OPINION

This newspaper's editorial board doesn't set out to make everyone happy with a Texan of the Year choice. That's certainly not why we picked Karl Rove and the Illegal Immigrant in the past. And we knew the 2008 choice of Craig Watkins was going to have some ideological blowback, though I didn't think it was going to be as nasty as it turned out to be.

After we made this year's choice of Heroes of Fort Hood, we knew the reaction was going to be different.

The list of reader nominees (see below) included large numbers of different military and Fort Hood themes. Our choice made at least these readers happy, of course. But I hope that in reading yesterday's editorial essay, most readers came away with a newfound respect for those who wear the uniform and give them support.

Thanks for your interest and input, everyone.

Keep reading for final list of reader nominees ...

Jump over to WFAA's website to see Texan of the Year nomination videos from:

John McCaa -- Nomination is USAirways hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger, who crash-landed his crippled jetliner into the Hudson River, saving all passengers aboard.

Gloria Campos -- Nomination is police Sgt. Kimberly Munley, who responded to the Nov. 5 shooting rampage at Fort Hood and was shot twice.

Shelly Slater -- Nomination is local artist Phil Taylor, who paints portraits of fallen soldiers and presents them to families in moving ceremonies.

We are down to the last finalist in our countdown, with the 2009 TOY to be published on Sunday. (Catch it online at 11 a.m. Saturday, FYI.)

Here is the updated list of nominations from hundreds of readers (who, by the way, continue to send in their ideas):

Thanks for your interest, everyone.

The  soldiers and civilians at Fort Hood and the surrounding cities
Casualties of Fort  Hood massacre
Police Sgt.  Kimberly Munley, hero of Fort Hood attack
Kimberly  Munley and Sgt. Mark  Todd, her partner and hero of Fort Hood attack
The military
Every man and woman in uniform
Mark A.  Gunst, Army major who headed a military trauma center in Iraq
Those who greet returning military at D/FW  Airport
Robert  Gates, defense secretary
High school ROTC students
Nancy  Carter, founder of Airport Cadet Angels of Texas, sends gift packages to troops
Brad  Blauser, who moved to Iraq to head Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids
Forrest R. Biard, WWII code-breaker

Keep reading for the rest of the nominees:

Our choice of Jerry Jones as a finalist for Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year has drawn more comments from readers than all of the other choices combined.

But every one of these JJ commenters said we've lost our minds in picking him. Said Bluemax:

Nominated because he charges $14 for a margarita, $8 for a beer and $6 for a hot dog? Ya'll are STUPID.

Sorry, Bluemax, but we stand by our pick. Jerry has an ego and ambition twice as big as his new stadium, but that's exactly why he's a consequential person.

Every TV commentator who's broadcast something out of the new stadium has had trouble putting the experience into words. This thing is on the map, big. It's impact, Texas style.

That's the essence of the criteria -- affected and influenced lives. We're not saying you have to like the guy. But how can you say he doesn't qualify?

Thursday's paper started our Texan of the Year "countdown," with the first of nine daily editorials highlighting our finalists. The lineup that ran this week included a state senator, a quarterback, three arts patrons and a desposed chief of the state forensics board.

The countdown resumes Monday. Hint: It's a person people love to hate. (Actually, if you look around on dallasnews.com, you'll be able to fin the editorial. Seems our auto-publishing put it out already.)

The actual Texan of the Year for 2009 will be subject of a full essay on the Dec. 27 Points cover.

Another hint: All the finalists and the TOY are on this list somewhere. These are nominations from readers. Military and Fort Hood-related nominations were the most numerous, so we grouped them at the top. But don't read anything into the order.

Meanwhile, readers are still sending in their thoughts, and we're adding them to the list as a courtesy.

Thanks for your interest, everyone.

The  soldiers and civilians at Fort Hood and the surrounding cities
Casualties of Fort  Hood massacre
Police Sgt.  Kimberly Munley, hero of Fort Hood attack
Kimberly  Munley and Sgt. Mark  Todd, her partner and hero of Fort Hood attack
The military
Every man and woman in uniform
Mark A.  Gunst, Army major who headed a military trauma center in Iraq
Those who greet returning military at D/FW  Airport
Robert  Gates, defense secretary
High school ROTC students
Nancy  Carter, founder of Airport Cadet Angels of Texas, sends gift packages to troops
Brad  Blauser, who moved to Iraq to head Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids
Forrest R. Biard, WWII code-breaker

Keep reading for the rest of the nominees:

Criteria for Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year look for people with impact, and that could mean impact that you don't agree with. Time magazine looks at its Person of the Year similarly, having picked people like Hitler and Stalin for the annual recognition.

Some of our readers don't like that idea. Wrote Felicity Pearson of McKinney:

I'm not sure who to suggest, but I wish you'd limit your consideration to institutions, people or places that have had a POSITIVE impact on the state.

And from reader Dwight Henneberger:

I think it should ONLY be someone who had an influence for good. I vote for the FBI for foiling the Fountain Place bomber.

On the other hand, some readers jumped at the chance to use the recognition to take some whacks. Tony Laws of Dallas said:

My vote for Texan(s) of the Year (TOY) goes to all of our elected officials that seem to think that being elected to office, be it national, state or local, means disregarding their duty and responsibility as statesmen/women and, instead, operating with arrogant disdain for the state's constituency and maximum concern for their own personal advancement and monetary gain as politicians!

From the brouhaha over stimulus funds from the federal government to the guilty verdict assigned former Mayor Pro Tem Hill and his embarrassing group of con men and women, our elected officials have provided a strong argument for the axiom, "Everything is bigger in Texas," crooks especially!

Also seeing a half-empty glass was Erin Marckwardt, who wrote:

Honestly, I can't think of any Texan who's been in the news in the last year that I'm proud to have as a fellow Texan. It seems all the Texans in the news these days are mean-spirited and hateful, and promote a very negative image of what used to be one of the nicest states in the US.

Looking on the sunnier side was Betsy Whitfill of Dallas, who wrote:

Texan of the Year should go to that man who mows your parkway of leaves whlle he does his own; that neighbor who checks to see if you are OK after a storm; that nurse who gives you a pillow for when you cough after surgery; that driver who waves "thanks" when you give way. All of those Texans who express common decency and caring deserve this award. They make Texas a great place to live.

Who should we add to this year's list of nominees?

The Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year ideally is a person. OK, this editorial board has picked a place (Houston). But a thing?

Two readers have advanced nominations of things -- big things. Quoting them now:

-- From Tom Goss of Flower mound:

"My nomination is "The Wind Turbine". It has revived the economy of much of Texas by creating jobs and boosting the economy. It is showing the way to the rest of the nation on how to become more energy independent. It is providing a new and exciting industry for young Texans to enter and in which to develop a career. Finally, it is NOT a politician --- it definitely keeps its mouth shut while working hard day and night!"

-- From blog reader Virgil Meyer:

"Jerry Jones, Texas Stadium and the ramifications the stadium brings and will bring to the metroplex."

OK, I know. The writer mentioned the stadium AND Jerry. But he mentioned the stadium twice, and that's why I'm putting up a photo of only the building. And a picture of the stadium is easier on the eyes.

I can't remember a previous year when a thing got a mention from readers as worthy of discussion of one of the most consequential Texans for the year. Makes you think ...

Who should we add to this year's list of nominees?

Our editorial board will pick the TOY for 2009 and nine finalists in just a few weeks and publish profiles starting mid-December. Add your ideas on who we should consider, based on these criteria:

The nominee could come from any walk of life -- arts, sports, public service, law, politics, research, academe, business, social work, volunteering, civic affairs, philanthropy, etc. Think religion and literature, environmentalism and technology. Music, architecture, ranching.

Keep in mind that the distinction is for better or worse. Also keep in mind that the impact in question must have taken place this year. This is not a lifetime achievement award.

You can take a look at some of the material from last year's feature on our updated 2009 page.

Keep reading for a list of ideas from readers so far, and add yours, please:

Readers were warmly touched by two stories from the same front page this week about people who sacrifice for others in awesome ways. And, by request, both of these names are now added as candidates for the 2009 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year:

-- Mark Seitz, a priest at St. Rita Catholic Church who gave a parishioner the life-saving gift of one of his kidneys.

-- Josie Toogood, 85-year-old chaplaincy volunteer who has visited patients at the VA Medical Center nearly every Friday for 42 years.

These acts of generosity represent the kind of God-inspired selflessness that leaves me breathless.

Every year, our readers offer up rich examples of people whose lives give testimony to charity and generosity.

Who should we add to this year's list of nominees?

Our editorial board will pick the TOY for 2009 and nine finalists in just a few weeks and publish profiles starting mid-December. Add your ideas on who we should consider, based on these criteria:

The nominee could come from any walk of life -- arts, sports, public service, law, politics, research, academe, business, social work, volunteering, civic affairs, philanthropy, etc. Think religion and literature, environmentalism and technology. Music, architecture, ranching.

Keep in mind that the distinction is for better or worse. Also keep in mind that the impact in question must have taken place this year. This is not a lifetime achievement award.

You can take a look at some of the material from last year's feature on our updated 2009 page.

Keep reading for a list of ideas from readers so far, and add yours, please:

Our own erudite Bill McKenzie now finds himself on someone else's editorial page, essentially for his trash-mouthing of the governor (OK -- he only half-trashed him).

Bill made the case, in a column for our Texan of the Year feature, that Perry has been one consequential hombre this year and merits consideration.

Bil's trouble with the governor is not new to us around here. He grumbles about Perry coming and going.

Readers weighed in over the weekend on Texan of the Year candidates after editorial page editor Keven Ann Willey's column asking for ideas.

Getting lots of support were the military in general (as Tod Robberson had championed) and Fort Hood attack hero Sgt. Kimberly Munley. One reader made sure not to forget her partner, Sgt. Mark  Todd.

Wrote a blog commenter, Truth:

If not the Texas military, then the first responders. It did my heart good on a dark day to know that a WOMAN police officer took down this terrorist.

Our military is dealing with the most confrontational Congress and Administration since Clinton. They should be honored. They are all heroes.

Leslie Brosi emailed:

My recommendation is our Fort Hood hero, local police SGT. KIMBERLY MUNLEY.

A commenter on the Opinion blog, donnal, wrote:

I agree. Our military should go to the top of the list. Most of us really do appreciate fully their service and the sacrifices they make to protect us at home, and others abroad.

Click below to keep reading ...

The carnage at Fort Hood and flareups in Afghanistan bring into focus the sacrifice made by our armed forces.

Colleague Tod Robberson recently nominated the Texas military as a candidate for 2009 Texan of the Year. It's a good time to share his thoughts in getting this nomination on our list.

He wrote:

Texans in military uniform

Texas supplies far more recruits, in sheer numbers, than any other state in the country. Of the 10 top counties in the country for recruitment, three are in Texas.

They're not joining because of the bad economy. Even when times were good and the Iraq war was the scariest thing around, Texas consistently was a top supplier of recruits and combat soldiers. This state's enthusiastic contribution to the nation's defense is legendary within the military. Why Texans do it is well worth exploring.

Passengers and volunteer greeters at DFW Airport have been acknowledging the debt of gratitude this country owes for the sacrifice these soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors have made for their country, and it's time for this newspaper to acknowledge it too.

Amen, brother.

Sunday, with publication of (by boss) Keven Ann Willey's TOY column, we begin beating the drums in earnest for candidates.

Our editorial board will pick the TOY for 2009 and nine finalists in just a few weeks and publish profiles starting mid-December. Add your ideas on who we should consider.

The nominee could come from any walk of life -- arts, sports, public service, law, politics, research, academe, business, social work, volunteering, civic affairs, philanthropy, etc. Think religion and literature, environmentalism and technology. Music, architecture, ranching.

Keep in mind that the distinction is for better or worse. Also keep in mind that the impact in question must have taken place this year. This is not a lifetime achievement award.

You can take a look at some of the material from last year's feature on our updated 2009 page.

Here are the ideas that have come in from readers so far:

Elizabeth  Warren, UH grad, oversight of TARP money for Congress
Maricruz  Aguayo-Tabor, teacher at Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy High School, Austin, and Milken Educator Award winner
Adelaida  Olivares, principal of the Freshman Academy at Del Valle High School, Austin, and Milken Educator Award winner
Mike  Feinberg and Kipp  Academy
Florence  Shapiro, state senator
Israel  Cordero, principal of Samuell HS, Dallas
Rawly  Sanchez, former principal of Adamson HS, now deputy DISD chief of staff
Dorothy  Gomez, principal of Molina HS, Dallas
Tony  Tovar, principal at Sunset HS, Dallas
UT-Arlington  Innocence Network
Farrah  Fawcett
Catherine  Hardwicke, movie director
Jerry  Jones
Jerry  Patterson, land commissioner
Julian  Castro, San Antonio mayor
Failed  Blue State carpetbaggers
Tea  Party folks
The  poor taxpaying chump
Bryan  Trubey, architect for Cowboys Stadium
Mary  Helen Berlanga and Rene Nunez, state board of education members
Y.E.  Yang,  PGA golf tournament winner
Bess  Enloe, Deedie Rose, Caren Prothro and Sarah Perot, ATT arts center fundraisers
Sam  Bassett, ex-chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission
Rick  Perry, governor
Kay  Bailey Hutchison, U.S. senator
Aldine ISD, winner of 2009 Broad Prize
House Speaker Joe  Straus
Melodie and Peggy  Pryor, community activists
Ed  Whitacre Jr., GM chairman, Ennis native
John  Carona, state senator
Dan  Branch, state rep
Kris  Kristofferson
The two-time teen mother
The do-nothing Legislature
Tommy  Lee Jones
Bill  Wittliff, screenwriter
Colt  McCoy
David  Daniel, UT-D president
Cameron  Todd Willingham, executed in 2004
Nolan  Ryan, Texas  Rangers GM
Dr. Nancy  Dickey, dean of the A&M medical school
Dr. Leonard  Pike, A&M researcher who developed the 10-15 onion
The jobless or downsized or uninsured Texan
The out-of-work soft-collar Texan
Willie  Nelson
Bob  Bullock
Sully  Sullenberger, hero  US Airways pilot

It's a fine day when a Texan of the Year nomination comes in for an educator. (Shouldn't we have a soft spot there?)

In a comment to the last post seeking nominations, reader Christina Garcia put up a name in this comment:

Lucy Hakemack, H. Grady Spruce principal. She is bringing that school back from the brink. Texas needs more people like her who keep their head down and do the work necessary to help the students of today become the citizens of tomorrow.

Ms. Hakemack has earned praise from reader/writers, other educators, our own editorial board, and other media.

Much of it credited her for improving the school's performance, as measured by test scores.

What other professional educators are making a difference in Texas schools? Aldine ISD, in the Houston area, outshone all other urban school districts in the country by winning the Broad Prize this year.

Not all achievement gets such attention. Who else needs some?

(And who is this Christina Garcia person?)

Our editorial board will pick the TOY for 2009 and nine finalists in just a few weeks and publish profiles starting mid-December. Add your ideas on who we should consider.

The nominee could come from any walk of life -- arts, sports, public service, law, politics, research, academe, business, social work, volunteering, civic affairs, philanthropy, etc. Think religion and literature, environmentalism and technology. Music, architecture, ranching.

Keep in mind that the distinction is for better or worse. Also keep in mind that the impact in question must have taken place this year. This is not a lifetime achievement award.

Here are the ideas that have come in from readers so far:

UT-Arlington  Innocence Network
Farrah  Fawcett
Catherine  Hardwicke, movie director
Jerry  Jones
Jerry  Patterson, land commissioner
Julian  Castro, San Antonio mayor
Failed  Blue State carpetbaggers
Tea  Party folks
The  poor taxpaying chump
Bryan  Trubey, architect for Cowboys Stadium
Mary  Helen Berlanga and Rene Nunez, state board of education members
Y.E.  Yang,  PGA golf tournament winner
Bess  Enloe, Deedie Rose, Caren Prothro and Sarah Perot, ATT arts center fundraisers
Sam  Bassett, ex-chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission
Rick  Perry, governor
Kay  Bailey Hutchison, U.S. senator
Aldine ISD, winner of 2009 Broad Prize
House Speaker Joe  Straus
Melodie and Peggy  Pryor, community activists
Ed  Whitacre Jr., GM chairman, Ennis native
John  Carona, state senator
Dan  Branch, state rep
Kris  Kristofferson
The two-time teen mother
The do-nothing Legislature
Tommy  Lee Jones
Bill  Wittliff, screenwriter
Colt  McCoy
David  Daniel, UT-D president
Cameron  Todd Willingham, executed in 2004
Nolan  Ryan, Texas  Rangers GM
Dr. Nancy  Dickey, dean of the A&M medical school
Dr. Leonard  Pike, A&M researcher who developed the 10-15 onion
The jobless or downsized or uninsured Texan
The out-of-work soft-collar Texan
Willie  Nelson
Bob  Bullock
Sully  Sullenberger, hero  US Airways pilot

Click this to read 2008's TOY page, and earlier.

I'm going to put up the University of Texas-Arlington Innocence Network, whose students and volunteers helped gain the freedom of two wrongly convicted Dallas men. You read about it last week, and we publish an editorial for Wednesday's paper saluting the university-based effort.

This is the stuff a TOY is made of -- making a difference, overcoming adversity, etc. This outfit operates on a shoestring. Students involved in the project often pay their own travel and other expenses. The leader, criminology professor Dr. John Stickels, often pays the tab for filing fees and other costs.

At one critical point this spring, Stickels told me, "We were broke and I was broke," but volunteers needed money to travel to three different prison units around the state to interview inmates.

University President Jim Spaniolo stepped in and gave the project a $1,000 donation in a personal check. "It came at a fortuitous time," Stickels said.

This effort is a mark of distinction for the university and deserves solid support.

The UT-A project is now on our official list. Who else should we add? Put your ideas in a comment to this post or email them to me or to TOY@dallasnews.com.

Our editorial board will pick the TOY for 2009 and nine finalists in just a few weeks and publish profiles starting mid-December.

The nominee could come from any walk of life -- arts, sports, public service, law, politics, research, academe, business, social work, volunteering, civic affairs, philanthropy, etc. Think religion and literature, environmentalism and technology. Music, architecture, ranching.

Keep in mind that the distinction is for better or worse. Also keep in mind that the impact in question must have taken place this year. This is not a lifetime achievement award.

Here are the ideas that have come in so far:

UT-Arlington  Innocence Network
Farrah  Fawcett
Catherine  Hardwicke, movie director
Jerry  Jones
Jerry  Patterson, land commissioner
Julian  Castro, San Antonio mayor
Failed  Blue State carpetbaggers
Tea  Party folks
The  poor taxpaying chump
Bryan  Trubey, architect for Cowboys Stadium
Mary  Helen Berlanga and Rene Nunez, state board of education members
Y.E.  Yang,  PGA golf tournament winner
Bess  Enloe, Deedie Rose, Caren Prothro and Sarah Perot, ATT arts center fundraisers
Sam  Bassett, ex-chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission
Rick  Perry, governor
Kay  Bailey Hutchison, U.S. senator
Aldine ISD, winner of 2009 Broad Prize
House Speaker Joe  Straus
Melodie and Peggy  Pryor, community activists
Ed  Whitacre Jr., GM chairman, Ennis native
John  Carona, state senator
Dan  Branch, state rep
Kris  Kristofferson
The two-time teen mother
The do-nothing Legislature
Tommy  Lee Jones
Bill  Wittliff, screenwriter
Colt  McCoy
David  Daniel, UT-D president
Cameron  Todd Willingham, executed in 2004
Nolan  Ryan, Texas  Rangers GM
Dr. Nancy  Dickey, dean of the A&M medical school
Dr. Leonard  Pike, A&M researcher who developed the 10-15 onion
The jobless or downsized or uninsured Texan
The out-of-work soft-collar Texan
Willie  Nelson
Bob  Bullock
Sully  Sullenberger, hero  US Airways pilot

Click this to read 2008's TOY page, and earlier.

Here is your updated list of nominees from readers for this newspaper's annual Texan of the Year feature. It will roll out in mid-December with nine finalist profiles followed by the full feature treatment for the 2009 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year.

Please add your ideas in a comment to this post, email to me or to TOY@dallasnews.com.

The nominee could come from any walk of life -- arts, sports, public service, law, politics, research, academe, business, social work, volunteering, civic affairs, philanthropy, etc. Think religion and literature, environmentalism and technology. Music, architecture, ranching. Community organizing even.

Keep in mind that the distinction is for better or worse. Also keep in mind that the impact in question must have taken place in the past year. This is not a lifetime achievement award.

Here are the ideas that have come in so far:

Bryan  Trubey, architect for Cowboys Stadium
Mary  Helen Berlanga and Rene Nunez, state board of education members
Y.E.  Yang, PGA golf tournament winner
Bess  Enloe, Deedie Rose, Caren Prothro and Sarah Perot, ATT arts center fundraisers
Sam  Bassett, ex-chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission
Rick  Perry, governor
Kay  Bailey Hutchison, U.S. senator
Aldine ISD, winner of 2009 Broad Prize
House Speaker Joe  Straus
Melodie and Peggy  Pryor, community activists
Ed  Whitacre Jr., GM chairman, Ennis native
John  Carona, state senator
Dan  Branch, state rep
Kris  Kristofferson
The two-time teen mother
The do-nothing Legislature
Tommy  Lee Jones
Bill  Wittliff, screenwriter
Colt  McCoy
David  Daniel, UT-D president
Cameron  Todd Willingham, executed in 2004
Nolan  Ryan, Texas  Rangers GM
Dr. Nancy  Dickey, dean of the A&M medical school
Dr. Leonard  Pike, A&M researcher who developed the 10-15 onion
The jobless or downsized or uninsured Texan
The out-of-work soft-collar Texan
Willie  Nelson
Bob  Bullock
Sully  Sullenberger, hero American Airlines pilot