TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
What is your favorite Texarkana memory? Growing up, the fair and rodeo would come to the Texarkana Fairgrounds for a week every fall. During that time, schools from surrounding areas would bus students over to watch a shortened version of the rodeo. From elementary through high school, I would be pulled out of class to ride my horses for the kids. I remember seeing my friends cheer me on from the stands as I ran barrels. But the best part was riding over to the young kids so they could pet a horse for the first time. Where was your favorite place to eat in Texarkana? What I would give for a brisket sandwich from Naaman’s BBQ right now! Anytime I visit Texarkana, Naaman’s is at the top of my list. I love the atmosphere just as much as the food. I remember taking my fiancé there for the first time—he absolutely loved it. Now he understands why I refuse to eat BBQ in California. Nothing compares to Naaman’s. How do you describe Texarkana to your friends? I used to describe Texarkana as a small farm town. Now that I live in an actual small farm town in California, I describe it as homey and inviting. It is a town you can stop in on your way to Dallas or Little Rock for a really good bite to eat or just to be able to claim, “Yeah, I’ve been to that city in Texas that is in that one George Strait song!” Who is someone from Texarkana who impacted your life? Both of my grandmothers, Annell Langdon and JoAnn Ward, have touched so many lives in Texarkana, including mine. They are the kindest, most gentle- hearted women I know, and I am so lucky to have them as role models. Annell spent many years volunteering at Runnin’ WJ Ranch, a therapeutic riding center in Texarkana. She not only attended all her grandkids’ rodeos, games, dances, and school events, but she also showed up for our friends’ special moments. Everyone knows her as “Granny!” JoAnn has been a volunteer at Our Place in Texarkana for many years. The respite care center offers a short time of relief for the caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or dementia-related disorders. My “GonGon” brings such a positive light to those around her, and she is so
TXK ROOTS Dr. Taylor Langdon, DC Dr. Taylor Langdon is a chiropractor based in Northern California. Born and raised in Texarkana, she graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 2015. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in business from Oklahoma State University (OSU) in 2019. During her time at OSU, she competed on the rodeo team as a barrel racer and goat tier for four years. Continuing her education, Taylor attended Parker University’s Doctor of Chiropractic program in Dallas, graduating cum laude in 2022. She recently opened her own chiropractic clinic, Renew Health Chiropractic, in Winters, California, specializing in family, pediatric, prenatal, and animal chiropractic care. Taylor and her fiancé, Ben, live in Winters, where they spend their time traveling, enjoying wine in Napa County, and dining at local restaurants.
strong in her faith that you can’t help but pull up a chair and listen to what knowledge she will graciously pass your way. What do you love about Texarkana?
The thing I love most about Texarkana is that my entire family lives within five miles of each other. I know a lot of families in Texarkana can relate to that. Both of my parents and their siblings were raised here, so I grew up surrounded by cousins. When I visit, it is always like a huge family reunion. I think Texarkana is a great place to raise a family. What do you miss about Texarkana? I miss spending time in the open spaces that Texarkana offers. My family’s pecan orchard sits at the end of Summerhill Road and continues north until you hit the Red River. I would spend countless hours riding my horses along the river with my dad. Texarkana has the best of both worlds—places to buy your groceries or eat a good meal, back roads you can drive on with your friends, or pastures to go mudding in. I feel lucky to have grown up in a town like Texarkana.
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!”
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TXK ROOTS
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