A failure to connect
By Dr. Jerry Andrew Taylor We are living through a heavy and weary season in our nation and throughout the world. Amid ongoing chaos and confusion, many people are starving for simple human connection. We pass one another like silent ships moving through dark water at midnight. We look at faces but rarely enter the…
Read MoreOllie Beatrice ‘Bea’ Mays
Ollie Beatrice “Bea” Mays passed on peacefully on May 18, 2026, at the age of 87, having been born on September 7, 1938, and residing in Abilene, Texas. Ollie was born in Sawyerville, Alabama, in Hale County; she was the beloved daughter of Mable Cooper and Richard McCruter. Bea attended Alabama A&M University in Huntsville,…
Read MoreFriends of the Library book sale returns June 18-21 to convention center
By Glenn Dromgoole One of the most popular book events in Abilene – the Friends of the Library Book Sale – gets under way on Thursday, June 18, and runs through Sunday, June 21, at the Abilene Convention Center. The Thursday night preview sale, from 5-8 p.m., is for FOL members only, but family and…
Read MoreMcMurry president speaks at scholarship luncheon
McMurry University President Dr. Lynn Murray challenged a group of Abilene’s top academic achievers to embrace uncertainty, persist through self-doubt and invest in others as she delivered the keynote address at the Kiwanis of Abilene Foundation’s annual scholarship luncheon. Five students were awarded $1,500 scholarships: Luke Schonerstedt, Wylie High School; McKenzie Hamon, Jim Ned High…
Read MoreGreater Abilene Kiwanis award Ratliff scholarships
By Gail Jay The Kiwanis Club of Abilene recently awarded the organization’s 2026 David Ratliff Scholarships. Ratliff was a Cooper High School graduate in 1967. He was married and had a son, David, Jr., and daughter, Tamie. Ratliff was an Abilene businessman who supported the Kiwanis Club, Ben Richey Boys Ranch, and other agencies serving…
Read More2026 Abilene Area Valedictorians and Salutatorians
The West Texas Tribune is proud to present the valedictorians and salutatorians from high schools across the Abilene area. Reaching the top of the class requires years of hard work. As they close this chapter and look toward the future, we invite our community to join us in celebrating their achievements. Explore the gallery below…
Read MoreWalking through Greenwood: What Black Wall Street taught me at 50
By Mashall Lowry May 14–16, 2026, was a very emotional and eye-opening week for me as I walked through the Greenwood District in Tulsa. As a young Black woman from Abilene, I realize there is so much history I was never taught or fully understood. Although Abilene has faced its own struggles, learning the history…
Read More‘It’s National Geographic’: The vision behind Abilene Heritage Square
A forgotten building has been reintroduced as what may become one of Abilene’s most unforgettable landmarks. By Greg Jaklewicz/West Texas Tribune The doors are open again to the three-story Abilene High School, which opened to students in 1924. More than 100 years later, it’s Abilene Heritage Square, the home to the city’s new central…
Read MoreThe man who never meets a stranger: 94 years of faith, family and legacy
By the Family of William J. Brown Let us introduce you to our 94-year-old dad, William J. Brown, who has never met a stranger. He’s one of those that could have a conversation with a sign post. Dad is one of 12 children born to Governor and Mary Brown in Thornton, Texas. He married…
Read MoreThe legacy of Auslin Anselmo Hassel
Reflections from Stephen, Michael and Stephanie and eternal spirit of Scott By the Family of Auslin Hassel The Hassel Family legacy is built on the pillars of respect, service, and a bridge from the past to the future. From our earliest days, our father, Auslin Anselmo Hassel, instilled in us the vital importance of…
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