15th Annual Women’s History Lecture and Luncheon

15^th Annual Women’s History Lecture and Luncheon Celebrates

Women in Tourism in the Texas Panhandle

The 15^th Annual Women’s History Luncheon and Lecture will be held Friday, August 22^nd, at the Polk Street Methodist Church from 11:30 a.m.  – 1:00 pm. “This year’s luncheon will focus on women in tourism,” committee chair, Claudia Stravato said. “Tickets are $50 each.  You can pay at the door, but you must have a reservation by calling 806-355-4125. A raffle will be held for a night at The Barfield hotel, plus a basket of goodies,” Stravato said.

The annual event is coordinated this year by representatives of the following organizations, Amarillo College Foundation, Amarillo Executive Women, Amarillo Women’s Network, League of Women Voters of Amarillo, Visit Amarillo, and West Texas A & M University Foundation.

The guest speaker will be Ericka Boyd, President and CEO of the Texas Travel Alliance, President of the Texas Tourism Foundation, and executive director for the Texas Commercial Airports Association, managed by TTA.

A native of New Braunfels, Ms. Boyd has worked in nonprofit leadership, communication, and advocacy roles for most of her career.  She recently served on the Texas Statewide Economic Development Plan Advisory Board and  currently serves on the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s State Parks Advisory Board, the Hospitality Educators Association of Texas, and the San Antonio Visitor Alliance.

Proceeds from the annual luncheon go toward scholarships for women at Amarillo College.  The two winners this year are Kaitlyn Foreman of Amarillo and Jessica Medina of Dimmitt, who met all the requirements and demonstrated need.

“This year the lecture and luncheon will recognize women in tourism.  It has been an exciting field to research,” Claudia Stravato, chairperson of the luncheon said.  “The Texas Panhandle is truly fortunate to have many tourism attractions including Palo Duro Canyon,  the play TEXAS, the Goodnight House, Wonderland, American Quarter Horse Association, the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, the Big Texan Steak House, Cadillac Ranch, and over 40 county historical cultural museums among many more attractions!  The Big Texan Steakhouse and the Cadillac Ranch are known all over the world,” Stravato said,

“Tourism includes travel, attractions and destinations, accommodations, food services, and the

cultural arts, and account for a significant impact on the economy,” Stravato said.  The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that U.S. tourism and ancillary businesses to be 10% of the economy, the largest in the world!

In Texas, tourism makes up 8% of the economy and provides for 1.3 million jobs.  Women accounted for 51% of the state’s 1.3 million jobs in leisure and hospitality, which encompasses core tourism-related industries such as attractions, accommodations, food services, culture, and recreation.

In Amarillo alone, tourism generated $1 billion dollars, with tax receipts of $91.1 million dollars in 2024.   There are approximately 8,500 direct tourism employees in Amarillo, making it one of the largest employers, according to the Amarillo Convention and Visitor Bureau.

At the luncheon, and in a slide presentation produced for the occasion, those women in tourism in the Texas Panhandle, will be recognized  for their years spent being trailblazers by developing and promoting tourism in the Texas Panhandle.

They include  Daphne Adkins, who has provided rich, insightful tours of historic Route 66  and the Palo Duro Canyon for many years.  Her storytelling has enhanced the Panhandle’s tourism by creating engaging, meaningful experiences for Panhandle travelers.  Hattie Anderson, deceased, was one of the founders of the Panhandle Plains Historical Society and played a key role in establishing the Panhandle Plains-Historical Museum, which is the largest state museum in Texas.  Paula Borchardt,

along with co-founder, her late mother Althea Roads, and her husband, Paul Borchardt, has been a driving force behind Wonderland Amusement Park for over 40 years.  They made Wonderland Amusement Park a beloved destination that strengthens tourism in the Panhandle.

Also to be recognized are Bernice Blasingame, former Palo Duro Park Interpreter and Education Director for many years.  She made the park come alive for visitors which they never forgot.  Ruby Mae Bromley, deceased, her restaurant in Clarendon began as a boarding house for Clarendon College basketball players.  She expanded it with a public dining room that was so well received it was listed in national travel publications.  Over the years, thousands of travelers stopped there to eat. Wendi Cook, director of the Citadelle Art Foundation in Canadian, Texas has played a vital role in enriching the cultural landscape of the Panhandle by promoting local art and fostering community engagement.,  She has made the Citadelle Museum a cherished destination.  Beth Duke, Executive Director of Center City, is an enthusiastic advocate for historic preservation and downtown revitalization.  She has helped transform Amarillo into a vibrant destination for visitors and locals alike and has been an ardent supporter of recruiting new businesses downtown, including The Barfield Hotel, which recently received historical recognition with a historical marker.

Others being recognized are: Montie Goodin, deceased, was born in the Goodnight House

where her father, Cleo Hubbard was foreman for the Goodnight ranch.  She was a driving force behind the restoration of the Goodnight House and received the Clara Driscoll Award from the Texas Historical Commission for making the Goodnight Historical Center a key cultural destination in the Panhandle.  Phyllis Nickum Golden established a successful new attraction at the Palo Duro Canyon, Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West, a trail riding and chuckwagon meal experience.  Her attraction brings the old west alive to visitors from all over the world and enhances tourism in the Panhandle.  Margaret Pease Harper, deceased, was the founder of the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation and driving force behind TEXAS the outdoor musical.  The musical has attracted millions of visitors since its opening in 1966.  Tina Lee, Big Texan Steak House, who along with her husband, Bobby Lee, has helped cement the Big Texan as a legendary culinary location not only in Texas, but the United States through its culinary 72 oz. steak eating contest!

Ada Lester, Chairwoman of the Wheeler County Historical Commission and former postmistress for Mobeetie and Wheeler, she has significantly enhanced tourism in the Panhandle by transforming local history into a compelling draw for travelers by securing historic markers for the area. Catheryne Lankford established, taught and directed the Travel and Tourism A.A.S. program at Amarillo College, from 1990 through 2020.  She also had a college level program in Dallas at Richland College.  She has trained many students who entered the tourism field.  Jutta Matalka, deceased, was the director of the Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council for 20 years.  A native of Germany,  she began promoting Panhandle tourism on the international stage and branded Route 66 as a tourist destination.

Also being recognized are:  Peggy Miller, the lead travel counselor at the Texas Travel Information Center on I-40, which is part of the Texas Department of Transportation. She has spent more than a decade guiding travelers in the Panhandle.  Jo Randle, deceased, spent years establishing and promoting the Carson County Square House Museum and made it a household name.  Althea Roads, deceased, co-founded Wonderland Amusement Park in 1951, originally called Kiddie Land.  She helped it grow into Texas’ largest, family-owned amusement park.  Her daughter Paula Borchardt and her husband Paul Borchardt now operate Wonderland.  Blanca Schaffer, co-owner of Jericho Gap, on  old Route 66, spearheaded the revitalization of, once-forgotten Jericho, into a compelling waypoint for travelers.

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Claudia Stravato, Chairwoman

Louise Daniel Women’s History Lecture and Luncheon