Tech alumni, Lubbock locals inducted into West Texas Walk of Fame

Every year, the West Texas Walk of Fame recognizes artistic individuals that have a strong connection to Lubbock.

Mayor Dan Pope introduced the ceremony and said the West Texas Walk of Fame is one of the highest achievements an artist can be awarded, especially in the panhandle.

Garland A. Weeks, a sculptor, attended Texas Tech in 1961, when it was the first semester the university reached an enrollment of 10,000 students. He was involved in student politics, fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and the rodeo team. Weeks said college was such an amazing time in his life that he stayed at Tech for six years before going to the military.

“I enjoyed Texas Tech. I enjoyed Lubbock,” Weeks said. “I moved back here in 2000 and don’t intend to leave. This is just a great place to be.”

As a sculptor for over 45 years, Weeks said it is great to be acknowledged for his work, and this induction is one of the biggest honors he has ever had.

Bob Livingston, singer and songwriter, said he never knew he wanted to be a musician until he moved with his family to Lubbock when he was nine.

“All the music coming out of here really seeped into me, and I just knew what I wanted to do,” Livingston said.

Even though he was a student at Tech, Livingston said he dropped it all to be a musician and went on the road in 1969 to pursue his dreams.

“It took me a long time to come back around to Lubbock,” he said.

Although he has been inducted into the Texas Music Legends Hall of Fame, Livingston said being recognized in West Texas means more to him.

Josh Abbott, country music singer, got his start by playing at the Blue Light Live, a bar in Lubbock that hosts shows for musicians. Abbott said the band was terrible, but his fraternity brothers of Phi Delta Theta and others came and supported him, bringing in over 200 people.

“Really, I think it was just a cool way of supporting their own, and I think it’s something we do well at Tech,” Abbott said.

Since Josh Abbott’s start in music 10 years ago, he said the band’s narrative will always be based on Lubbock, and it is crazy that all they have done in those years warrant this honor.

“I owe literally almost everything to Tech and Lubbock,” Abbott said. “We’ll take it and hope we can continue representing Lubbock in a way that makes everybody proud.”

Donnie Allison, musician and actor, died at 49-years-old to his battle with cancer. At the ceremony, his wife, Stephanie, accepted the award on his behalf.

Stephanie Allison said Donnie was just a really smart and creative man that was able to explore all he was capable of in Lubbock.

“He loved Lubbock, and Lubbock was really good to him,” Stephanie Allison said. “It was just a mutual respect.”

Stephanie Allison said she is just so proud of Donnie and is happy he is being acknowledged for their son to see the legacy. Their 13-year-old son, Zachary Allison, was six-years-old when Donnie Allison passed away.

At the end of the ceremony, Stephanie Allison was sharing her words with the crowd, when Zachary Allison came out from the curtain in a leather jacket and sunglasses. He grabbed the mic and said that the night should not end in sadness. Zachary Allison introduced The JD’s, a doo-wop group Donnie Allison formed.

As tears came down the crowd’s face, The JD’s honored Donnie Allison’s life the way they knew best – with music.

http://www.dailytoreador.com/lavida/tech-alumni-lubbock-locals-inducted-into-west-texas-walk-of/article_c8712ce2-c7dc-11e8-b23e-77674b024f6f.html