West Texas A&M University adds 6 WTAMU Foundation board members

CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with West Texas A&M University announced Friday that six community leaders have joined the WTAMU Foundation Board of Directors.

According to WT officials, each new board member was formally voted onto the board at its Aug. 20 meeting and joined 36 other members.

“The Foundation provides WT outstanding leadership and results in all things related to philanthropy,” said Dr. Todd Rasberry, vice president for philanthropy and external relations and executive director of the WTAMU Foundation. “The WT Foundation Board is comprised of engaged community leaders, alumni and philanthropists across the region and state. Our six new members will strengthen and deepen the influence and results of the Foundation for the University and, in turn, for the Panhandle.”

Officials noted the new members include:

• Debbie Farnum, serving as the representative of the WT Alumni Association :
• Farnum earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from WT in 1971 and 1994 and was a longtime teacher. After leaving the classroom, she joined the meeting planning industry and worked for about a decade with the Texas Association of School Boards.

• Dr. Darryl Flusche, superintendent of Canyon Independent School District :
• Flusche, a WT graduate, has 36 years of experience in public education and joined Canyon Independent School District as superintendent in July 2015. Before coming to Canyon ISD, he spent his career at Frenship ISD near Lubbock. Flusche has experience as a teacher, principal, director of elementary education, and assistant superintendent of curriculum. He earned a master’s degree in education administration from Texas Tech University, completed his superintendent certification through Lubbock Christian University, and earned his doctorate in education at Texas Tech University. Flusche is actively involved in the community as a Rotarian and is a member of the Canyon Noon Lions Club.

• Joseph Peterson Jr., a financial adviser with Edward Jones :
• Peterson, a 2010 graduate of WT, has worked for Edward Jones for 10 years, earning his Certified Financial Planner certification in 2022. He has served on the board of directors for United Way of Amarillo and Canyon, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas Panhandle Builders Association.

• Patrick Swindell, an Amarillo attorney :
• Swindell is the owner of Swindell Law Firm, where his practice focuses on bankruptcy law and civil litigation. A 1977 WT graduate, he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University in 1980. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar Bankruptcy Section, the Amarillo Area Bar Association, and the American Bankruptcy Institute. An Amarillo native, Swindell is chairman of the Board of Regents and Founder of Ascension Academy, a member of the Buffalo Club, past president of the Board of Trustees of the Amarillo Opera and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Llano Cemetery. He and his wife Roni are longtime supporters of the arts.

• Ben Weinheimer, president and CEO of Texas Cattle Feeders Association :
• Weinheimer joined TCFA in 1995, previously serving as regulatory manager from 1995 to 2005 and vice president from 2006 to 2021. An honors graduate of Texas A&M University, Weinheimer is active in several industry-related and civic organizations.

• Lizzie Ware Williams, director of Community Development at Amarillo National Bank :

• An Amarillo native, Williams graduated from Southern Methodist University. She coordinates ANB’s financial education program and assists with the Ware Foundation. She founded the nonprofit Hands On Amarillo, which connects volunteers to nonprofits and has been active on several nonprofit boards and committees.

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