Veterans Love Abilene, TX
Find out why veterans prefer this West Texas city.
Abilene, Texas, is a city that loves its veterans — and the feeling is mutual.
“I chose Abilene as my forever home because it’s the most welcoming, hospitable and generous community I’ve ever seen,” says Michael Bob Starr, a retired colonel who concluded his 23-year Air Force career as the commander of Dyess Air Force Base, which is located just outside of Abilene.
“People here truly value relationships and have always felt close to the base and the airmen who work there,” he says.
Starr is the founder, director and head coach of Abilene Sport Fencing, a nonprofit that promotes physical fitness and character development among young people by training them to compete in fencing. Originally from Oklahoma, Starr was assigned to Dyess four times during his career — as a B-1 student pilot, a B-1 instructor pilot, a squadron commander and the base commander.
“In the B-1 world, all roads lead to Abilene,” he says. “Abilene is also very family friendly, with attractions like the Abilene Zoo, the Dodge Jones Youth Sports Center and the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, to name just a few, that are surprisingly world-class for a community of this size,” Starr says. “Abilene serves as the medical and financial hub for the region of Texas — known as ‘The Big Country’ — so health care is superb, and you will find a number of local banks willing to assist with veteran home loans and business loans.”
Despite the city’s many services and amenities, Starr says it still has a cozy, small-town feel.
“You can drive from any place in town to any other place in town in about 10 minutes, and when you get there, you’re sure to find a friendly greeting, probably by name,” he says. “No matter where you are from, you have a home in Abilene, especially if you are a military veteran.”
Abilene has many veterans organizations that help make the region feel more like home. These include two Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and two American Legion posts, which create opportunities for veterans to enjoy camaraderie and serve the community, especially through children and youth programs. Starr is a life member of both organizations and has been the commander of the Legion’s Post 61 and district commander.
Support + Benefits
Abilene’s support of the military, especially the Air Force, runs deep. In the 1950s, the U.S. Air Force was looking for a site for a new base in the Southwest. Abilene residents raised nearly a million dollars to purchase land surrounding the then-closed Tye Army Air Field, which served as a World War II training base. The goal was two-folded — bring economic development and military personnel back to the community. The land was offered to the Department of Defense, and Dyess Air Force Base opened in 1956. Today, the base is home to more than 4,000 people and is one of the largest employers in the Abilene area.
Starr says that history shows that “Abilene’s investment in Dyess, military members, veterans and their families is not just figurative, it’s literal.”
In addition to being supportive, Abilene is also quite affordable, making it an excellent place for veterans looking to start over after serving. The median home value in Abilene is around $187,000 (Zillow, May 2023), which is significantly lower than the national median of $339,000. This means veterans can afford to buy a home in Abilene on their military benefits.
“We have great schools, several small colleges, year-round activities and events, beautiful sunny weather and the friendliest, most supportive neighbors you’ll ever find,” Starr says. “Your retirement pay and benefits will stretch much further here than you’ll find in other communities.”
Abilene’s outdoor scene is also highly attractive. There are a number of state and national parks nearby as well as hiking and biking trails. Abilene State Park offers several hiking trails, camping, and kayak and canoe rentals to paddle down Lake Abilene.
In addition, Abilene is a diverse city with a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. This makes it a great place to learn about different cultures and meet new people.
Welcoming + Kind
“The Air Force brought me here, but the hospitality kept me here,” says Eric Demps, who has been in the community since 2013.
Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Demps says he enjoys the kindness of the people in Abilene as well as its low cost of living, job opportunities and support for veterans.
Demps, who works as a sales consultant for Arrow Ford, says his daughter spends summers with him. She especially enjoys the annual Children’s Arts & Literacy Festival, which attracts thousands of families from across the state and features a variety of activities for children.
“This community is 100% behind veterans,” Demps says. “It’s meaningful support. People here want to see veterans do well.”
Bobbi Hanson served as an electronic warfare officer on the RC-135 in the Air Force from 2001 to 2007. Her husband recently retired after 21.5 years, and the couple has lived in Abilene for the last 13 years and plans to stay. She is currently the West Texas regional director for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
“Abilene and its people are the best,” she says. “As a community, they are very accepting and welcoming. After my husband retired, we had options. It’s a big decision to decide where to go. We decided we weren’t going anywhere. Abilene is great. We have everything we need as far as health care and community involvement. It’s a great place to raise a family and a great place to retire. It helps that everyone is super supportive of the base and veterans.”
This article was sponsored by the Abilene Regional Growth Alliance, a division of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. The Abilene Chamber is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian organization that advocates for pro-business policies that create jobs and grow our economy.
