Abilene Is Still My No. 1 Place To Raise A Family

When I learned the University of Texas at Tyler's Hibbs Institute ranked Abilene No. 3 among the best metropolitan areas in Texas to raise a family, I smiled.

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Then I thought, "They got it close."

If you ask me, Abilene is still No. 1.

Maybe I'm a little biased.

My wife, Donna, and I raised eight children right here in Abilene. Every one of our eight children graduated from high school, and every one continued their education through a college or university. Some attended Cisco College, while others continued on to Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University.

Today, our oldest serves as a university dean in Nashville, while our youngest is working toward a nursing degree at Cisco College. She recently completed another semester, earning grades between 95 and 98.

Those accomplishments belong to our children. Donna and I simply loved them, encouraged them, and reminded them that education opens doors. They chose their own futures.

Why Abilene Earned High Marks

The Hibbs Institute Family Index evaluated metropolitan areas across Texas using factors including employment, affordability, healthcare access, crime, and overall family well-being.

Abilene ranked No. 3 statewide. One statistic especially stood out to me: the study found Abilene had the lowest percentage of uninsured children among the metropolitan areas evaluated, along with strong overall economic performance.

Those are the kinds of things families look for when deciding where to build a life.

Why I'll Always Call Abilene No. 1

My family first came to Abilene because my dad was stationed at Dyess Air Force Base.

Not long after we arrived, my mom told my dad, "When you retire, we're coming back here."

She loved the schools, the people, and the sense of community.

As a kid, I rode my bicycle all over town. I'd ride to my first radio job, mow yards for extra spending money, and stop by Milano's Drive-In on North First Street for a burger before heading home. Looking back, it felt like one of the safest places a kid could grow up.

Years later, Donna and I made the decision to raise our own family here.

Looking back now, I wouldn't change a thing.

The University of Texas at Tyler may rank Abilene No. 3, and that's an honor.

Abilene didn't just give our children a place to grow up. It gave them the opportunity to discover who they wanted to become.

But after watching eight children grow into successful adults in this community, I'll always believe Abilene is the best place in Texas to raise a family.

If Donna and I had the chance to do it all over again, we'd still choose Abilene to raise our family.

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