TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
What is your favorite Texarkana memory? Hanging with my buddies and family, going
to Spring Lake Park for youth baseball games, and Bringle Lake with friends Where was your favorite place to eat in Texarkana? Tamolly’s was our family’s go-to spot for good Tex-Mex. What was the teen hangout when you lived here? Sonic was our meetup spot before heading to someone’s house or pasture. Where was your favorite place to shop in Texarkana?
Sportcenter had all the sporting goods we could ever want, and there was always a new bat or glove I was begging for.
Were you a Hawk, Leopard, Razorback, or Tiger? Hawk. Anytime we played a team from Texarkana, we had to take it to another level. I played Legion ball over the summer with guys from across the area, and we wanted those bragging rights from the spring. How do you describe Texarkana to your friends? Small-town living, hard-working people, and a hotbed of athletes. Who is someone from Texarkana who impacted your life? Craig Jones, a Texarkana-area baseball coach, taught me the game the right way and instilled a strong sense of mental toughness. I credit much of my success on the field to him. What do you love about Texarkana? I feel like no matter where I am playing across the country, Texarkana is always home. The support I receive from Texarkana is unmatched. What would you change about Texarkana? I wish Texarkana were easier to get to.
TXK ROOTS Michael Wacha
Born in Iowa City, Iowa, Michael Wacha moved to Texarkana at just three years old. A proud product of Pleasant Grove schools, Wacha developed a reputation early on for discipline, humility, and an unmistakable competitive edge, traits that would carry him from local ball fields to the biggest stages in baseball. After graduating from Pleasant Grove High School, he continued his journey at Texas A&M University, where he became one of the nation’s top collegiate pitchers. In 2012, Wacha was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, launching a professional career that has spanned more than a decade. He made an immediate impact in the majors, earning National League Championship Series MVP honors as a rookie and helping lead the Cardinals to the World Series. Wacha has since played for multiple Major League organizations and is currently a starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. He also earned a spot pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Off the field, Wacha’s roots remain firmly planted in Texarkana. He and his wife, Sarah, have been married for five years and are raising two children, Marcia and Tommy. Each year, he returns home to invest in the community that shaped him, hosting the Wacha Friends and Family event and supporting local causes.
What do you think makes Texarkana famous? I always felt that Texarkana was famous for being a city in both Texas and Arkansas. What do you miss about Texarkana? My family. What words do you live by? Do what you love and stay positive.
TXK Roots is Texarkana Magazine ’s forum to highlight and honor Texarkana natives who have accomplished big things in the world. These folks may have relocated, but they took the values, education, work ethic, and creativity instilled in them by growing up in this unique border city and used these qualities to blaze extraordinary trails. We asked them to share their thoughts about growing up here. No matter how far from Texarkana they may find themselves, we will always consider them our neighbors and we are proud to claim them as forever members of our extended Texarkana community. After all, “everyone is famous in their hometown!”
66
TXK ROOTS
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs