‘Landman’ Co-Creator to Give Annual Nall Lecture at WT

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Screenwriter and journalist Christian Wallace, whose podcast series “Boomtown” inspired Taylor Sheridan’s hit series “Landman,” will drill into the art of telling stories at an upcoming event at West Texas A&M University.

“From Boomtown to Landman: Storytelling in the West Texas Oil Patch” will begin at 7 p.m. April 10 in Legacy Hall in the JBK Student Center in a co-presentation between the Center for the Study of the American West’s Garry L. Nall endowed lecture series and WT’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

Admission is free.

“I think his example makes the case that wherever you are from, you have a story to tell, and if you tell it well, people will want to read—or watch—it,” said Dr. Alex Hunt, CSAW director, Regents Professor of English and Vincent-Haley Professor of Western Studies. “I’m excited to hear Wallace’s account of how he came to collaborate with Sheridan, for sure.”

The series was created to honor Nall’s exceptional service to WT and his scholastic accomplishments. The lecture series supports CSAW’s mission to promote the study of the American West. Each semester, CSAW invites a noted scholar to participate in a community lecture, classroom lecture, a question & answer discussion session, and small group outings with WT students.

Wallace, an Andrews native, was a writer for Texas Monthly when he wrote and hosted “Boomtown.” He then co-created “Landman” with Sheridan. An immediate hit for streaming service Paramount+, the series was renewed for a second season March 25.

“CSAW is pleased to bring a speaker who is west Texan himself,” Hunt said. “He is a terrific writer for Texas Monthly, but of course it’s his recent work as a writer on ‘Landman,’ produced by Taylor Sheridan, that is primarily what drives our interest right now.”

Addressing regional challenges and making an impact throughout the region and beyond are key components of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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