Millennial John David Willimon was born and raised in Liberal, Kansas. But when a job opportunity opened up at Matra Petroleum in Amarillo, he eagerly made the move.
Since then, he has immersed himself in the community as an active member of Hillside Church and other local charters. David has a passion for mentoring. He hopes to make an impact on the Amarillo community and to help others find a place to belong.
Reagan Hales: What was transitioning from Kansas to Amarillo like?
John Willimon: The people here made it easy. Since I have moved here, everyone has been more than willing to lend my wife and I a hand.
I also love being a part of the community. I volunteer at Hillside Church and I’m the program chairperson for the Society of Petroleum Engineers Amarillo Chapter.
Hales: What would you tell someone about Amarillo?
Willimon: Amarillo is a great city with a small-town feel and rich history. It has everything you can find in a bigger city but has the hometown feel at the same time.
And the people are incredible. Amarillo has such great caring community. The people here would literally give the shirt off their back to help a stranger.
Hales: Has Amarillo impacted your career?
Willimon: The most challenging thing about my job is finding the best services. So many companies offer the same services, but only through experience do you know how well they will perform. Networking here in Amarillo has helped me to find out who does it better so I can increase efficiencies across our field of operations.
Hales: Where do you hope to see Amarillo in the next 5 years?
Willimon: Growing. With so many industries and investors leaning toward natural gas, I am hoping that operations keep picking up in the gas fields north of Amarillo. Also, my wife and I love grocery shopping. We’d love to get a Whole Foods or Trader Joes, maybe a Panera or Zoes.
Hales: Who are your role models?
Willimon: Tom Jordan is definitely my national role model. He is focused on getting his assets to perform and turn a profit. He is a no-nonsense type leader, and I appreciate his bluntness.
Locally, I’d say Perry Williams. His vision for Amarillo exceeds the expectations I have for it, and his investments to this city are a testimony to his belief in Amarillo’s bright future.
Hales: How do you hope to make a difference in the community?
Willimon: I want to be a leader in the community and bring awareness to the impact of children’s lives without fathers. Mentoring young men – showing them how to be a man after Christ’s heart – is the most rewarding and impactful issue that presents itself to me on a daily basis.
Hales: What do you do for fun?
Willimon: Workout, hike, play with my labs, fish and spending time with my wife. Sometimes, we take our dogs to the canyon if it’s not too hot. Otherwise, they go for about five minutes, and we’re carrying them out of that canyon.
Hales: What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Willimon: I love the theatre. Growing up, I went to a lot of Broadway-type plays, but in my older years, I have not found the time to attend events like this.
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