Ronald "Matador" Vandiver

Ronald M. (Ronnie) Vandiver started his journey in Amarillo, Texas on April 8, 1942, born to John M.Vandiver and Bonnie Marie (Salmon) Vandiver. He was raised in Masterson, Texas until the age of 14 when the family moved to Shiprock, New Mexico. At the age of 16, the family moved back to Masterson, Texas where Ronnie attended Dumas High School until he was 17, when the family moved to Amarillo where

Ronnie graduated from Palo Duro High School. Ronnie originally aspired to be a professional baseball player and played two seasons at Amarillo Jr. College, after which he worked as a brakeman for Rock Island Railroad. In 1966, Ronnie followed his true passion and attended Game Warden school. After graduating, and two weeks after his son, Wade Vandiver, was born, Ronnie and his family moved to Matador, Texas to begin his Game Warden career.

Ronnie retired as a Game Warden in the same place he started, Matador, Texas, on August 31, 1995. And because he could, he went back to work for 6 more months. After his retirement, Ronnie followed his other passion of being in the mountains to enjoy cooler temperatures and worked as Security at Philmont High Adventure Base in Cimarron, New Mexico. And even though he would not eat fish, he could be found most days fly fishing. Ronnie also taught fly fishing and was a hunting guide and chief cook for numerous elk hunts. Ronnie also started the first hunting lease program for the Matador Land and Cattle Company.

Ronnie also believed it was important to serve his local community, and as a former Eagle Scout himself, Ronnie became the Scoutmaster for Troop 360 in Matador, Texas for many years. He also was the Head Scoutmaster for the South Plains Council National Jamboree Troop in 1991, taking 80 Scouts from the South Plains to Fort A.P. Hill Virigina. Ronnie was awarded the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scouts of America for his many contributions to Scouting.

Locally, Ronnie was Lions Club President, served on the Hospital District Board, Motley County Tax Appraisal Board, Market Matador Board, was President of the Senior Center, President of the Friend's of the Library, was a Red Cross Lifesaving Instructor, and often worked the Chain Crew For Motley County football games. Additionally, Ronnie assisted with numerous disasters, including the 1984 Matador tornado, and the 1979 Wichita Falls tornado. Ronnie also cooked for various organizations and fundraisers, including the Sr. Center. As a man of deep faith, Ronnie also served as a Deacon for the Matador First Baptist Church. As long as he was able, he served others.

Ronnie continued his service to the State of Texas until his passing by serving as Texas Peace Officer for 60 years, including serving as Vice President of the Caprock Peace Officers' Association for 20 years and on the Board of Directors.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his father and mother, John and Bonnie Vandiver, and his brother, Mickey

Vandiver. Ronnie is survived by his son, Wade Vandiver, and Wade's wife, Lorye Brown Vandiver; and Ronnie's daughter, April Perkins, her husband, Ralph Perkins, and his grandson, Kellan Perkins.

If you knew him, you knew that Ronnie disliked several things: the Texas heat, wind turbines, and the taste of seafood, but he really could not stand to be a passenger in a vehicle. But you also knew that he deeply loved his family, his friends, his community, iced tea, and green chiles.Ronnie asks that his friends and family use this time to celebrate the life that he was fortunate to have and the lifting of his soul to his final home in Heaven.