This year, we asked our readers to name the person who has had the greatest impact on our city over the past year. From a pool of reader-submitted nominations, 13 finalists were selected to advance to the final vote. And from that group, Amarillo Pioneer readers submitted a record number of votes in this year’s contest. However, one person came out on top as the clear consensus pick for having had the greatest impact on Amarillo in 2023.
The 2024 Amarillo Pioneer of the Year Award is given to Tom Scherlen.
When Tom Scherlen announced that he was running for Amarillo City Council Place 3 in early 2023, voters already had a good idea of what the retired businessman was all about. A devout Christian, community volunteer, and seasoned business leader, Scherlen was making his second run for a spot on Amarillo’s governing board.
In a competitive three-way race, Scherlen avoided a runoff, and defeated Katt Massey and John Adair with 58 percent of the vote. Right after the election, Scherlen hit the ground running.
Leaning on his business experience, Scherlen got involved with leading tourism advocacy in Amarillo. He also became a leading figure in the fight to correct the excessive spending put into place by the previous City Council. However, early in the term, Scherlen was also dealt a difficult task, when his City Council had to deal with flooding in Amarillo due to excessive rains. Under the leadership of the current City Council, the City of Amarillo made one of its largest investments in drainage improvement in the city’s history, which Scherlen championed.
Scherlen was also a leader in rolling back one of the previous City Council’s most controversial policies: reinstalling paid parking in downtown Amarillo. Scherlen voted to remove paid parking and declared that the streets “belong to the citizens.”
Being open to the public has been one of Scherlen’s main priorities. Before almost every meeting of Amarillo City Council, Scherlen has invited the public to meet with him in room 203 of City Hall. At this point, it’s only a matter of time before the room is listed as his office.
His work has turned Scherlen into one of the most popular members of the current City Council, thanks to his focus on pro-citizen initiatives. It’s no wonder then why he was the consensus pick for the 2024 Amarillo Pioneer of the Year Award.
Graphic by Amarillo Pioneer
Runner-Ups
Chuck Williams, KGNC radio personality
A longtime fixture in local radio broadcasting, Chuck Williams can regularly be heard on KGNC’s “The Chat,” which also is broadcast on NewsChannel10. Williams’ humor and thoughtful lines of questioning for guests have made him a popular character on the morning airwaves.
John Coffee, Potter County Commissioner
A retired deputy sheriff, John Coffee was elected to the Potter County Commission in 2020, and is running for re-election in 2024. Coffee earned praise earlier this year for his advocacy against an unpopular initiative aimed at residents of his district. Coffee has also notably been one of the biggest advocates for first responders on the Potter County Commissioners’ Court.
Walter Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler has been a mainstay in the Texas Panhandle since taking over the college in 2016. Wendler has been in the news several times over the past year – for controversies and successes, alike – but his most recent news appearance was a major win for WTAMU: the creation of the Hill Institute, funded by a $20 million gift from Amarillo’s Fairly family.
Other Nominees:
Don Collins, former mayoral candidate
Josh Craft, Amarillo City Councilman
Max Dunlap, City of Amarillo Director of Emergency Management
Georgia Estrada, Potter County Constable
Kelly Giles, Randall County Republican Chairman
The City of Amarillo’s Digital Human
“Doppler” Dave Oliver, KFDA Meteorologist
Howard Smith, former Amarillo City Councilman
Don Tipps, Amarillo City Councilman
Notable Write-In (5+ Votes)
Kevin Nelson, attorney and husband of former Mayor Ginger Nelson