AC honors fallen captain with $10K gift to Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial
Amarillo College has made a contribution to a memorial project in downtown Amarillo in honor of a police officer who died in the line of duty 40 years ago Friday.
The college is honoring the memory of fallen Amarillo Police Captain Frank Clements with a $10,000 gift to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial. Cpt. Clements, who had served with the Amarillo College Police Department for 11 years, suffered a fatal heart attack on May 16th, 1985, while directing traffic at a busy intersection on campus.
Area law enforcement agencies and the Amarillo Police Department, along with community members, gathered May 15 for the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony at Llano Cemetery. Clements was mentioned during the roll call portion of the ceremony, as part of the tribute paid to local fallen heroes.
'Captain Frank Clements served Amarillo College dutifully and honorably,' said Chris Sharp, AC vice president of business affairs. 'He protected the citizens of Amarillo, AC students, faculty, and staff. This is a distinctively fitting tribute to him and his family at the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial.'
Clements will be enshrined on the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial, along with first responders from 45 area agencies who have lost their lives in service to the region, according to a news release from the nonprofit Friends of AJ Swope, the organization working on the memorial project.
According to the nonprofit, the memorial is entering its last stages of fundraising to break ground and begin construction this year at the site, located at 11th and Polk.
The fundraising goal was previously reported to be $1.5 million.
The structure is being designed to honor law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency services personnel from the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Along with the physical site, an accompanying website will tell the story of each first responder.
'We are so very grateful for the gift from Amarillo College in honor of Captain Clements, which will assist in making the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial a reality,' says Todd Beckum, president of Friends of AJ Swope and a former Amarillo police officer. 'This Memorial is extremely important as no lasting tribute for all area first responders currently exists in our region.'
In August 2022, the Amarillo City Council approved a $1-a-year lease in downtown Amarillo for the memorial at a location that has been a small city park since 1970, according to Globe-News archives. The memorial's concept has included a terraced, black granite monument with a water feature and lighting, with the names of fallen first responders engraved on raised panels.
For more specifics about the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial, visit firstrespondersmemorial.org , including a list of those to be initially memorialized and concept designs. According to the website, the list currently includes more than 100 law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and emergency transport members.
In addition, donations to the project can be made on the website or by contacting Friends of AJ Swope at (806) 353-2911. More information about the nonprofit can be found at www.friendsofajswope.org .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: In Clements' memory, Amarillo College donates $10,000 to memorial
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Introduction Part 1: Homeless often means 'invisible,' but not to everyone in this small Kentucky town Part 2: After living outdoors for weeks, she got a place to sleep, a shower — and a job Part 3: A church called its vision for housing a 'Beacon of Hope.' The mayor had concerns.
