Sometimes, a career change happens in the blink of an eye. For Floyd Hartman, it came in the form of a simple glance across the street.
“The cattle business is a high-risk business. Cattle prices dropped, so it was time for a change,” Hartman recalled. “I had everything settled and had just walked out of the bank when I looked across the street and saw an opportunity at city hall. I went right over and applied for a job. It was just like that.”
That decision in the mid-1990s would set Hartman on a path from ranching to becoming one of the most influential municipal water experts in the Texas Panhandle. This Friday, he will retire at age 65, capping 30 years in local government, including more than two decades with the City of Amarillo (COA).
Hartman began his public service career in 1994 with the City of Canyon before joining COA in April 2004. Over the years, he held up to eight different positions within the city, ultimately retiring as Special Advisor to the Water and Sewer Utilities team, overseeing services for more than 200,000 residents.
During his tenure, Hartman helped lead water-related projects totaling between $600 million and $1 billion. From upgrading infrastructure to securing critical water rights, his work has shaped Amarillo’s utility systems for decades to come.
“As much as I want to say it is all about the pipes and the pumps, the best part of the job is the people. I can guarantee you that,” Hartman said. “I would not trade my experience with the people of Amarillo and my coworkers for anything. When you work in a town of 200,000-plus people, it takes a team. That has been rewarding.”
COA City Manager Grayson Path called Hartman “the epitome of a public servant,” noting that his projects “will serve Amarillo residents for decades to come” and set a standard for future city staff.
Hartman’s understanding of water issues began on the ranch. Over time, he expanded his expertise to the municipal level, learning the complexities of water rights, long-term planning, and utility operations. When one of his grandchildren asked him where he ranked in the water business, Hartman joked, “I had to tell my grandson I am the No. 1 municipal water expert in the Panhandle. There are all kinds of experts in the water business. It is very complex. I was able to gain experience and knowledge as far as water in a municipal setting – from long-term strategic planning to the purchase of water rights. When you work with engineers, staff and elected officials, you gain the experience and confidence in running a water system. I am grateful that the citizens, elected officials and management in Amarillo had the confidence in me for the past 20 years to do this.”
Several key projects define Hartman’s impact on Amarillo’s water and sewer infrastructure:
Amarillo Northeast Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Project (2023): A $71 million, 13-mile project increasing north Amarillo’s sewer capacity.
CRMWA and COA Water Rights Purchase (2011): Acquisition of groundwater rights from Mesa Water Inc., securing nearly 4 trillion gallons for 11 regional cities. COA contributed $16 million.
Potter County Wellfields (2010–2011): Development of municipal wells and pipelines, plus management of over 259,000 acres of water rights across the Panhandle.
Digital Water Meters (2021): A $29.5 million modernization project funded through the Texas Water Development Board.
Georgia Street Interceptor Project (2015): $4.9 million sewer upgrade replacing lines along Georgia Street and removing a lift station.
“To see a project through to completion is just amazing – and the impact is for decades and decades,” Hartman said. “Nobody can tell you who did the 1957 Carson County Wellfields. In 50 years, no one is going to say Floyd Hartman did the Potter County Wellfields. But that is OK, because that is how utilities work.”
Among all the projects, Hartman takes the greatest pride in securing water rights for Amarillo’s future. “We are adding water rights from generation to generation. This way it is a rolling idea that will serve current residents and address our future water needs,” he said.
Beyond his professional achievements, Hartman has been married for 42 years, has three children, and eight grandchildren. Following his retirement ceremony Friday at the Amarillo Civic Center Regency Room, he plans to take a simple first step in his next chapter: “I am going to shut off my phone,” he said with a laugh.
From a ranch in Umbarger to leading municipal water operations for a major Texas city, Hartman’s career highlights the unexpected ways opportunity, timing, and dedication can converge to shape a community. Amarillo’s water systems, and the residents who rely on them, are leaving with a legacy that will endure for generations.
