After about 40 years, Randy Rikel is retiring Dec. 31 as vice president for business and finance at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.
“Being an alumnus and seeing the transformation of this campus since the 1980s has been a wonderful experience,” Rikel said. “There is still lots to do, but I am honored to have been part of the growth of this campus.”
As a WT student, Rikel gave tours to prospective new Buffs and even helped out at the university’s 75th anniversary celebration. He first joined WT staff in 1996 as director of accounting, rising to assistant vice president in 2002, then associate vice president for business and finance in 2006. After several years at Texas A&M University–Texarkana and the University of Dallas, Rikel returned to WT in May 2015.
“Randy has served our community with distinction,” WT President Walter V. Wendler said. “He led through key milestones including stewardship of balanced budgets, strengthening of internal controls, and oversight of many major capital projects and improvements. I offer him my sincere gratitude for his dedicated service in leadership and the positive impact he has had on WT tudents, faculty and staff.”
WT said Rikel, a CPA who is active in several state business professional organizations, oversees the university’s physical facilities and contract management along with supervising the Accounting and Business Office, Budget Office, Buff Gold Card Office, Human Resources, Post Office, Purchasing and Inventory Services, Risk Management, University Bookstore and the University Police Department.
Rikel will work at WT on a part-time basis to work on special projects. He shares four children and 10 grandchildren (with an 11th on the way) with wife Joni.
“I have worked with a lot of great people who had a heart and a mission to help students meet their dreams and their goals of an education to better their families,” Rikel said.
Todd McNeill, who is currently associate vice president for finance and controller, will serve as interim vice president for business and finance effective Jan. 1.
More community news
Sharing Hope Ministry is inviting the community to join in celebrating 15 years of service through Patsy’s Place Transitional Home, a program dedicated to helping prepare women for stable and productive lives outside of incarceration, at a tour and event 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. Patsy’s Place was created when volunteers and staff recognized the lack of a safe, supportive home environment for local women returning from incarceration. Since its inception, it has provided a family-style setting where women can rebuild their lives with dignity, purpose, and hope. Participants receive food, clothing, shelter, life skills education, spiritual support, and addiction recovery resources. Over the past 15 years, 205 women have found stability, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose through its supportive environment. For more, call 806-358-7803.
The Amarillo Police Department is offering holiday travel tips, noting that a little planning can go a long way in keeping loved ones safe this time of year when delays or unexpected weather can hit. In your vehicle, be sure to keep a small emergency kit with items including water, non-perishable snacks, blankets, warm clothing, rain gear, a first-aid kit, flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables (or portable battery charger), a basic toolkit, tire pressure gauge and spare tire, portable phone charger, ice scraper, a printed map or copy of directors, prescription medications, and any needed supplies for children or pets. And before traveling, make sure your vehicle is safe by checking oil, wipers, brakes, tires, lights, and fuel level. For more safety tips, including driving do’s and dont’s, visit their page on Facebook.
Amarillo Little Theatre will be presenting “The Cottage” by Sandy Rustin from Jan. 8 to Jan. 18 on the Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. A talented cast of veteran ALT actors will perform the hilarious British farce, a roaring 20’s romantic romp inspired by the works of Noël Coward and from the playwright that took “Clue” from screen to stage. The box office opened to members on Dec. 22 and opens to the public on Monday, Dec. 29 at 10 a.m. Reserve your tickets by phone at (806) 355-9991 or online at amarillolittletheatre.org . The show is rated 13+ due to mature themes, discussion of extramarital affairs and some language. Look for more on this production in an upcoming Amarillo Globe-News story.
This week’s Furry Friend is Olaft. “Olaft’s coloring is mainly white, with brown and black on his face, and some brown blotches. Olaft has been with a foster family and is now kennel trained, potty trained, good with other dogs. He loves to sleep in his kennel with the door open. Now available for adoption at our shelter.” APSCA adoptions can be made at the shelter, 11901 S. Coulter, noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Call 806-622-0555, or visit www.amarillospcashelter.com or www.adoptapet.com.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center is celebrating the end of 2025 and the start of their 50th anniversary in 2026 with full day of family fun New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. “Ring in the New Year” will offer a storytime for younger kids, as well as science demonstrations, activities, and science-based programs in DHDC’s Space Theater. Guests can find discounted or free ways to visit the center through their website, https://discoverycentercollective.org/don-harrington-discovery-center/visit/accessibility-programs/ . Programming will be happening during DHDC’s regular business hours, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the center will be closed on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1 and will then resume regular business hours Jan. 2.
In addition, DHDC’s Free First Monday program will be on Jan. 5 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. It coincides with DHDC’s Girls Who Science program, which also occurs on the first Monday of each month. January’s speaker Delane McUne, an instructor at Amarillo College, will focus on topics including mechanical engineering, education, and computer science. Delane attended AC before earning her BS in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. After working for several years at GE Power Systems, she opened her own business. She received an MBA from Eastern New Mexico University and began her career in academia in 2004. To learn more, visit DHDC.org or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
As Visit Amarillo gears up for the 100-year celebration of the Mother Road with the 2026 Texas Route 66 Festival June 4–13, they are inviting local businesses, attractions, and organizations to be part of the 10-day celebration with a Route 66–themed event or activation. Submit ideas for event names, dates and a brief description of your plan to Tourism Manager Luz Aguilar at luz@visitamarillo.com . Submissions are due by Feb. 20, 2026.
Lots of upcoming concerts for 2026 have tickets already on sale, going into the new year. Performances to mark on your calendars include ZZ Top at the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium on March 22 and Flatland Cavalry at the Lumberyard on April 30. The Soulja Boy concert at Bliss Horizon Live, originally planned for Jan. 3, has been postponed to a later date, with a new date to be announced in the near future. For other upcoming shows, visit the venues’ respective websites and/or pages on social media.
West Texas A&M University shared a number of highlights going into the fall break and holidays. Elvis Owusu, a WT graduate student in the Master of Science in Finance and Economics, co-authored a study that looks into the role of strategic investments in the business performance of Panhandle businesses. Dr. Shanna Peeples, WT’s Dr. John G. O’Brien Distinguished Chair in Education, is serving on the 2026 National Teacher of the Year Selection Committee for the Council of Chief State School Officers. Several faculty members were selected to present research at the 70th Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association conference, to be held Feb. 18 to 21 in Fort Worth. Helene Keiser, a senior animal science major from Gothenburg, Nebraska, was honored as a Senior College Academic All-American in November at the North American Intercollegiate Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. Lyndsey Pancost, a junior agriculture education major from Milliken, Colorado, was named as a recipient of the Rachel Hamilton Memorial Spirit Award at the International Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest. For more, see https://www.wtamu.edu/news/2025/12/wt-news-notes-december-2025.html .
The City of Pampa is urging residents to exercise caution following confirmed detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in the region. Residents are strongly advised not to touch, move, or handle any birds that appear sick, injured, or are found deceased. If you observe anything suspicious, contact Pampa Animal Services immediately.
Skellytown Fire Department Fire Chief Jacob Clifton has been appointed to the Texas Emergency Management Advisory Council (TEMAC) Executive Board, which serves as a critical advisory body to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), providing professional insight and strategic guidance from experienced emergency management leaders throughout the state. With more than a decade of experience in fire service, EMS, and emergency management, Chief Clifton brings a multidisciplinary perspective to the executive board. He also serves as EMS Director for the Hemphill County Hospital District EMS. The board appointment is effective Jan. 1 and will end on Dec. 31, 2027.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: West Texas A&M VP Randy Rikel to retire Dec. 31
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
