Jo Stewart Randel

2000 Inductee
Arts
(1916-2002)

Jo Stewart Randel’s tireless work toward improving the quality of life of Carson County’s residents and those of the greater Panhandle area spanned more than four decades. She was one of the most recognized and celebrated philanthropists and community volunteers in the Texas Panhandle.

Ms. Randel was primarily responsible for the founding and ongoing development of the Carson County Square House Museum in Panhandle, Texas. She served as the director of the museum in a volunteer capacity for 20 years.

Generations of schoolchildren and adults were beneficiaries of Jo Randel’s leadership and vision through the ongoing educational activities of the museum, and for more than 30 years she was instrumental in bringing culture and art in all their manifestations to the entire Texas Panhandle.

Ms. Randel served on a variety of boards and commissions throughout the state. She was founder and first board chairman of the Texas Association of Museums and executive committee member of the Texas Historical Foundation.

She was the recipient of several awards and honors for her faithfulness in creating and maintaining programs and organizations focused on all aspects of the arts. In 1999 she received the National Award of Merit for American State and Local History, and in 1994 the Amarillo Globe-News named her one of the five most influential women in the Panhandle.

Jo Randel died May 5, 2002 at age 86. Perhaps her greatest legacy is the people she helped along the way to make careers in the field of arts – people who will ensure continued excellence for arts of every kind.