Professorship, Scholarship Fund Established at WT in Honor of AISD’s Loomis

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — The retiring superintendent of Amarillo Independent School District is being honored by the establishment of a professorship and an endowed scholarship in his name.

Doug Loomis, who earned his master’s in education from WT, announced in October that he would retire effective June 30.

“Doug Loomis has provided almost four decades of teaching and administrative leadership in Amarillo ISD,” said WT President Walter V. Wendler. “Doug’s service to district students, families, and teachers as superintendent is to be commended. Honoring Doug at WT through the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences with both a scholarship and professorship focusing on preparing the next generation of schoolteachers and administrators is an excellent way to highlight the good work being done throughout Amarillo ISD.”

Loomis said he is “deeply honored and profoundly humbled by the establishment of this professorship and scholarship in my name at West Texas A&M University.”

“WT and AISD have each influenced my life in ways I could never fully articulate—shaping not only the educator I have become but, more importantly, the person I strive to be every day. From my days as a graduate student to the privilege of serving this remarkable community, these two institutions have instilled in me a strong sense of purpose, a love for learning, and a heart dedicated to service,” Loomis said. “I am truly grateful for this recognition. My hope is that it creates opportunities for others, just as education has opened countless doors for me. It serves as a powerful reminder that when we invest in people, we shape futures. As an educator, there is no higher purpose.”

The professorship, established with funds from an anonymous donor, creates a $125,000 endowment to be assigned to a faculty member at a later date.

The scholarship will be established with a $25,000 endowment principal. Contributions to the scholarship are welcomed.

Donations can be accepted online at wtamu.edu/one-west/give.html. Select “Give Now,” and under “designation,” type “Doug Loomis Scholarship.”

Gifts also may be made via check made payable to WTAMU Foundation for the Doug Loomis Scholarship. Mailing address is WTAMU Foundation, Box 60766, Canyon, TX 79016.

“I am thrilled that Doug’s legacy as an educator will continue at WT through these two endowments named for him,” said Dr. Gary Bigham, Dean of the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences at WT. “Our commitment to educating teachers for schools across the Panhandle and the state of Texas, is enhanced through support for students and faculty.”

Loomis has spent more than four decades in the Amarillo Independent School District, making an impact across the district and working in schools in every quadrant and at every level. He began as a physical education teacher at Wolflin Elementary School, then taught science and health at Fannin Middle School. Later, he served as assistant principal at Sam Houston Middle School, assistant principal at Palo Duro High School, principal of Amarillo High School, and then executive director over the Caprock cluster of schools, which includes Caprock High School and its 13 feeder schools. He also served five years as the district’s chief human resources officer before being named interim superintendent in October 2018. The AISD School Board named him Superintendent in March 2019.

A native of Dalhart, Loomis is a graduate of Oklahoma Panhandle State University.

Endowed professorships enhance opportunities for faculty members by providing additional resources which can be applied to teaching, research and professional growth.

WT boasts nearly 90 endowed professorships, offering faculty additional funding for research, travel and more.

During the One West campaign, about 60 new professorships and chairs have been endowed throughout the University—an increase of more than 200 percent during the campaign.

WT opened in 1910 as West Texas State Normal College, a school that trained teachers. Today, about 75 percent of all teachers and administrators throughout the Panhandle region have at least one degree or certificate from WT.

Training educators is still a vital mission of the University, as laid out in its long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—