Roger Rowntree

Amarillo and West Texas A&M lost one of its biggest promoters with the death of Roger Rowntree. The Buck's Sporting Goods president and CEO died of an apparent heart attack Friday while in Red River, N.M.

Rowntree, 70, was a big contributor to both Kids, Inc. and WT. While much of his backing was public, just as much was not. He wasn't in it for the publicity, but simply to help those institutions.

The 1962 WT graduate was scheduled to receive a 2009 Legacy Award from WT at homecoming next month. It was in honor of his contribution to WT athletics. Now the award will be given posthumously with wife Katy accepting.