Who We Are & What We Do

A Brief History of AMBUCS

The National AMBUCS was formed by Mr. William L. White on May 18, 1923 in Birmingham Alabama.  The original name of the organization was the American Business Club.  The Amarillo AMBUCS was chartered as the seventh in the nation on May 25, 1923.  At that time, Amarillo had a population of around 15,000 people.  The club served Amarillo for over 30 years and sponsored the formation of the Palo Duro AMBUCS in May of 1954.  In 2003-04, the Amarillo AMBUCS club merged with the Palo Duro AMBUCS to form the Amarillo Palo Duro AMBUCS.

Notable Accomplishments of the Amarillo Palo Duro AMBUCS

• Helped create the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce
• Installed the first street signs in Amarillo
• Brought the first airfield to Amarillo at English Field
• Helped bring the Rock Island Railroad to Amarillo
• Created the Amarillo Community Chest which later became the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon
• The Children’s Rehabilitation (Turn Center)
• Instrumental in the founding of Amarillo College
• Donated a Ranger Cabin at Boy Scout Camp
• Helped to establish the Girl Scout Camp
• Created the Blair Cherry Memorial Award
• Support for the Ronald McDonald House
• Support for the founding of Kids, Inc.
• Panhandle Independent Living Center
• Goodwill Industries

Notable National Recognitions of the Club

• National AMBUCS Conventions 1938 and 1965
• National AMBUC of the year 1968, 1970, and 1984
• National Community Service Award given for years
• 1978, 1988, 1993 and 1994
• National Project Manager of the Year 2009-3rd place
• Southwest Regional Big Hat Director

ABOUT OUR AMBUCS CHAPTER

We are part of a larger nonprofit service organization consisting of a diverse group of men and women who are ready to make a difference in their respective communities. Members fulfill the organization’s mission by performing various forms of community service, but primarily by awarding AmTryke therapeutic tricycles to individuals unable to operate traditional bikes and awarding scholarships to therapists.

Our chapter is the oldest, continually active Ambucs organization in the United States. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 11:45-1:00pm in the Sunburst Room on the 30th floor of the Amarillo Club which is located in the Chase building at 600 South Tyler in Downtown Amarillo.