Ranger rick

Texan of the Year — update

Here’s our last updated list of Texan of the Year nominations going into the Thanksgiving weekend. We’ll fold in more reader input at the start of next week.

Email your ideas to toy@dallasnews.com or append a comment to this post. I include all ideas offered in good faith (as opposed to made out of nastiness, bitterness, malice or contempt).

The definition:

“A Texan (or Texans) who has had uncommon impact; who exemplifies Texas traits of trailblazing, independence and staring down adversity; and who has affected/influenced lives.”

Additional guidance: The person should be nominated for events of the past year, not for lifetime achievements. The Texan of the Year may live anywhere, not just in the state, so long and he or she can be called a Texan. Finally, the distinction is bestowed on the basis of impact, be it positive or negative.

Flight tracker

Nominees may be from any walk — from science, business, religion, politics, performing arts, sports, public service, conservation, law, education, academia, fine arts, architecture, law enforcement, military, social causes.

Jump for the list …

Larry Tooker, speaks to students about American ideals Holy Land Foundation jury Jody McGowan, home-schooling mother of three Selena Gomez, teen actress Joseph Harberg, “green” entrepreneur Jan Pruitt, head of North Texas Food Bank Patricia Ridgley, anti-death penalty nun Barbara Rushing, first grade teacher, Heath James E. Gentry, Tarleton State prof Don Young, FWCanDo.org Tom “Smitty” Smith, Public Citizen of Texas Jeanine Sissom, Irving, long-time volunteer John Creuzot, judge The Texas volunteer Fred Baron, late lawyer and Democratic fundraiser Texas taxpayers Hector Flores, DISD Randy Haedge, Bethel Lutheran Trustees of Southwestern Medical Foundation Carla Ranger, DISD board Don Benton, former pastor of Lovers Lane Methodist Motorcyclists who help abused children Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, former DEA agents Rick Noreiga David Dewhurst John Wiley Price Mark Davis, WBAP talk show Voters First-time voters The election worker Becky Sykes, Dallas Womens Foundation Jerry Jones Border Patrol, DEA, ATF, police, fire and SWAT teams Ruben E. Delgado, head Collin County engineer Teachers Texas teachers Texas educators Tom Leppert Boyd Ritchie, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party Steve Maxwell, Tarrant County Democratic Party chairman The Democratic precinct chairman Nancy Solomon, Jimmy’s wife The native Texan The oil-hugging, cowboy-hatted dying Texan that outsiders identify Texas with Bill Moyers, PBS Clarissa Plair, DISD elementary school principal Ron Kirk Carol Wise, researcher at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Chet Edwards Lance Armstrong Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers Kindergarten team at Mendenhall Elementary, Plano ISD Kristin Pass, developmentally disabled homecoming queen in Aledo Aledo HS student body for electing Kristin Pass as homecoming queen Texas Baptist Men volunteers Bill Gresso and Texas Baptist Men Bruce Collins, Baylor hospital Jerry Thompson, investment advisor Bill Lively, Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Tony Parella, founded a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For Donna Noland, Bob Noland’s wife Dalton Sherman, DISD fifth-grade speaking star Richard Anderson, federal public defender Hector Gonzales, superintendent of Broad Prize-winning Brownsville ISD Beyonce Willie Nelson Laura Bush George W. Bush (pro) George W. Bush (con) Bryan Hernandez, Army medic in Iraq Jessie Hall, Aledo girl who had difficult brain surgery Jerry Bell, pastor in Mesquite Dallas ISD teachers, students and parents DISD teachers Children of DISD Graham Harrell, Tech QB Michael Crabtree, Tech receiver Mike Leach, Tech coach Rick Perry Roger Staubach, for getting Super Bowl for Dallas Wanda Brice, Womens Museum chief Rachel Andres, Bronfman Prize, Solar Cooker project Larry James, Central Dallas Ministries Ron Anderson of Parkland Hospital Marlene Hammerle, Rowlett HS principal Nick Vakidis, restaurant manager Scott McClellan Marilyn Mock, bought foreclosed house for broke couple Elsa A. Murano, A&M president Children of the FLDS The Border Patrol Ernest McMillian, community organizer The minority voter Jerry Haynes Bill Camfield All wrongfully convicted defendants Ernest McMillian, community organizer Jeb Hensarling Peter Johnson, community organizer Charissa Terranova, Centraltrak artist-in-residency program Nastia Liukin Valery Liukin, Nastia’s father Lynne S …