IN THE NEWS

KAMR-TV
10/28/25
How you can help honor our Fallen First Responders
Our good friend Wendi Swope joined us back in the studio today to give us an update on the fundraising efforts of the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial. She gave us some details on the money they have already raised and how you can help...

KAMR-TV
10/23/25
Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas and serving the people of the High Plains
Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas is presently working with a local non-profit. Thomas and several other community members are raising money to get the proposed Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial underway in downtown Amarillo.

KAMR-TV
09/04/2025
Texas Panhandle First Responder's Memorial close to becoming a reality
No matter the time of day or situation, first responders rush into dangerous situations to make sure you stay safe. Friends of A.J. Swope, a local non-profit is working to honor those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, with the...

KAMR-TV
08/22/2025
Amarillo HOG, Tripps Harley-Davidson present gift to First Responders Memorial
The Amarillo Harley Owners Group and Tripp’s Harley Davidson presented a $12,000 check to the Texas Panhandle First Responders’ Memorial to honor fallen law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS personnel.

AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS
06/17/2025
Amarillo Buc-ee's donates 'substantial gift' to first responders memorial project
Buc-ee’s is the latest entity to make a major donation toward the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial project in downtown Amarillo that will honor dozens of fallen heroes from around the region, the Friends of AJ Swope announced June 17.

KFDA-TV
05/15/2025
Amarillo College honors fallen officers with donation to first responders memorial
Amarillo College has donated $10,000 to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial in memory of a fallen AC officer.
The school made the gift to honor Captain Frank Clements, who served with the Amarillo College Police Department for...

AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS
03/06/2025
WT Police Cpl. Monty Platt honored with gift to Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
The West Texas A&M Foundation is honoring the memory of fallen WT Police Corporal Monty Dale Platt with a gift to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial. Cpl. Platt will be enshrined on...

CANADIAN RECORD
11/19/24
Donations sought for Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
The Friends of AJ Swope invite you to join them Monday, November 25th through Tuesday, December 3rd for The Panhandle Gives. You can help reach the goal of breaking ground and beginning construction on the Texas Panhandle First..

KAMR-TV
5/4/2024
Amarillo HOG invites residents to High Plains Raffle Run on May 4
Officials said registration begins at 9 a.m. and this event is open to motorcycles and cars. Amarillo HOG said proceed from this event aims to benefit the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial and local HOG charities.

CANADIAN RECORD
8/10/23
Valero Provides Lead Gift to Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Valero, a major refiner and employer with deep roots in the Texas Panhandle, has provided the lead gift of $200,000 in a fundraising effort to build the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial in downtown Amarillo.

KGNC
12/23/25
Amarillo Family Donates $100k to Honor First Responders
One thing Amarillo tends to be is generous. Sure, they don't ever seem to want their taxes to go up, no matter the reason, and while I can understand that, they still have generous hearts. We have more people here who have a good amount of money...

KAMR-TV
11/12/25
McDonald's Gives Back helping raise money for First Responders Memorial
Our good friends Wendi Swope from the First Responders Memorial and Stephanie Khayat, the Marketing Coordinator for McDonald’s, joined us in the studio to talk about their latest project, McDonald’s Gives Back Day.

KAMR-TV
10/27/25
A 1956 explosion would kill 19 firemen and shape two small communities
In Moore County sit the small cities of Sunray and Dumas, which will experience an explosion at a gas tank that led to the death of 19 firefighters. According to the Window on the Plains Museum, the Shamrock Oil and Gas Company explosion occurred on...

KAMR-TV
10/16/28
City of Amarillo proclaims Oct. 28 First Responders Day
During Tuesday’s City Council Meeting, the council proclaimed that Oct. 28 would be known as ”Local First Responders Day” in Amarillo. The proclamation also served as a reminder of progress on the Texas Panhandle First Responder Memorial.

AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS
08/30/2025
2025 High Plains Raffle Run raises $12,000 for Texas Panhandle First Responders' Memorial
The Amarillo Harley Owners Group and Tripp’s Harley-Davidson recently presented a $12,000 check to the Texas Panhandle First Responders’ Memorial to honor our area’s fallen law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS personnel, making their total contribution...

KFDA-TV
06/19/2025
Buc-ee's donates to Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
A memorial honoring first responders right here in Amarillo is one step closer to completion. Nonprofit Friends of AJ Swope partnered with the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial to create a site for recognizing fallen heroes in our region.

MSN
05/15/2025
AC honors fallen captain with $10k gift to Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Amarillo College has made a contribution to a memorial project in downtown Amarillo in honor of a police officer who died in the line of duty 40 years ago Friday.
The college is honoring the memory of fallen Amarillo Police Captain Frank...

AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS
05/15/2025
AC honros fallen captain with $10k gift to Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Amarillo College has made a contribution to a memorial project in downtown Amarillo in honor of a police officer who died in the line of duty 40 years ago Friday. The college is honoring the memory of fallen Amarillo Police Captain Frank Clements with a...

KGNC
03/03/2025
WTAMU Foundation Honors Fallen WT Officer
The West Texas A&M Foundation is honoring the memory of fallen WT Police Corporal Monty Dale Platt with a meaningful gift to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial. Cpl. Platt will be enshrined on the Memorial along with first responders from...

AOL
10/6/24
Bell Textron donation, FirstBank Southwest VP among this week's business news
Friends of AJ Swope is working in partnership with regional first responding agencies to raise funds and build the memorial, which will honor Texas Panhandle law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel...

AMARILLLO GLOBE-NEWS
8/10/23
Valero donates $200,000 toward Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Valero, a major refiner and employer with deep roots in the Texas Panhandle, has provided the lead gift of $200,000 in a fundraising effort to build the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial in downtown Amarillo.

AMARILLLO GLOBE-NEWS
8/18/22
City of Amarillo announces agreement for downtown first responders memorial
On Tuesday, by a unanimous 5-0 vote, the Amarillo City Council approved a $1-a-year lease in downtown Amarillo for a first responders memorial honoring those who lost their lives in the line of duty in the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle.

AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS
12/30/25
Center City announces $70k for Panhandle first responders memorial
Center City of Amarillo announced $70,000 in funding on Dec. 30 at the site of the future Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial, which will be built at the intersection of Polk Street and 11th Avenue outside the historic Mary E. Bivins Library in downtown Amarillo.

KAMR-TV
12/15/25
Hodge Family, Downtown Athletic Club donates $100,000 to Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Amarillo philanthropist Margaret Hodge and the Downtown Athletic Club have provided the lead gift of $100,000 to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial that is being built at 11th and Polk in downtown...

KAMR-TV
10/29/25
KAMR Local 4 News donates in support of Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
The Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation and KAMR Local 4 News announced it will donate $5,000 to the Friends of AJ Swope on Tuesday, also known as Local First Responders Day, to support the construction of the Texas Panhandle First...

KAMR-TV
10/28/25
Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial: Honoring Sgt. Paul Buckles
The Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial will be located in Downtown Amarillo, located at 11th and Polk, providing a space to honor every first responder who has died in the line of duty within the top 26 counties of the Panhandle since 1882.

KAMR-TV
10/26/25
Honoring Assistant Amarillo Fire Chief Robert "Bob" Schwab
Assistant Fire Chief Bob Schwab was known as “The General.” After 24 years of dedicated service, Schwab would pass away, and along with many other first responders, he will be honored at the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial.

KAMR-TV
09/08/2025
Discussing how much is left to be raised for First Responders Memorial on Today in Amarillo
First Responders Memorial Board Members, Wes Reeves and Wendi Swope, joined Today in Amarillo on Monday Morning to discuss how much money is needed to break ground on the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial.

KVII-TV
06/17/2025
Buc-ee's makes 'substantial gift' to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Buc-ee’s made a "substantial gift" to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial. “Although Buc-ee’s has only been in Amarillo a few short months, the company is investing in our community full force," said Todd Beckum, president of the board in...

KAMR-TV STUDIO 4
06/04/2025
Preview of 2nd High Plains Raffle Run benefiting the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Riders are hitting the road in support of a great local cause during the High Plains Raffle Run happening on Saturday, June 7. Registration for the Run starts at 9 a.m. at Tripps Harley Davidson, the last bike out...

KAMR-TV
05/15/2025
Amarillo College gifts Texas Panhandle First Responders memorial $10,000 to honor fallen officer
Amarillo College announced it is honoring the memory of fallen Amarillo Police Captain Frank Clements with a $10,000 gift to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial.
According to AC officials, Captain...

KVII-TV
05/15/2025
Amarillo College honors fallen police captain with memorial donation
Amarillo College has made a $10,000 donation to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial in honor of the late Captain Frank Clements of the Amarillo Police.Captain Clements, who served with the Amarillo College Police Department...

KFDA-TV
9/18/24
Bell Textron donates $5,000 to First Responders Memorial
Officials with Bell Textron visited the future location of the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial to present a $5,000 check to Friends of AJ Swope. Several notable people, including Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas, Amarillo Fire Chief...

KFDA-TV
8/10/23
Valero gives $200,000 to Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Fundraising efforts are underway for the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial. Valero has provided a lead gift of $200,000 to the memorial. The donation kickstarts fundraising for the $1.5 million project. The Texas...

KVII-TV
8/10/23
Valero donates $200,000 for Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial in downtown Amarillo
Valero donated $200,000 to build the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial in downtown Amarillo. The memorial will list names of the 91 Texas Panhandle law enforcement officers, firefighters and...

KAMR-TV
8/16/2022
City Council Approves First Responder Memorial
During the City Council meeting on Tuesday, the City of Amarillo, in a 5 to 0 vote, approved the construction of a memorial downtown to honor first responders. According to the meeting agenda, the item discussed a lease agreement between the City of Amarillo...





