Bonham, Texas -- Sam Rayburn had close to 55 years of continuous service to his country, including a record 17 years as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. But his service to our nation's veterans extends far beyond that. On Friday, November 6, 2026, veterans and community leaders celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center in Bonham.
Bonham American Legion presented the colors and Myke Prier, Operations Manager at Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center, welcomed the crowd to the local VA auditorium. Chaplain Matthew Dean gave the invocation and Sam Finnel led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The staff at Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center is the largest employer in the county and has developed a regional reputation for professionalism and respect for our veterans. That stellar reputation brings veterans from across North Texas and southern Oklahoma to Bonham to receive care.
"The legacy of this place isn't the building -- it's the people inside it," remarked Bonham Mayor Allen Sanderson. "The men and women in uniform lived up to their promise to use. Now it is our turn to keep our promise to them."
Fannin County Criminal District Attorney John Skotnik, an Air Force veteran, recalled his first visit to Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center.
"They made me feel at home," remarked Skotnik. "That's how this place works. They understand veterans."
James Douglas, the keynote speaker and Associate Director of Operations for VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS), called the sprawling Bonham VA campus, "the jewel of VANTHCS," which is a remarkable compliment considering this system operates 13 primary locations and 10 community outpatient health clinics.
The speech by Douglas was particularly poignant. His experience with the VA began when he was a troubled veteran in 2002 who, through perseverance and education, eventually served as Administrative Service Manager at Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center from October 2016 to March 2018.
Douglas told local VA employees that the reputation enjoyed by the Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center is a "living testimony to the work you do every day."
Harlan Wright, a Veterans Advocate for the Choctaw Nation, said this is the facility he prefers to come to for his healthcare needs.
