By Sondra Barr
In his final term as mayor of Sherman, David Plyler isn’t resting on his laurels. While his past accomplishments are many, he’s quick to point out that he has much left to do in the next two years.
“When I became mayor back in 2016, Sherman was ranked in the top cities for places to retire because our cost of living was low,” he explains. “However, we had more poverty in Sherman than I would have liked. In my perspective, economic development is the cure for much of that. How is one way to raise people out of poverty? You give them opportunity.”
In his years as mayor, Plyler has done just that. From helping negotiate the construction of multi-billion-dollar manufacturing plants with global behemoths like Texas Instruments, Finisar, and GlobalWafers Co., Sherman is no longer just a top spot to retire, it’s also a great place to secure employment and raise a family.
“That’s been a driving factor of recruiting so heavily into Sherman, to help people not only have a good job, but to have insurance, childcare, important things. I think the people of Sherman deserve that,” the mayor says. “Sherman always had the potential for these industries. Many past mayors and councils made decisions to invest in infrastructure and water rights all contributing to the success we see today.”
“It’s been exciting to be instrumental in growing Sherman and attracting these high-tech businesses,” says Plyler. “It’s clean manufacturing. The jobs are high paying and it’s really helping our community by providing opportunity for people.”
Not only are these efforts helping Sherman, but they are also helping America. The $5 billion semiconductor silicon-wafer facility being built by GlobalWafers in Sherman will be the biggest of its kind on American soil and, according to Plyler, it’s the first one of its type to be built in America in 20 years. As the country deals with the continuing fallout from a global shortage of chips, the silicon wafers made in this American facility will help satiate the worldwide demand and power everything from advanced weaponry, cars, cell phones, and appliances.
Economic success offers exciting opportunities––and challenges. Plyler is well equipped to handle both. As the president of Plyler Construction, he’s using the skills he’s developed over the years leading the company his grandfather Lloyd Plyler founded in 1962.
Plyler’s approached his role as mayor with the same logical mind that’s fueled his success in the construction industry. “The things I’ve learned in the construction company such as financial management, negotiation, business planning, long-term planning, infrastructure planning, all of those things I do here translate directly to what I do at the city.”
While Plyler is still focused on improving the infrastructure necessary to support Sherman’s growth by updating roads, water and waste systems, public safety, and the necessary essentials for a properly functioning city, he also wants to build up Sherman in other ways.
“Now that we have some good, sustainable growth from our economic development activities, it’s time to develop more of a lifestyle type environment where we focus on amenities and build up our parks and our trails with costs offset by the new growth.” he says.
Parks and Trails masterplans have been recently completed and the city is looking at the possibility of building a community center with a possible aquatic feature and indoor pickleball courts, all which Plyler is excited about.
“Meanwhile, we’re continuing to develop our highways. Our main highway through the community is torn up right now because we’re taking it from an old four-lane design to a fresh, modern six-lane highway––a $180 million project,” he says. And other highways are being updated and new streets added.
While the cost of these projects may seem staggering, there are 8,000 homes currently planned or under construction in the area, with more housing developments planned in the future. With Sherman’s population expected to double in the next five to ten years, increased pressure on city infrastructure is inevitable and it will need to be monitored and modernized.
“As you add new neighborhoods, you must do the city things––pick up trash, patrol the areas, provide fire services… The city will have to hire more people, buy new equipment. You must have those things in place so that you can continue to offer the services at the level our citizens expect,” says the mayor.
Speaking of services, there’s one that’s near and dear to Plyler’s heart––Meals on Wheels. It’s one where Plyler aptly combines his two roles for public good. His company, Plyler Construction, is nearing completion on the renovation of a 13,000-square-foot building for a new central kitchen to serve the area’s seniors more efficiently.
“Right now, there are several kitchens in different areas across the counties. What we’re hoping to do is consolidate all those kitchens into one central kitchen to increase efficiency, lower insurance costs, and have better control of the products sent out to seniors,” explains Plyler. Funded in part by a generous donation from MacKenzie Scott, the project is expected to be completed by fall 2023.
Among other significant projects on Plyler Construction’s plate: the building of the Medal of Honor Museum on the campus of North Central Texas College in Gainesville, Texas; a new worship facility for First Baptist Church in Van Alstyne, Texas; and a new branch bank for the First State Bank Whitesboro, projects for Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and several industrial projects. Meanwhile, Plyler Construction’s fabrication plant booked until late summer.
“We’re also taking steps to become AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) Certified,” explains Plyler. This seal of quality demonstrates a mastery of the skills and knowledge required to manage and implement the complex steel fabrication processes. “It’s quite an extensive application process. You must go through audits, have quality control processes in place, inventory control, and inspections. It’s very complicated to get and we’re going through the process right now. We expect to roll that out sometime in spring.”
On the home front, Plyler and his wife of over 30 years, Mignon, just welcomed a new grandbaby––Annie Claire Blevins. Her mother just finished a nursing program at Texas A&M University and is an ICU nurse at Texoma Medical Center, while the Plyler’s son is following in his father’s footsteps and works at Plyler Construction as project manager. The couple’s eldest daughter is working on her Ph.D. in history at her father’s alma mater, Texas Tech University.
Plyler hopes his efforts in the community stand as an example to his family and the city of Sherman of what can be accomplished serving the common good. As for what he plans on doing once his last term ends in November of 2025: “I don’t know what future role I’m going to take. I’m sure I’ll do something in public service, but I don’t know what that looks like yet,” he says.
For more information, visit www.mayordavidplyler.com or www.plylerbuilds.com.
