Matt Darby of Darby Racing Technology, LLC, passed away on Wednesday, July 2, at age 54.

© courtesy Cox Royley Funeral Home

Obit courtesy of the Cox Royley Funeral Home

AMARILLO, TX–JULY 6, 2025–Matthew “Matt” James Darby, 54, passed away on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Services will be scheduled and announced at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Rowley Funeral Home.

Matt was born August 20, 1970, in Newport Beach, California, to James “Jim” and Nancy (Shappell) Darby. He moved to Amarillo at the precocious age of 3 1/2 and grew up here in Amarillo, attending Puckett Elementary, Bonham Jr. High, and Amarillo High School.

Matt attended the University of North Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television, and Film. He returned to Amarillo in 1996 to start his well-known career in broadcasting. Matt’s “golden pipes” were recognized everywhere he went.

Matt worked as the News Director for KGNC-FM and served as the News Director for Cumulus Media in 2001, where he was also the Program Director for the 2 AM radio stations there. He was best known for his Afternoon Sports Page. In this 2-hour afternoon sports talk show, he showcased his sports knowledge and extraordinary wit while interacting with local calls from avid sports enthusiasts.

In 2006, Matt left his broadcasting career and joined AQHA as the Manager of Race Marketing. It was there that Matt discovered the “problem” with racing silks for horse racing jockeys. So, he researched, engineered, and, in 2012, opened his company, Darby Racing Technology, LLC, where he developed and successfully created his Triple Crown-winning product, Speed Silks™.

On January 21, 2002, Matt married Darci (Gouge) in one of their favorite “happy” places, Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida. They met 3 1/2 years earlier through a mutual friend, Mary Lyn Halley; the rest was history. Together they traveled abroad, enjoying cruises, Disney vacations, Caribbean beach stays, and most of all, making memories together.

Matt loved hosting parties for friends and family to come watch the Triple Crown races. He was happy to admit that he wasn’t the best at picking the winners, but he was pretty great at pointing out those who were wearing his SpeedSilks™ and looking sharp crossing the finish line!

He was a former member of Amarillo Rotary and an active member of the Amarillo Executive Association, where he served as past Secretary and Committee member of the annual Game Dinner. Matt loved an open microphone and enjoyed serving as emcee to a multitude of events, as well as acting as the in-arena announcer for the local sports teams, the Amarillo Rattlers, Amarillo Gorillas, and Amarillo Dusters.

Matt enjoyed traveling, golfing, collecting anything Star Wars-related, and spending time with family and many friends. His incredible knowledge, which he would refer to as trivial, useless information, was so expansive that you would find yourself saying, “Really?” because it seemed impossible for anyone to actually know such random, particular factoids.

He was the life of the party, the first to help others, and always there to lift up all around him with a clever quip or hilarious joke or story—to put it simply, Matt was LOVED BY ALL.

Matt was preceded in death by his father, James Darby; his dad, Gary Gerard; and his grandparents, Nelson and Helen Shappell and Edith and Desmond Gerard.

Survivors include his wife, Darci; his mother and stepfather, Nancy and Carl Altschwager; his “I won the in-law lottery” in-laws, Jimmy and Jo Gouge of Amarillo, a sister, Noma (Jason) Burr of Amarillo; a sister, Jennifer (Steve) Walsh of St. Louis, Missouri; his sister-in-law, Denise (Jeff) Gulde of Amarillo; a step sister, Jo Lyn Green of Tennessee; a step brother, Brian (Carry) Gerard of Kentucky; numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces, great nephews and many “surrogate” family members who he adored.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Sister-Bear Foundation, or a charity of your preference. CLICK HERE to visit his obit page at Cox Rowley Funeral Home Services.