Randy Christian

Randy Christian, known to many of his friends as RC, was born October 13, 1951, in Dalhart, Texas, to John and Maureen (Ree) Christian. His sister, Molly Lynn, was eight years older and like a second mom to Randy. He was the baby brother she had begged for.

Randy’s family lived behind Grandmother Christian’s home and the family’s handmade mattress business in Dalhart. He took great pride in being born in the XIT City, and many Thanksgivings, Christmases, and summers were spent in Dalhart, where relatives from both sides of the family lived.

The family moved to Amarillo when Randy was five. He was a natural-born athlete and leader, even as a “little guy.” He played quarterback and catcher in Amarillo’s Kids Incorporated football and softball programs, then went on to start as quarterback for Sam Houston Junior High. During his ninth-grade year, the Rangers beat archival Crockett Junior High for the first time in many years on a perfectly executed “hook and ladder” pass play. Randy was devastated when health challenges forced him to stop playing football his junior year at Tascosa High School.

Baseball was Randy’s second-favorite sport, and he loved playing catcher because, as he put it, “It was close to the dugout.” He had a very strong arm and loved picking off runners who tried to steal second. Few tried, but were unsuccessful, thanks to the extra practice he put in on his catching skills with an umpire named Buzz.

Randy also took great pride in being a 1970 graduate of Tascosa High and a Rebel. To this day, his class remains incredibly tight-knit, and he stayed in contact with many of his classmates.

After high school, Randy attended Amarillo College as a radio/TV major and served on the production team for AC’s Sunrise Class Room series. These at-home English, history, and math classes were videotaped each week at AC’s new studios and broadcast daily at 6:00 a.m. on local network affiliate stations. This was before home recorders, so students had to get up at 6:00 a.m. to attend class, and final exams were taken on the AC campus. It was incredibly innovative programming for the late ’60s and ’70s; and Randy was very proud to be an AC Badger.

Randy had always planned to attend Texas Tech; however, he learned that the University of North Texas in Denton offered an excellent radio/TV/film program, with greater access to internships in the Dallas–Fort Worth media and advertising industry. One of those internships changed his life. It was with Tracy-Locke, a large international advertising agency in the heart of downtown Dallas. For a 20-year-old kid from West Texas, it was the fuse that lit his passion for the agency business. Working under his mentor, Creative Director Anthony Fedelle, Randy had the opportunity to work with clients such as Frito-Lay, Igloo Coolers, Texas International Airlines, and Haggar Slacks. He wrote TV and radio commercials, as well as print ads, for the once-famous Frito Bandito.

While he was a UNT student and Tracy-Locke intern, Randy also worked as a waiter at Steak and Ale, a very popular restaurant chain at the time. When he was invited into the company’s management training program, he accepted. For two years he opened new restaurants in Dallas, El Paso, Amarillo, and finally Lubbock. He instantly fell in love with Lubbock and its college-town atmosphere. He had always wanted to live in a college town, and in Randy’s opinion, Lubbock was the finest one in Texas. He decided it was time to put his degree to work and pursue a career with a local ad agency.

He left Steak and Ale and joined Waddington Advertising, where he quickly became a valued asset. His competitive nature, leadership, and creative talent helped Waddington grow into a highly respected firm that attracted many new local and regional clients, including Fields & Company, Methodist Hospital, and First National Bank. He later left Waddington to become marketing director for Compushare, a local software development company. A short time later, two high school classmates who ran a very successful ad agency in Amarillo persuaded him to become their partner. Randy opened and managed the Lubbock office of Holland Merriman and Christian (HM&C), which became one of the largest ad agencies in West Texas. HM&C earned a stellar reputation for its creative work and won many local, regional, and national awards for creative excellence. Several years later, he opened RC&P, Randy Christian and Partners.

Throughout his career, Randy served on numerous civic and community boards, committees, and events for organizations including the American Cancer Society, Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Jerry Gray Foundation, Lubbock Advertising Federation, Committee for Champions, the Joe Arrington Cancer Center, and many more. The Lubbock Advertising Federation honored him with its Silver Medal Award, one of many awards he received during his career.

Later, he accepted a position as marketing director for McGavock Auto Group. He considered it a blessing to know, work with, and appreciate the McGavocks, and he was grateful for the family’s support. During that time, he was encouraged to run for Lubbock City Council, and he went on to represent District 5. Randy was a good listener and problem-solver who had worked with everyone from banks and hospitals to auto groups, restaurants and political campaigns. Serving on the council gave him a platform to do good things for the people of Lubbock. That work included the Source to Solutions: Addiction and Recovery Symposium and a master plan to develop McAlister Park.

While Randy had a very rewarding career, the most important parts of his life were his love for the Lord and his family. His favorite scripture was Luke 6:31, and he tried to live by it in both his personal and professional life. He married Margaret, the love of his life, 46 years ago. She was his rock long before she said “I do” and every day after. Through his darkest health challenges, her love, compassion, and care reflected her steadfast faith in the promises of Christ. She always kept hope alive and was truly a gift from God, beautiful inside and out.

Randy could not have been more proud of his two sons, Peter and Philip. He coached their sports teams, used them as talent in his commercials, took Peter to the Final Four and Philip to the opening of the Bush Library, and would talk to anyone who would listen about “his boys.” He planned the most wonderful family vacations in hopes of making memories for all. He was so proud of his beautiful daughter-in-law, Adriana, the family’s token Aggie, who is good-natured and tolerant of all things Texas Tech. Last but not least, he adored his two precious grandsons, Cason and Zayn, who are fun, smart, friendly, personable, and filled with kindness and joy.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Molly Lynn. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; his sons, Peter Christian, Philip Christian and wife, Adriana; grandsons, Cason and Zayn; in-laws, Lynn and Janie Harms; sister-in-law, Sherron Thomas; his nieces and their families: Jeff and Raven Green (Maddie and Parker), Matt and Elizabeth Siebert (Henry), Matt and Alicia Black (Laurel and Tyler), Paul and Anne-Marie Goetsch (Kirsten, Kate, and Eli), and April Harms (Spencer); and a host of beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

We would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Dale Little, Dr. Tim Miller, Dr. Mark Johnson, Hospice nurses Cindy and Patti and all of the healthcare professionals that helped with Randy’s care throughout the years.

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Randy’s health challenges began at age 15 and followed him throughout his life. He was diagnosed with the genetic disease, Lynch syndrome in 2018, and battled four different cancers. What a fighter he was! More than once, he said:

“I’ve lived a wonderful life and have been blessed by God with a loving and supportive family. Thanks to all my family and friends for your many prayers. Our Heavenly Father heard you and gifted me with a longer life here with my loved ones than was ever predicted.

“I have also been blessed to be a part of many incredible businesses and to work with exceptionally talented and gifted partners, co-workers, and friends. My love for Lubbock, West Texas, its people, and our collective heritage is as big and beautiful as its endless sky. We are the Giant Side of Texas!

“Lucky me. I live in Lubbock. I hope you feel lucky, too.”