Another high-profile funeral is about to occur in Amarillo.

This one will be for former state Sen. Teel Bivins. It will be Thursday at St. Andrews’ Episcopal Church. The sanctuary no doubt will be packed. People will remember the impact that Bivins had on this region, first as the scion of a powerful family, then as a state senator who rose to considerable prominence in the Legislature during his 15 years representing the Panhandle in the Texas Senate.

Bivins died this afternoon of complications from a long and debilitating illness. He was 62.

The community he loved so deeply will miss him.