Kim Davis Mackenzie
Kim Davis Mackenzie was born and raised in Texarkana, a first generation Texan. Her mom is from the Philippines, and her dad is from Tennessee. She graduated with honors from Abilene Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, completed the Critical Care Residency program at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, and worked in the Medical Intensive Care Unit. Mackenzie later began work at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, holding different nurse coordinator roles for both solid organ and vascularized composite allograft transplantation. She received her post-grad Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate from Texas Woman’s University, and currently works as a Nurse Practitioner with UT Southwestern, specializing in outpatient post-kidney transplant management.
She and her husband, Scott, have been married for 15 years, and have two children—John William (JW), ten, and Josslyn, eight. The family lives near Frisco, Texas. Together, they love to travel and recently took a trip through Greece to celebrate Kim’s fortieth birthday.
What is your favorite Texarkana memory?
A lot of my life in Texarkana revolved around sports, so a core memory for me will be from my junior year going to the 3A (back when Pleasant Grove was still 3A!) Texas State Volleyball Tournament in 2000. We were the first Lady Hawk team to make it to a state tournament. We placed second, which was disappointing, but not all high school athletes get to say they played in a state tournament. The school held a special pep rally for us when we loaded the bus to drive to the tournament in San Marcos, and we traveled down in one of those nice chartered buses—so we felt like we were a big deal. I truly miss playing volleyball and basketball with the group of girls I grew up playing with, so I would consider those collective memories from all those years as part of my favorites as well!
Who is someone from Texarkana who impacted your life?
Peggy and Jasper Howard were a very influential couple in my life. They helped shape it in so many ways. I considered them surrogate grandparents. I was already set to go to the University of Texas in Austin for college—however, Mr. Howard convinced me to give Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, a try. I obliged by visiting the campus with my dad. It was a beautiful campus and a beautiful day. It felt right for me to be there. I ended up meeting my husband in Abilene, so I attribute that success to the Howards. I joke that if I had ended up at UT, I would likely still be there, single and on Sixth Street!
Were you a Hawk, Leopard, Razorback, or Tiger?
(LADY) HAWK 4 LYFE—I still ride hard for the Pleasant Grove Hawks and follow (particularly the football team) closely! I will usually be at any games that are in the DFW area, and my dad and I will travel for play-off games and have made it to all the Hawks’ state tournament games. It has been exciting to watch the trajectory of PG’s sports culture become what it is today. Especially exciting as a former PG athlete.
What do you love about Texarkana?
The people, wholeheartedly. My parents are still proud residents of Texarkana, and I remain close to members of my home church family (Walnut Church of Christ) and, of course, my PG friends and family, including peers, teachers, and coaches. Social media has made it easier to stay connected, but I also feel that Texarkana culture fosters that connectedness as well.
What do you think makes Texarkana famous?
My husband is from the Shetland Islands in Scotland, and he knew Texarkana from the movie “Smokey and the Bandit,” so I feel I have to say that… and Ross Perot!
What is your nickname for Texarkana?
T-TOWN (also 4 LYFE)
What do you miss about Texarkana?
This is very ethnocentric-specific, but I miss the big, loud, fun Filipino gatherings we used to have when I was growing up. I don’t think many people realize, but there is a thriving Filipino community in Texarkana and its surrounding areas. We used to hold Filipino programs around the holidays to showcase native dances and songs. Filipino culture is centered on food and fun, and I am thankful to have had that upbringing through my mom and her friends (my Titas).
What words do you live by?
“Go make something good happen.” (trademark, Jasper Howard) He used to hand out wooden coins with this saying on it, so perhaps a number of you actually have one of these! It encompasses my overall belief and philosophy of building a life that focuses on serving others, and you will always feel fulfilled.
Anything we haven’t asked about that you would like to share?
If you see this painting in the Pleasant Grove Performing Arts Center Building, it’s me! (LOL) My friend, Zach Minton, painted this our senior year of high school. The painting comes from terrible pictures he took of me one day after basketball practice, but the school bought it and has kept it all these years—so if this mug has haunted you through the halls of that building or any other building it’s been in, please accept my sincere apologies!
TXK Roots is Texarkana Magazine’s forum to highlight and honor Texarkana natives who have accomplished big things in the world. These folks may have relocated, but they took the values, education, work ethic and creativity instilled in them by growing up in this unique border city and used these qualities to blaze extraordinary trails. We asked them to share their thoughts about growing up here. No matter how far from Texarkana they may find themselves, we will always consider them our neighbors and we are proud to claim them as forever members of our extended Texarkana community. After all, “everyone is famous in their hometown!”
