panhandle War Memorial Education Center is a bold effort with many objectives.

First and foremost, the Center will honor the efforts and sacrifices of veterans across the region, providing a place for reflection and healing. Visitors are greeted in the lobby by over 50 military quotes and words that exemplify military service such as Honor, Service, and Duty.

The Education Center was designed by Normal Studio, a premier technology company in Canada with extensive experience in the entertainment and exhibit industries. A moving collage of historical photographs on two 11-foot high walls greets visitors to the Education Center. Five interactive computer kiosks are available for visitors to explore 11 U. S. Wars. Three video programs augment learning; the programs provide oral histories of Panhandle residents of the Vietnam War and World War II plus the Red River Indian War. The third program depicts maps of eleven wars showing the countries involved and locations of major battles.

JOIN THE CAUSE

You can give online at the link below or you can mail donations to:

Texas Panhandle War Memorial
4111 S. Georgia
Amarillo, Tx 79110

 MORE ABOUT THE EDUCATION CENTER

Created in 1992, The Texas Panhandle War Memorial (TPWM) honors veterans from the Texas Panhandle who gave their time and life to preserve our American way of life.  The idea of a War Memorial to honor all veterans of the twenty-six counties of the Texas Panhandle is credited to Mr. L. D. Weeks.  Mr. Weeks first got the idea when he noticed that a park was being built on an empty lot south of the Randall County Annex at Georgia St. and I-27.

In February of 1992, Mr. Weeks approached the Texas Panhandle Chapter 297, Viet Nam Veterans of America, Inc., with the idea for the memorial.  Mr. Weeks was instrumental in setting the first meeting.  He informed the chapter that he had been in contact with the Randall County Commissioners about developing the piece of land next to the Annex Building.

The first meeting of concerned citizens (later known as the Citizens Memorial Committee) met on March 27, 1992 and was attended by L.D. Weeks, Bill Willis (owner of Willis Granite Products), Pete Garcia (VVA’s Committee Chair), Terry Kirby (VVA member), Richard Izatt (VVA Chapter President), C.W. McMenamy (Randall County Judge),  and John Dodson (Randall County Commissioner).  Mr. Willis presented a proposed design to those present.  All participants agreed that the Memorial would be a wonderful attraction for the area and an excellent tribute to all veterans.

The second meeting of the Citizens Memorial Committee was held on April 23, 1992, for the final agreement that the project would be undertaken by the local VVA chapter.  It was also agreed that the first step would be to get the approval of the Randall County Commissioners Court.  Present at this meeting were Pete Garcia, Terry Kirby, Richard Izatt, Will Willis, L.D. Weeks, C.W. McMenamy, John Dodson, Arthur Ware and Ernie Houdashell.

On April 27, 1992, Chapter 297 of Viet Nam Veterans of America submitted a proposal to the Randall County Commissions Court. The Commissioners gave the project approval with a unanimous vote.  It was expressed that the project would be undertaken at the annex property with the understanding that it would be at no cost to the residents of Randall County. 

On June 9, 1992, Pete Garcia, Richard Izzat, and John Dodson met with the Amarillo City Council members and received their support for the project.

The groundbreaking ceremony and the kick-off for the Memorial took place on July 4, 1992 at the Memorial site.  The ceremony was attended by over 100 people.  Various veteran organizations were represented.

On March 30, 1994, the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Committee submitted Articles of Incorporation to the Texas Secretary of State to be incorporated as the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Foundation, Inc. (TPWMFI). Approval as a nonprofit entity was received on April 11, 1994. 

During September 1994, the Committee applied to the Internal Revenue Service, requesting determination as a non-profit, tax exempt corporation under regulation 501 (c) 3.  This status was granted on October 10, 1994.

The Board of Directors drew up plans for fundraising activities in 1996, which included the sale of items such as caps, coffee cups, bumper stickers, lapel pins, and plaques to individuals and corporations.  Other forms of fundraising included a food booth at the Tri-State Fair, golf tournaments, casino nights, and a booth at the local Texas Indian Inter-Tribal Organization Pow-Wow every year.  Although the events were profitable, they were not generating the funds needs for the project.  The objective of the TPWMFI Board had always been to raise the needed funds for the granite part of the Memorial only.  The remainder of the project was to be funded by donations from the community.

The archway was dedicated to all living veterans on Veterans Day, November 11, 1999.  The Globe News made the Texas Panhandle War Memorial a Celebrate 2000 Project.  Community corporations that provided funding for the Celebrate 2000 projects, included Krause Landscaping and the Texas Potter-Randall Counties Master Gardeners, spearheaded by Ms. Barbara Harrington.  The Master Gardeners planted a flower garden in the Center of the memorial site with a red, white, and blue theme.

On Memorial Day May 30, 2000, the descriptive monoliths for all the wars were dedicated.  The dedication of the tablets naming those killed or missing in action in Korea, Viet Nam, and the Persian Gulf was dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2000.

In November 2001, an anonymous donation of $83,000 allowed for completion of the plans set out in the initial project. On Memorial Day May 30, 2002, the monolith tablets honoring those killed or missing in action during World War I and World War II were dedicated.  At the same time, a tablet was dedicated honoring students killed or missing in action who attended West Texas A&M University from its inception in 1910.

The TPWM began raising funds to build a new War Memorial Education Center on the  grounds. In 2017 the Randall County Commissioners Court voted to grant the TPWM a long-term lease on their old Annex building at 4111 Georgia, next to the War Memorial Park. Donations and fundraising changed gears to remodel the Annex into the present War Memorial Center. Approximately $1 million was spent on remodeling the building. A new roof was installed along with new heating and air conditioning. Walls were moved and repainted, new ceilings were built. The 15,000 square foot building now boasts a world-class education center with military artifacts, the only military chapel in the Panhandle, two conference rooms, a gift shop, and 15 offices. The Center opened in 2020 providing referrals to veterans and their families and providing an education resource center to the people of the Panhandle. 


 

Community Partnerships

TPWM has support from a variety of Texas Panhandle organizations:

Randall County Commissioners & Maintenance Department

Randall County Master Gardeners

U.S. Navy JROTC, Tascosa High School, Amarillo, Texas

Civil Air Patrol Tiger Shark Squadron

Dewline Squadron, Blue Sky

Knight Templars of Texas

Texas Panhandle War Memorial Board

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and other veteran groups

Amarillo Area Foundation

Amarillo Downtown Lions Foundation, Inc.

Amarillo Federal Credit Union

Amarillo Globe-News

Amarillo National Bank

America Supports You – Texas

Anadarko

Bell Helicopter

BP American Production Company

Century 21 Realtors

Chaparral Hills Baptist

Comanche Trail Church of Christ

Conoco Phillips

Cruz Construction

Direct Orthopedic Clinic

Duck Insurance Agency

G & C Technical Services, Inc.

Golden Spread Council –Boy Scouts of America

Happy State Bank

High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation

Keep Amarillo Beautiful

Krause Landscaping

Miller Paper

MMM Mechanical

Multiple Systems Inc

Osgood Lagrone Monument Co

Parker Sports Medicine & Orthopedic

Plains Builders

Sam’s Club

Tri-State Claims of Amarillo, Inc

UPS

US Phone

Valero

Wal-Mart

Wes Wester, Attorney

Willis Granite

Windows on a Wider World (WoWW)

Xcel Energy