Texas Bankers Hall of Fame Honorees

Sam H. Burris, Jr. was born and raised in Alice, Texas to parents Sam Houston Burris, an attorney and World War II Veteran, and his wife Dorothy Rutledge Burris, an educator who taught high school English. Sam has one brother, Barrett H. Burris, who lives in Magnolia, Texas.

Graduating from Alice High School in 1972, he attended the University of Texas at Austin (UT), where he met fellow student, Judy Johnson. Burris and Johnson married in 1976, one year after he graduated with a BBA of Finance. He and Judy have four daughters and seven grandchildren.

Burris worked for four banks over his career, beginning with Alice National Bank, followed by Brush Country Bank, First Security Bank and First National Bank of Huntsville. After 30 years with First National Bank of Huntsville, Burris retired as chairman of the board in 2022. This year the bank is celebrating 135 years as a locally owned community bank with five branches.

Burris served in many capacities with numerous community organizations such as the Methodist Retirement Communities (MRC), MRC Creekside, Huntsville Memorial Hospital, SHSU Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking Advisory Board, SHSU President’s Circle, Second Step Counseling Center and the Government Relations Committee of the Texas Bankers Association.

His hobbies include spending time with family, hunting, fishing and golfing.

Charles G. Cooper was appointed Texas Banking Commissioner by the Texas Finance Commission on Dec. 1, 2008. His career in the banking industry spans over 50 years and includes senior level positions in both the public and private sectors.

As Texas Banking Commissioner, Cooper’s responsibilities include the chartering, regulation, supervision and examination of 214 Texas state-chartered banks (as of Sept. 30, 2024) with aggregate assets of approximately $452.5 billion. The department also supervises trust companies, foreign bank agencies and branches, prepaid funeral licensees, money service businesses and perpetual care cemeteries.

Cooper has served in various positions with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS). He was elected chairman in 2016 and currently serves as chairman emeritus. He served two terms as the state banking representative on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) from 2018-2022. In May 2023, Cooper was appointed Chairman of the State Liaison Committee (SLC) and was re-elected to serve another term the following year. This position serves as a voting member of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). He also serves as the state representative on the Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee (FBIIC) and is heavily involved in promoting cybersecurity efforts in the financial sector.

Cooper began his career in banking in 1970 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the Dallas Region. In his 12 years within the public sector, he served in various capacities, including examiner, review examiner and field office supervisor of the Houston Northeast Field Office. He made the transition to the private sector in 1982, and for the last 26 years, Cooper served as a banking executive, board member, educator and professional consultant to the industry. His financial services experience includes executive level positions associated with lending, credit administration, asset/liability management and general bank operations.

A native Texan, Cooper holds a BBA in Finance and Economics from Baylor University and is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU. He also received an advanced peace officer certification. Cooper has been on the board of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate since 1990. He is married and has two daughters and one granddaughter.

Harvey P. Hartenstine has been an integral part of Broadway Bank’s growth since 1992, currently holding the positions of president and chief banking executive. He has been on the Broadway Bank Board of Directors since 2019 and participates in key committees such as the Directors Loan Review Committee, Directors Trust Committee, Directors Asset Liability Committee and Senior Officer’s Loan Committee. His influence extends to various strategic and regulatory committees within the bank.

Hartenstine plays a crucial role in providing leadership across all markets for commercial banking, wealth management and private banking. He is instrumental in steering the current geographic expansion into new Texas markets and has held numerous leadership roles, including president of Broadway Bank Austin Region and group executive vice president – division manager of private bank.

With over 44 years of experience in the banking and financial industry, Hartenstine possesses a graduate banking degree from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a Master of Business Administration in International Finance from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Bachelor of Science from Texas State University.

In addition to his executive career, Hartenstine also holds board membership positions with several organizations, including the Christus Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation, Mission Road Ministries, President’s Council of Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas and CP Legacy Assets. He recently served as co-chair of the 2024 Mission Road Ministries Annual Gala, the organization’s largest annual fundraiser where over $1 million was raised, is a member of Texas Business Leadership Council and the United Way’s Tocqueville Society. Hartenstine is also a 2025 San Antonio Business Hall of Fame inductee.

Previously, Hartenstine served as chairman on the Texas Bankers Association Services Company (TBASCO) board and the TBA, Zach Theatre Trustees and Crosspoint, Inc. Board of Directors. He was a member of the advisory board for the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, chaired the annual KLRN San Antonio Wine Festival and the Mission Road Ministries 2003 annual gala, served as San Antonio Fiesta Commissioner and was a member of the founding board of directors for the San Antonio Business Development Fund. Hartenstine also completed Leadership San Antonio (LSA) - class of 2000.

Hartenstine strongly believes in giving back to his community. In January 2024, this dedication was recognized when he received the esteemed Richard Goldsmith Volunteer Leadership Award from Crosspoint, Inc. To continue his commitment to supporting education and future professionals, he served as adjunct professor and has personally established the Hartenstine Endowment at Texas State University for MBA and accounting majors.

Robert W. “Bobby” Hoxworth has lived in Texas all of his life and moved to Killeen in 1978. He is the president and chief executive officer of First National Bank Texas, a position he has held since 2008. Hoxworth joined the bank in 1981 as a vocational office education student worker in the mail room, and has held numerous positions within the bank during his 43-year career.

Hoxworth earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from Central Texas College and a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Hoxworth received his Master of Business Administration degree from Baylor University in 2001.

Hoxworth is a former two-term councilmember for the City of Harker Heights (2003-2009), and in his capacity as a councilmember for Harker Heights, served as mayor pro-tempore and as the city’s appointee to the Board of Directors of the Central Texas Council of Governments (CTCOG). Hoxworth is a former chairman of the Texas Bankers Association, the oldest and largest state banking association in the nation. He has also served the Central Texas community as chairman of the Board of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, president of the Killeen-Heights Rotary Club, president of the Killeen ISD Education Foundation, chairman of the Texas A&M University Central Texas Foundation, chairman of the Better Business Bureau of the Heart of Texas, president of the Central Texas Fort Hood Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, and as treasurer of the Killeen Economic Development Corporation and the Fort Hood Regional Economic Development Foundation. Hoxworth has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus of the Killeen Independent School District (2013), the Central Texas College Foundation (2022) and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Alumni Association (2024) He was named a III Corp Good Neighbor in 2022.

Hoxworth currently serves on the Board of the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance. He is also a member of the President’s Regional Advisory Council for Texas A&M University Central Texas, a Life Member of the Central Texas Fort Hood Chapter of the Association of the United States Army and a member of the Killeen-Heights Rotary Club.

Hoxworth has been married to his wife Pat for 40 years, they made their home in Belton with their dachshund, Darbey and cat, Momma.

William A. Nesbitt graduated from Gatesville High School in 1963 and was selected among 40 other high school graduates to receive a full-ride scholarship to attend Baylor University by The Citizens National Bank of Waco. The scholarship’s only criteria was to tell the bank president that he wanted to be banker at the end of each semester and maintain a 3.0 or better GPA. Nesbitt was also able to work part-time during the summers and during the school year beginning his senior year. The bank continued the scholarship through the Baylor School of Law. That generous scholarship was the inspiration of Walter G. Lacy, Jr., one of the inaugural inductees of the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame, and, coupled with the part-time job at Citizens National Bank of Texas, proved to be the turning point in Nesbitt’s life.

Nesbitt worked at Citizens National Bank of Texas through a merger with RepublicBank Dallas in 1986. He left Republic in February 1987 and joined a group that was purchasing a small independent bank, Central National Bank of Woodway-Hewitt.

Central National Bank of Woodway-Hewitt is owned by eight families who consider themselves partners more than shareholders. Today, it is still governed by a shareholders’ agreement signed by seven of the eight families. For 37 years, the bank has enjoyed excellent profitability while balancing dividends with capital retention.

Nesbitt has three sons and shares a daughter and two sons with his wife, Dwana. The six of them and their spouses have blessed Nesbitt and his wife with 12 grandchildren, with their lucky 13 on the way. One of his sons, Joe Nesbitt, is the CEO of the Central National Bank of Woodway-Hewitt.

James E. Baine is a recognized and respected community banker who is known for his tenacious, enterprising, creative problem solving, and generous spirit. Born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1960, his family returned state-side in 1961, landing in Huntsville, Texas. He began his banking career as an employee at United Bank of Austin to becoming the co-owner of three community banks from central to southeast Texas. His goal as a community banker was always to serve the customer first, the bank second, and self-last. Bank Directors often described him “as man of street smarts and book smarts.”

Baine received his undergraduate degree from Sam Houston State University in 1982 and his MBA from Texas State University in 1984. He began his banking career at United Bank of Austin while pursuing his MBA from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He served that organization in many different positions from teller to subsequent Branch Manager/Vice President in 1983. He then moved into the position of Senior Vice President of First National Bank in Huntsville, Texas in 1984. Baine left banking in 1988 to establish multiple corporate and LLC companies for the purpose of commercial and residential real estate acquisitions. At one time he owned and managed over one million square feet of commercial real estate, more than 30% of the apartment complexes in Huntsville, and dozens of homes in Harris, Montgomery, and Brazos counties.

He returned to banking in 1996 as he and his business partner, Walter Nelson, negotiated and bought Citizens State Bank in Buffalo, Texas. He also fulfilled the role of Vice Chairman, Director, and Senior Lending Officer. After returning the bank to a highly profitable level Baine and Nelson sold it to Industry State Bank in 1998. He continued to serve as a Board member from 1998 to 2004. Baine retired briefly only to acquire another bank charter in 1999 that became the First State Bank of Huntsville with branch locations in Kosse, Itasca, and Whitney, Texas. He fulfilled the role of President, CEO, and Director. Each branch was sold to various banking institutions. After Baine survived two major heart attacks, in 2010 he and Nelson sold First State Bank of Huntsville to First Financial Bank of Abilene (FFIN), a publicly traded institution. He was a FFIN Board member and paid consultant through 2016. Upon leaving the FFIN Board he became the largest shareholder and a Director of Westbound Bank of Katy, Texas. Baine initiated the sale of Westbound Bank to Guaranty Bank and Trust, another publicly traded institution in 2019. He retired from community banking in 2019 yet continues to serve over 2,000 previous customers with private lending needs, estate, and life issues.

Today, Baine maintains a real estate and private lending office in Conroe, Texas. He and his wife Jill have been married 40 years and are the parents of two sons, Jamie (deceased), widow Sophia, and Stephen, wife Carly, and one granddaughter, Charlotte.

Harlan Raymond Heitkamp was born in New Braunfels, Texas on November 14, 1938 and passed away on February 6, 2023 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Heitkamp grew up in Bracken, Texas, and he graduated from Texas Tech University with a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation, Heitkamp moved to Corpus Christi to work for the City of Corpus Christi Department of Engineering.

After working for the city, Heitkamp formed his own Civil Engineering firm, Maverick Engineering, with offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Houston. It was during his engineering days; he joined the Board of Directors for The International Bank of Corpus Christi. It was at that time, that Harlan decided to become more active in the community banking industry. He formed a control group, which purchased 5 local community banks, that later became known as ValueBank Texas. Harlan stayed involved with the banks until his death.

One of Heitkamp’s strongest qualities was his commitment to his local community and community banking. He participated in many local charities and his mentorship to these programs lives on today through various memorials. Heitkamp understood the importance of advocating for the community banking industry and did so by serving as Chairman of Services for The Independent Bankers Association of Texas and in 1997-1998, serving as Chairman of the organization. This was an experience that he deeply cherished and took immense pride in. Another position that he loved, was the time he served as Chairman for The Independent Bankers Bank. In this position, Heitkamp found some of his greatest friends. The dedication he put into community banking produced many lifelong friendships that brought him great joy.

Heitkamp was passionate, dedicated, thoughtful, kind, caring and believed that nothing is more important than family and friends. These qualities are what made Heitkamp not just a good community banker but a great one. He was well-respected in his community and among his peers as well as his family members. He was a true gentleman and always ready to lend a hand.

He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Gerry, his son Scott Heitkamp and wife Carrie and his grandchildren Hailey and Andrew, which were his pride and joy. Heitkamp built a lasting legacy and one that will live on for generations to come.

Carmen Jordan joined Origin Bank as Executive Vice President in 2018 and currently serves as Regional President for the greater Houston area. She is responsible for ensuring the highest level of credit quality for all segments (including commercial and industrial, energy, real estate, and private banking), while balancing growth with the appropriate level of risk. Since her time at Origin Bank, the Houston market has quadrupled loans and doubled deposits while improving overall credit performance and profitability. Her particular areas of expertise include merger and acquisition finance and energy service lending. Jordan also serves on Origin’s corporate loan committee covering Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Under her leadership, Origin Bank was awarded the Top 100 Places to Work in 2022 and 2023 by the Houston Chronicle and was recognized as last year’s winner of the Values Award.

Prior to Origin, Jordan served as Houston Market President of IBERIABANK. As Market President, Jordan guided Iberia’s loan growth in Houston from $400 million to $1.4 billion in five years while navigating the bank through one of the most difficult energy downturns in history.

Jordan served as Chief Lending Officer of Encore Bancshares from 2009 to 2012. In that capacity, she achieved significant growth while also contributing to improving the credit quality of the bank and its regulatory rating, resulting in a stock price appreciation of over 300% in 3 years.

Jordan began her banking career at First Interstate Bank, completing the retail branch management training program, formal credit training, and later following her boss and long-time mentor to Amegy Bank of Texas where she worked for 12 years.

Jordan is a nationally recognized leader in banking. She was named as American Banker Magazine’s Top 50 Women in Banking. She has also received numerous awards for her achievements in diversity, being named one of the Most Powerful and Influential Women in Texas by the National Diversity Council and was included in the Top 15 Business Women of Houston by the National Women’s Council.

Jordan is actively engaged in her alma mater, Lamar University in Beaumont, where she was recently named as a Distinguished Alumna. She serves on the Advisory Board of the College of Business (formerly as Chairperson) and the university’s Foundation Board and has established a scholarship for incoming freshman. Jordan currently serves on the board of Nativity Academy, which is a non-tuition based Christian school in Houston serving low-income students. Previous non-profit involvement includes the Executive Women’s Partnership, Fort Bend County Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Holocaust Museum Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as, the Houston City Club.

Jordan lives in Sugar Land and has two wonderful daughters. She is an active sports enthusiast, playing tennis and soccer, and enjoys boating and traveling.

As a seasoned banking executive and community leader, Vidal H. Ramirez has left an indelible mark on the financial landscape of Houston, Texas. With a career spanning over five decades, Vidal's journey has been characterized by transformative leadership, strategic foresight, and an unwavering commitment to community development.

Ramirez played a key role as an original founding shareholder of Allegiance Bank in 2007 and was instrumental in steering Allegiance Bank's growth in partnership with George Martinez and Steve Retzloff, from a De novo operation to $6 billion in assets, culminating in its merger with CommunityBank of Texas in 2022 to create Stellar Bank. He served as Vice Chairman and Board Member at Allegiance Bank, Houston, Texas, from 2008 to 2022 and, since 2022, has actively contributed to the successful merger and integration of Stellar Bank.

From 2002 to 2007, Ramirez served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Community Bank where he was responsible for overseeing and managing the Katy, Texas office. During his tenure, Ramirez was an integral piece in assisting in the sale of Community Bank to Sterling Bank, upon which time he served as Vice Chairman of the new Sterling Bank organization.

His banking career traces back to 1965 when he began at the National Bank of Commerce in Brownsville, Texas, subsequently holding various positions starting from bank teller and continued roles of increasing responsibility, including work at Texas Commerce Bank, River Oaks Bank & Trust, Greater Houston Bank, and Unitedbank I10 West, where he played a pivotal role alongside Vincent Kickerillo and Walter Mischer Sr. in its transition to Community Bank.

Ramirez holds an undergraduate degree from Texas Southmost College, Brownsville, Texas, and a graduate degree from the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Additionally, he completed the Management Program at Rice University, showcasing his commitment to continuous learning.

Beyond his banking career, Ramirez is deeply engaged in community initiatives, currently serving as Chairman of the Board at Methodist Hospital West and Quality Control Member and Benefits Community Member at Methodist Hospital System. His community involvement extends to his support of education, contributing his expertise as a member of the Steering Committee of NW Houston Community College, the Advisory Committee for Economic Development at the Greater Houston Partnership and Member of Literacy Advance of Houston.

A native Texan, born in Brownsville, Texas, he and his wife Magda have been happily married for 57 years. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Henry Wu currently serves as Chairman & CEO of AFNB Holdings, Inc., a holding company of American First National Bank. Wu also serves as Chairman of American First National Bank and works as President for Hugesen Polymer USA, LP; C & W Packaging, LP; and C & W Warehouse, Inc. He was previously the Chairman for Texas First National Bank (now Golden Bank) and had worked as President for Hugesen Enterprises, Inc. and General Merchandise, Inc.

Wu was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, married his wife in 1973, and now has a son, a daughter, and four grandchildren. Wu has a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tunghai University in Taiwan and a Master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Mississippi.

Wu started his first job as chemical engineer at Amoco Oil Company in 1974. In 1977, Wu decided to start his own business and established a trading company named General Merchandise, Inc. Afterward, he established Hugesen Enterprises, Inc. in 1983; C & W Warehouse, Inc. and C & W Packaging, LP in 1993; and Hugesen Polymer USA, LP in 2005.

Wu joined Texas First National Bank as Chairman in 1992 and decided to form a new bank under the name of American First National Bank “AFNB” in 1997. AFNB was approved by the regulators on December 21, 1997. Wu and five other organizers raised $15 MM of capital in three days and opened American First National Bank for business on May 18, 1998. Wu has been serving as Chairman since then. Then in 2006, a holding company, AFNB Holdings, Inc. was established; Wu has been serving as Chairman & CEO for AFNB Holdings, Inc. from then on. Because of rapidly expanding business, AFNB moved into a state-of-the-art 12-floor building in 2007. In 2011, AFNB acquired First International Bank through a FDIC-assisted program, increasing its assets, expanding its market segment to the state of Nevada, and increasing its capital capacity. In 2016, AFNB established two California branches and expanded into California.

So far, the bank has 21 locations, including 20 branches and one LPO, located in the states of Texas, Nevada, and California. Over the past 25 years, the bank has remained focused on its core values of simplicity, reliability, and customer service. As of November 30, 2023, AFNB’s total assets are over $2.6 billion, and there are 258 employees.

Mr. Kenneth L. Burgess, Jr. graduated from Texas Tech University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. After graduation he worked for the original First National Bank of Midland where he worked until September of 1983.

Burgess served for 8 years as Executive Vice President of Texas National Bank of Waco and 5 years as President of Security State Bank in Abilene. Upon the sale of the bank, Burgess left to form the First National Bank of Midland and later changed the name of the Bank to FirstCapital Bank of Texas as the bank grew into other areas of the state. The Bank presently stands at about $2.1 billion in assets.

Burgess served in a number of roles in the banking industry. He served as Chairman of the American Bankers Association, the Texas Bankers Association, the ABA Community Bankers Council, the Corporation for American Banking, TBA Services Company and was a founding member of IBAT’s Young Banker’s Association and served on the Board of IBAT Services, Inc.

With the American Bankers Association, Burgess testified before the House Financial Institutions Committee in 2013 regarding the detrimental effects of the Dodd Frank Act on our nation’s community banks and the need for regulatory relief and again before the same committee in 2017 regarding the need to improve the regulatory environment to ease the ability for people and communities to start new community banks.

In 2017, he met with President Donald Trump to inform the President about the regulatory roadblocks inhibiting bank’s ability to serve their customers and communities. Upon the President’s request, Burgess and other industry executives met with Treasury Department officials to craft a regulatory white paper intended for the use of financial regulators to remove burdens on the industry.

He is a past member of the Midland and Abilene United Way board of directors and served as United Way campaign chair in both Midland and Abilene. He is past Chair of the Midland Economic Development Council and past Chair of the Vision 2000 Task Force on Economic Development for the City of Midland. During his time in Waco, Burgess served on the Board of Trustees of the Waco Independent School District. He also served as the founding Chair of the RAWLS College of Business Advisory Board at Texas Tech University.

Burgess has been married to Cathy for 43 years and has three children, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law and seven grandchildren.

Mr. Ron Butler is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Financial Bank, N.A. Abilene Region in Abilene, Texas. First Financial Bank, N.A. is a $13 billion bank with 78 branches located throughout Texas. Butler is also Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. Butler previously was CEO of First Financial Bank in Eastland and Stephenville and has been with First Financial for 30 years.

Butler graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Tarleton State University. He is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

He has been active in the community serving on numerous community boards and is the former Board Chair of the Abilene Industrial Foundation and Abilene Chamber of Commerce. Butler also serves on the Advisory Council of the Excellence in Banking program at the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University, and the Advisory Council of the Rawls College of Business (Emeritus), former director of West Central Texas Municipal Water District, Board Chair of ContinueCare Hospital at Hendrick Medical Center, and the Abilene Improvement Corporation. Butler also served a 6-year term on the Brazos River Authority board of directors and was appointed by Governor Rick Perry and has served numerous terms as a director of the Texas Bankers Association.

Married to wife, Lorilei, and they have two grown children, a son, Trey, and a daughter, Sydney. Trey and Sydney are both graduates of the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University.

Mr. James D. Goudge began his banking career with National Bank of Commerce in 1976, where he trained for management and then worked his way up to Assistant Vice President and then Senior Vice President. Goudge also worked for Kelly Field National Bank as Executive Vice President - Senior Lender, and for Allied American Bank, where he served as Executive Vice President - Commercial Lender. In 1989 he joined Broadway Bank as its Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking. He was named President and CEO in 1998 before ascending to Chairman in 2001. He retired as CEO in 2016 and as Chairman of the Board in 2019.

As Chairman of Broadway Bank for almost two decades, Goudge continued the tradition of strength and stability that has kept the family-owned bank as a model for community banking. Under his leadership, Broadway experienced growth from $1.0 billion in total assets, $897 million in deposits, $400 million in loans, wealth management assets valued at $603 million, net income of $19.4 million, and 22 banking locations and grew to $3.7 billion in total assets, $3.2 billion in deposits, $2.1 billion in loans, wealth management assets valued at $2.1 billion, net income of $56 million, and 36 banking locations in 2019.

Goudge represented his industry well through his active participation in numerous positions such as Chairman of the Texas Bankers Association; Board Member of the San Antonio Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and Federal Advisory Council Representative for the 11th Federal Reserve District; and American Bankers Association Government Relations Committee Member and Membership Committee; and Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Board Member since May of 2014.

Goudge has served his community with unselfishness, enthusiasm, generosity and distinction in many different capacities including Chairman of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and Pathway to a Great City Committee; Co-Chairman of the Leadership San Antonio Class XXIII; Member of the Board of Trustees United Way of San Antonio; Executive Committee Member of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation; Board of Trustees Member of Southwest Research Institute; Chairman KLRN Public Television; and UTSA Development Board Member. Goudge currently serves as the Chair of Snack Pak 4 Kids, San Antonio and on the University of Texas Chancellor's Council Executive Committee. He and his wife, Suzanne, are the Co-chairs of the United Way San Antonio Tocqueville Cabinet Event Committee and the Alamo Heights School Foundation Endowment Capital Campaign.

Goudge graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976 and from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking in 1985.

Goudge is married to Suzanne and has four children: Sara, Carrie, Cy, and Kate, and ten grandchildren.

Mr. J. Pat Parsons earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Lamar University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston. He began his banking career with First City National Bank of Houston in 1973 as a Management Trainee. Parsons served as Credit Analyst, Credit Supervisor - Energy and Commercial Lending Departments, Manager of the International Credit Group, and as a member of the Asia Pacific Banking Group. From 1979 until 1984, he served as General Manager for First City National Bank – London Branch and a Department Manager in the Energy Division of First City in Houston. In 1985, Parsons transferred to First City-Beaumont where he served as President & COO as well as Senior Regional Credit and Lending Officer, and as a director of First City-Beaumont and several other First City community banks.

Parsons joined Community Bank & Trust, SSB, a locally owned community bank, as President and Chief Operating Officer on July 16, 1992. In March 2004, Community Bank & Trust, SSB, was sold to Texas State Bank, McAllen, and Parsons became a Regional President until November 2006 when Texas State Bank was sold to BBVA.

Shortly after this sale, Parsons resigned from BBVA to start CommunityBank of Texas, N.A. where he served as founding CEO and Chairman of the Board.

Following a merger of equals with Vista Bank of Houston which included bringing Robert Franklin on the team as successor management, and most recently a merger of equals with Allegiance Bank to form the newly named Stellar Bank with approximately $11 billion in assets, Parsons is currently serving as director and Vice Chairman of the Bank.

Mr. David R. Seim was born in 1945 in Corpus Christi, Texas. At the age of 12, his family moved to Lubbock. He was a 1963 graduate of Monterey High School, where he played fullback for the football team and served as Senior Class President. He attended Texas Tech University where he met the love of his life, Paula Jane. They married in 1966. In 1968, they had their first child, J. Hunter.

At the time, Seim was a shoe salesman at JC Penney. With a growing family to care for, he went to an employment agency where they placed him in a job with CIT Loans, and thus began a career in banking that spanned nearly a half century. With his career in place, they had two more children, Spencer David in 1974 and Evan Elizabeth in 1977.

Seim's career took him from Plains National Bank, where he was tasked with coordinating the construction of the building at 50th and University, to Amarillo where he worked for American National Bank, and then back to Lubbock, where he worked at Lubbock National Bank. He eventually returned to Plains, which had become Plains Capital Bank. He loved working in that same building he helped make possible. He briefly tried retirement, but the call and service of community banking drew him immediately back. This began his final and happiest post as the Lubbock Market Chairman for Happy State Bank.

Throughout his life, he loved the Lubbock community, Texas Tech University, and community banking. He was active in several professional banking organizations as well as banking education. He served as Chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, as well as a director of the Independent Community Bankers Association of America. He also served on the board of The Independent Bankers Bank in Dallas and was chosen to serve as Chairman of the Board in 1995. Additionally, Seim served and chaired the board of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU. Seims' strong community involvement in Lubbock was also extensive, serving and chairing many organizations. Servant Leadership was important to Seim, as he often spoke about. He lived his life motto, “service above self,” every day of his life.

Mr. James D. “Jay“ Dreibelbis is the President and CEO of Woodforest National Bank located in The Woodlands, Texas.

Dreibelbis received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in 1980 and began his banking career at RepublicBank A&M in College Station, Texas. In 1986 Dreibelbis accepted the position of President at American Bank in Conroe, Texas. For the next twenty years, Dreibelbis would serve that organization in various positions including President of First Community Bancshares (FCBI), the holding company of First National Bank Texas, Fort Hood National Bank, First Community Services, and First Community Mortgage.

In February 2007, Dreibelbis joined Woodforest National Bank (WNB) as Chief Executive Officer of its newly acquired institution, Woodforest Bank, FSB. Shortly thereafter, Dreibelbis assumed the roles of President and Chief Operating Officer of WNB, overseeing the Bank’s technology and operations. He was named President and Chief Executive Officer of WNB on December 27, 2018. WNB is an over $8 billion in assets with more than 750 branches located across 17 states.

Dreibelbis is a dedicated father, husband, and avid outdoorsman. Community involvement and past accomplishments include serving on the Board of Directors of the Texas Bankers Association and as Chairman for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, on the Advisory Board for the Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking at Sam Houston State University, member of the Board of Directors of the Killeen Independent School District Education Foundation, Drive Chairman and member of the United Way Board of Directors, member of the Economic Development Foundation Board and volunteer at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. Jay currently serves on the board of directors for Woodforest National Bank, the Woodlands Chamber, the Conroe Economic Development Council, LiftFund and Payrailz.

Mr. Robert Griffith “Bob“ Greer enjoyed a banking career that spanned 71 years; from a summer job at age 16 through his recent decade-long run at Texas Gulf Bank. Both of his grandfathers were community bankers in Texas towns. His father, Marcus Greer, was a career banker in Galveston, Dallas, and Houston.

Robert “Bob“ Greer was born in Galveston, Texas, on May 22, 1934. He died in Houston on October 1, 2021. Greer earned a BBA degree in finance/banking in 1955 at The University of Texas at Austin. Two decades later, the UT College of Business Administration named him a Distinguished Alumnus.

At 21, Greer joined the Texas Department of Banking as a bank examiner. He was promoted to senior examiner in charge of the 32-bank Amarillo district. Throughout his life, he fondly reminisced about those years of visiting banks across the Panhandle and West Texas.

In early 1959, Greer moved to Houston to join South Main Bank. Later that year, he married Joan Philen. Their marriage and his Houston banking career stretched uninterrupted for 62 years. South Main Bank named Greer president in 1962 when he was 28.

In 1969, he was founding president of Cullen Center Bank & Trust. Cullen Bank set a then national record for opening day deposits. In 1977, its merger with Frost Bank formed Cullen/Frost Bankers. Greer returned to community banking in 1985 as an organizer and chairman of Tanglewood Bank. In 1995, he was founding chairman of unrelated Bank of Tanglewood. From 2002 to 2010, he was vice chairman of Bank of Texas and a director of its parent company, BOK Financial. Greer joined century-old Texas Gulf Bank as chairman in early 2011. He was active there as recently as last summer, as chairman emeritus at age 87.

His unofficial title at each bank — chief extrovert. “He’s so personable,“ a colleague said in a 1994 newspaper story. “He talks with everybody.”

Greer’s leadership roles included serving as president of the Texas Bankers Association. He served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and on an American Bankers Association Government Relations Council committee. Greer also was a director of Jefferson Pilot Corporation and a lifetime director of the Texas Medical Center.

An avid bridge player, Greer enjoyed coaching Little League baseball teams and playing tennis in earlier decades. He is survived by his devoted wife Joan, two sons, two daughters, and 12 grandchildren.

Mr. W. Wes Hoskins was born in Bastrop, Texas, and grew up all over the state as his father was a park ranger. He graduated from Victoria High School and then Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) with a BS degree in Communications/Political Science.

Hoskins joined the Board of Directors at First Community Bank in Corpus Christi in 1993 and when a vacancy occurred, he was asked to help for two weeks as president. After the two weeks concluded, he was hired as the President and CEO where he has remained for 25 years. After each board meeting, Hoskins jokingly says, “I have a job for 30 more days!“

The bank has grown from $37m to over $600m with an ESOP that allows his employees to participate in ownership. Being active in the banking industry and community involvement are extremely important to him. He is a current director and past chairman of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce and past chairman of the South Texas Military Affairs Committee advocating for the area Naval bases.

Additionally, Hoskins is a past chairman of Texas Bankers Association, a current member of the Federal Reserve of San Antonio Advisory Board, a director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, and a past board member of American Bankers Association. In 2015 he accepted the position as a commissioner to the Port of Corpus Christi, the 3rd largest port in the United States. Hoskins has been a licensed auctioneer for over 50 years, lending his services to numerous charities and fundraising efforts.

He is married to Janie, his wife of almost 50 years, and they have two children and five beautiful grandchildren.

Mr. Ben Morgan is “a gentleman, excellent community banker, and nice guy,“ as described by one industry executive. Over his 61-year banking career, Morgan describes surviving multiple recessions, a few real estate crashes, and the banking/S&L crisis of the late 1980s ... and two bank robberies at gunpoint and a kidnapping plot targeting his family.

Morgan didn't just survive – he and the banks he helmed thrived as he combined conservative lending practices with innovation in an industry that, for much of his career, was not known for it.

Morgan studied banking and finance at The University of Texas at Austin before embarking on a career that took him from Austin to Georgetown, Waco, and Arlington. He graduated from the inaugural class of SMU's Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and then, at the behest of Chairman Joe Long, returned to Austin in 1970 as president of Community National Bank.

The bank grew under Morgan's leadership, and he pioneered modern conveniences including drive-ins, electronic payment systems and ACH, ATMs, and eventually, retail banking with 28 full-service branches in Wal-Mart stores.

As the banking crisis unfolded in the 1980s, Joe Long acquired several failed banks and merged Community National and First State under the state charter. Morgan served as President of the combined First State Bank until 1998, when it sold to Norwest and subsequently Wells Fargo. Morgan served as Vice Chairman of Wells Fargo until his retirement in 1999 and remained on the Advisory Board for several years to follow.

Morgan always believed community service was at the root of his success as a banker, and it showed in his tireless dedication to Rotary International, Optimist International, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, Child and Family Services, the Chamber of Commerce, the American Cancer Society, and especially The Austin Symphony. Jane Sibley, an Austin philanthropist and businesswoman, credited Morgan for “personally saving the Austin Symphony“ in the early 1970s, and he continued to serve in leadership roles with the organization for over 40 years.

But more than anything, Morgan was a consummate banker. He served on multiple bank and association boards, including Texas Independent Bank, Texas Bankers Association, American Bankers Association, American Institute of Banking, Texas Association of Business, and Austin Trust Company.

Morgan continues to live in Austin. He and his wife LaRee are the proud parents of 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Mr. R. Michael Rigby was born and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. After graduation from Eastern Hills High School, he attended Texas Wesleyan University and Texas Tech University, and received a BBA degree from Tech in 1970. After graduation, Rigby entered the Marine Corps Reserve and served from 1970 to 1976. He is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado in Boulder and the Institute of Financial Education at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Rigby has always been a strong believer in the importance and necessity of a strong community banking system and currently serves as the South Regional President for Legend Bank, a locally owned community bank that was chartered in 1890 in Bowie, Texas. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, Rigby’s primary responsibility is for Tarrant County and surrounding areas. He has been with Legend Bank since December 1, 2017. From 1998 to August 2008, Rigby served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Bank, a locally owned community bank in North Richland Hills, Texas. Upon the sale of that bank to another local group, he continued as Market President from August 2008 through November 30, 2017. Prior to joining Liberty Bank, Rigby was Executive Vice President of First National Bank of Weatherford from 1980 to 1998.

Rigby is currently a bank member director and the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and has served in that capacity since 2021. Rigby was Vice Chairman from 2015 through 2020 and has been a member of that Board since 2009. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks in Washington, DC and as a member of the Chair and Vice Chair Committee.

Rigby is a past Board member of Texas Bankers Association and served as its Chairman in 2007-2008. He has served as Chairman of the TBA BancPac Committee, Chairman of the Texas Bankers Association Foundation and as a member of the TBA Government Relations Council. He has also served as a member of the American Bankers Association BancPac Committee.

Rigby previously served on the Weatherford College Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1998, the board of directors of the Birdville ISD Education Foundation and as a director for the North Texas Special Needs Assistance Partners. He has also previously served as an advisory director for the Texas Tech University School of Banking. Rigby is a former vice chairman of the North Richland Hills Economic Development Advisory Committee. He was a Director of the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce and the Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce, where he served as Chairman. Rigby is a 25-year member of Lions International and has served as President of the Northeast Richland Lions Club.

In 1970 Rigby married Sunnye Waters. They have been married fifty-two years and have a son, Will Rigby and wife Melinda, a daughter Amy Wiles and husband Eamonn, and four wonderful grandchildren, Hadley, Waylon, Nolan, and Clara.

Dr. James "Jim" B. Bexley began his banking career in 1964 when he joined Bank of the Southwest as a Trust Officer managing oil and gas properties. He rose through the ranks of the Trust Department at Bank of the Southwest and ultimately became the manager of Trust Operations. His banking career included stops at River Oaks Bank and Trust as Chief Operations Officer, Houston Southwest Bank as President & CEO, First Bank of Houston as President & CEO, Texas Commerce Bank-McAllen as Chairman & CEO, Texas Commerce Bank-Corpus Christi as Chairman & CEO, United Bank of Memphis as President & CEO and Cardinal Bancorp and First American Bank of Pennsylvania.  

After retiring from Cardinal Bancorp, Bexley joined Sam Houston State University as the Smith Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking where he served for 24 years. He developed the curriculum at Sam Houston State University for the first four-year accredited BBA degree in banking and financial institutions in the United States. He also pioneered the curriculum for the University’s Executive MBA degree in banking and financial institutions. During Bexley’s tenure with the University, he helped place more than 1,000 students in internships or career positions in banking.  While at the University, Bexley was awarded the Texas State University System Regents’ Award – the highest recognition given to a professor in the University System. Bexley also served as Sam Houston’s Faculty Athletics Representative for more than 20 years. In addition, he was a member of the College of Business Administration’s Advisory Board. Bexley is one of only two non-alumni in history to receive The Sam Houston State University Alumni Association Service Award.

In addition to serving at the University, Bexley served as a consultant for community banks all over the United States and was a Virtual Fellow for the U. S. State Department in the Office of Threat Finance Countermeasures, Bureau of Economic & Business Affairs. He was a former member of the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank for the Eleventh District in Dallas serving as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Executive Committee. In 2016, Bexley was awarded the Texas Bankers Association’s first Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a Deacon at his church and taught Sunday School for all his adult life. 

Bexley authored five books, four on banking - “Bank Management,” “The Bank Director,” “Directors Duties & Responsibilities in Financial Institutions,” and “Selling Financial Products-A Practical Guide For Successful Bank Sales.” In addition, Bexley authored or co-authored 56 professional journal articles on banking and financial services.

Bexley attended the University of Texas on a football and baseball scholarship. He served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957 and in the Army Reserves thereafter.  During his tenure in the Army, he attained the rank of Major.

Bexley was always passionate about learning and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston, a Juris Doctorate Degree from Blackstone School of Law and a PHD in Bank Marketing from Stirling University in Scotland.

Bexley passed away October 18, 2019 at the age of 85.  He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Elsie Murphy Bexley, and two children, Byron Bexley married to Debbie and Tammie Risica married to Tony, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Dr. Lloyd R. Ferguson was born in Charlie, Texas on October 7, 1925.  He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Howard Payne University, Master’s degree from Texas Christian University and Doctoral degree from the University of Houston.  He served in the Army Air Corp as a B-17 gunman in World War II.  He proudly served for twenty-seven (27) years as the Superintendent of Schools of Danbury ISD, Pearland ISD and Clear Creek ISD.

However, he unabashedly states that his most significant professional achievement occurred in December 1959 when Dr. Ferguson and a group of local business leaders successfully organized and chartered Pearland State Bank.  In 1964, Dr. Ferguson was elected Chairman of the Board, a position he continues to hold today. In 1982, he assumed the additional title of President and CEO.

In 1994 under Dr. Ferguson’s leadership, a holding company was created, and the bank’s shareholders purchased First National Bank of Alvin.  Upon the completion of the purchase, Dr. Ferguson was elected Chairman of the Board and CEO of First National Bank of Alvin and continues today in that position.

Both Pearland State Bank and First National Bank of Alvin have consistently been recognized as exemplary banks by numerous publications.

Dr. Ferguson enjoyed serving on the Board of TIB-The Independent BankersBank, N.A. for several years and was active in bank trade organizations.

As an active member of the Pearland Community, Dr. Ferguson was an original organizer of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, serving as one of its first Presidents. He has been a member and served in leadership positions in the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Order of Jesters, Shriners, First United Methodist Church of Pearland, and numerous other organizations.

He was married to Rosalie Briggs Ferguson for sixty-five years until her death on November 27, 2010.  

William David Lacy is a fourth-generation bank president in Waco, Texas. His great grandfather, also named William David Lacy, was president of Citizens National Bank of Waco from 1909 to 1917. His grandfather was president from 1919 to 1946 and his father, Walter G. Lacy, Jr., was president from 1946 to 1971. Walter G. Lacy, Jr. was inducted into the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame in 2013.

William David Lacy has been president of Community Bank & Trust in Waco from July 1, 1999 through today. His 42-year banking career started full-time in 1979 after working seven summers prior to that date. He worked as a teller and in numerous operational areas including Audit, I.T. and Marketing, prior to becoming a commercial lender. From 1982 to 1986, he worked for RepublicBank Corporation and continued working for NationsBank through 1990. Since 1990, he has worked for Community Bank & Trust in Waco.

He has served on well over 100 boards in and around Waco, serving as president of over 50 of those boards. Some of those include the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, the Waco Industrial Foundation, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and Cook Children's Medical Center in Ft. Worth.

Lacy served twice on the Texas Bankers Association (TBA) Board in his career, the second time he served on the TBA Executive Committee in 2015-2016. He has served in various capacities for the American Bankers Association (ABA) as well, currently serving on the ABA Core Contract Committee. His passion on banking trade association committees in recent years has been the recruitment of new talent to banking. He has been supportive of Sam Houston State University and Jim Bexley's efforts in the past decade in this regard.

Lacy graduated from Baylor University in 1979 with a degree in Accounting and Finance and was a four-year letterman on the Baylor golf team.

He married Nancy Derrick in 1986, and they have a daughter, Carter, who resides in Austin.

Victor Pierson is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody Bank and Moody Bancshares, Inc., headquartered in Galveston.

Vic is a stalwart supporter of education. At Southern Methodist University, for example, he chairs the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation Board of Trustees and formerly served as Dean of Bankers for the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking. At Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School Commercial Banking Program, he serves on the Advisory Board’s Executive Committee and the Board of Visitors for Texas A&M at Galveston. He also chairs the University of Texas Medical Branch President’s Cabinet, and taught accounting classes for 16 years at Galveston College.

He is deeply involved in volunteer activities on local, state, and national levels. He has served as Mayor of the City of Jamaica Beach, Texas, is a Presidential appointee to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Commission, and previously was a Gubernatorial appointee to the Coastal Coordination Council.

He is a past Chairman of the Texas Bankers Association, Independent Bankers Association of Texas board member, and Vice Chairman of TIB-The Independent BankersBank, N.A.

Vic was born in Abilene, grew up in Albany, Texas. He graduated from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls with an undergraduate degree in Economics and graduate studies in Finance. A student government and fraternity leader in college, he was named one of America’s Outstanding Young Men in 1980.

He entered banking in Wichita Falls and moved to Galveston in 1985 to join Moody Bank.

The Moody family pioneered Texas banking – Col. William L. Moody was granted the state’s second national banking charter in 1866 – and Vic Pierson is only the fifth chairman in the family’s 153-year banking history. Today, Moody Bank is among Texas’ largest privately owned banks. Total assets have more than doubled over the past decade, and its Trust Department is one of the largest domiciled in Texas.

Vic has played wide-ranging leadership roles in numerous organizations, including the Galveston Economic Development Partnership, the Galveston County Economic Alliance Foundation, Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Galveston, Galveston Historical Foundation, Galveston County Economic Alliance, Galveston County Mayors and Councilmembers Association, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston Island Rotary Club, Galveston Artillery Club, 50 Club of Galveston County, Prevent Blindness, Bay Area Coastal Protection Alliance, Historic Downtown Strand Seaport Partnership, Coastal Windstorm Insurance Coalition, and the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District.

Vic and his wife, Janice, have been married for 24 years. They have three children, Frankie Touchy (Jami), Laurie Popovich, Lindsay Touchy, three grandsons, and one granddaughter.

Allan James “Jimmy” Rasmussen is in his 33^rd year as President and CEO of HomeTown Bank. Rasmussen attended Sam Houston State University from 1970 to 1974. He taught business classes at Sam Houston State University as a graduate assistant and for an additional year as a member of the Department of Business faculty after completing his master’s degree in Finance.

Rasmussen began his banking career in 1975 with American Bank in Huntsville, working for Ron Mitchell and Glen Reader. He moved back to his hometown of Texas City in 1978 to work for Texas First Bank and taught night classes in local community colleges and at Texas A&M University in Galveston for more than ten years.

His community involvement includes past President and 33-year member of The Rotary Club of Galveston Island. Rasmussen also served as elected Trustee for 12 years with the Texas City Independent School District Board of Trustees. He served as the Chairman for the Texas City - La Marque Chamber of Commerce in 1987, as well as, many years on the finance committee of his church - St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal - in Texas City, Texas. Rasmussen is a past Chairman and founding board member for the Galveston Economic Development Partnership, and he presently serves on the Executive Committee.

Rasmussen was elected as a Class A Director with The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in November of 2012 for a three-year term beginning in January of 2013, and was then re-elected in November of 2015 for an additional three-year term, where he served on the Audit, Governance, and Budget Committees.

Rasmussen served as Chairman of The Independent Bankers of Texas (October 2009-2010) - the largest state association for independent community banks in America with membership comprised of more than 2,000 banks and branches in 700 Texas communities. Rasmussen is also a former Director, one of three elected members from Texas, for The Independent Community Bankers of America - the nation’s largest organization for independent community banks.

He received the Rotary Club Vocational Award for "Service in the Work Place" in 1991 and was awarded two Paul Harris Fellow recognitions from Rotary International. Rasmussen was inducted into the Texas City Independent School District Hall of Honor in 2013.

Rasmussen was married for forty-seven years to his late wife, Diana, who passed away in February of 2020. They raised two children— Allan Rasmussen, Jr. (wife Aimee) and Allison Rasmussen McCormick (husband Chuck), who blessed them with seven grandchildren.

Cynthia L. Blankenship is a past chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), the only national trade association that exclusively represents community banks. A charter shareholder, director and vice chairman/corporate president of Bank of the West in Grapevine, Texas, Blankenship serves on the ICBA Board of Directors. She has been ICBA Chairman, chairman-elect and vice-chairman. Blankenship has chaired ICBA's Bank Education, Congressional Affairs, Membership/Marketing, Nominating, Policy Development and Strategic Planning committees. She is immediate past Chair of ICBA Services Network and sits on the ICBA Federal Delegate Board. She most recently served on the FDIC Community Banking Advisory Board.

Blankenship has testified many times on Capitol Hill before the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee. She has attended meetings at the White House and participated in a nationally broadcast press conference with President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. She continues to have a presence in Washington, D.C., by attending meetings at the Treasury, Federal Reserve Bank, CFPB and the Small Business Administration.

She was chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas in 2002 and chairman of the IBAT Education Foundation, which raised more than $1 million for financial literacy. Blankenship was appointed Dean for Bankers and chaired the Southwestern School of Banking Foundation at Southern Methodist University. In 2009, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking - Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business. In 2004, U.S. Banker magazine named her one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Banking. In November 2010, she was named as one of the 2010 Great Women of Texas. She is scheduled to be inducted into the Sam Houston University Texas Banker Hall of Fame in April 2019. She is a member of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce and recipient of the 1999 Arts Education Award, the 2004 Colleyville Women's Club Novus Award, and the 2014 D. E. Box Citizen of the Year. In 2009, she chaired the Grapevine based festival’s GrapeFest annual Gala, which focuses on Texas wineries and is one of the largest community events in the Southwest. Ms. Blankenship currently sits on the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors.

Her community bank specializes in small-business lending and has eight locations. Blankenship lives in Grapevine, Texas, with her husband, Gary. They have three daughters, Lisa, Bailey and Samantha.

Randal Clayton has provided banking services to the citizens of Van Zandt County for forty-six years. From teller to President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Randal has spent his entire banking career with the First State Bank of Ben Wheeler. The bank has been locally owned and operated since 1911.

At Brownsboro High School, Randal received the Lone Star Farmer Degree in FFA and was an All-American linebacker. He played football for one year at Tyler Junior College before earning both a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from East Texas State University in Commerce.

Randal began his banking career as a teller in 1972, then progressed to Loan Officer and Vice-President. In 1986, Randal and his wife, Pam, purchased the bank from Truitt Fulgham, making them 100 percent shareholders. First State Bank of Ben Wheeler then became only one of six banks in the State of Texas to be owned by one stockholder. At that time, the bank had total assets of $9.5 million with one branch. At the end of 2018, the bank had grown to four branches with $146 million.

In 1987, a branch bank was opened in Edom. In 1998, the bank located in Ben Wheeler moved into a brand new building and vacated the premises it had occupied since around 1919. Randal Clayton donated the vacated building to Van Zandt County to be used as an office facility and court for the local Justice of the Peace. Additional branch banks were opened in Canton in 2001 and in Edgewood in 2009.

First State Bank of Ben Wheeler is the one of the last family owned and operated banks in the state. Randal's son, Chet Clayton, and daughter, Gina Thelen, now manage the bank’s daily operations and all three of his children, Julie Stern, Chet, and Gina, serve on the Board of Directors. This unique position makes the bank the one of the few available resources for customers who prefer or need services, which can only be provided by a bank with local decision-making power.

Still active in the bank, Randal can be found at the bank talking with customers and sharing his forty-six years of knowledge and experience with customers and employees alike. When not at the bank, Randal enjoys his cattle, tractors, motor home trips, and spending time with his eight grandchildren.

Joe C. McKinney began his banking career January 1974 as a Credit Analyst at Texas Commerce Bank in Houston. His career included increasing lending and management responsibilities in the Houston Metropolitan, National and Southwest lending groups. Joe was promoted to Executive Vice President and head of Commercial Banking in 1985. In November 1987, McKinney moved to San Antonio to become Chairman & CEO of Texas Commerce Bank – San Antonio, a position he held until March 2002 when he retired. Texas Commerce Bank experienced tremendous growth during this 14-year period. The profile of Texas Commerce Bank grew from one of being a small player in the business community to being considered the premier commercial/corporate bank in San Antonio.

In October 2002, Joe became the Vice Chairman and Board Member of Broadway National Bank in San Antonio. Broadway Bank today has almost $4 billion in assets with offices in San Antonio, Austin and the surrounding Hill Country. The bank’s loan portfolio has grown from approximately $500 million to over $2 billion. McKinney is active in overall bank strategy, business development, loan policy and a broad and active involvement in the San Antonio community. He remains an active and involved mentor to the younger banking officers and employees.

Joe is active in many San Antonio area civic and not for profit organizations. A special note has been Joe’s involvement with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. He assumed increasing leadership roles in the SAEDF, culminating in being named the 2001-2003 Chairman. It was during his Chairmanship that Toyota Manufacturing announced its intention to build its new truck manufacturing facility in San Antonio. Joe was Tri – Chairman of Team Toyota, the public - private partnership that successfully brought Toyota Manufacturing to San Antonio. In addition to the SAEDF, Joe is a trustee of Morgan's Wonderland, San Antonio Medical Foundation, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, University Health System Foundation and the Development Board of the University of Texas Health Science Center. Joe was named the 2003 North Chamber San Antonian of the Year and awarded the 2004 Lead SA Salute to Excellence Award.

In addition to being a Broadway Bank director, Joe serves on a number of corporate boards, including Luby’s, Inc. and New York REIT. He was a past director (12 years) of USAA Real Estate Company. In 2017, Joe was honored by the National Association of Corporate Directors as one of the Top 100 Corporate Directors in America.

McKinney graduated from Harvard University in 1969 with an AB in Economics. He played football all four years. He received his MBA in Finance in 1973 from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

McKinney was in the U.S. Army (Air Defense Artillery) from 1969 - 1972. He attained the rank of Captain.

Married to Jennifer for more than 51 years, they have two married sons and three grandchildren: Joe, Jr and Tina (Elena 16 and Brenna 14); Clay and Kim (Michael 8.) Joe and Jennifer live on 55 acres North of San Antonio and also have a home in the mountains of Southern Colorado.

Paul Moxley, president & CEO of Texas Regional Bank, Harlingen, was born in Staten Island, N.Y., moved to McAllen when he was six months old. He grew up in McAllen and has been a resident most of his life. He has led a noteworthy career serving the residents of McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley. Paul holds a B.S. in Construction Engineering from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He played football in college and played one season with the San Antonio Toros after graduation.

He began a military career in the United States Army in 1968 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Corp of Engineers. In 1969, he served as a Military Assistance Command Advisor to the Vietnamese in South Vietnam. Upon returning to the States, he served 14 years in the Army Reserve.

Paul began his banking career in 1970 with McAllen State Bank then joined Valley Federal Savings in 1973 as President and Director. In 1983, Paul became President/CEO & Director of Security State Bank in Pharr. In 1986, Paul joined Texas State Bank and worked alongside the late Glen Roney. He served as President and Director of Texas State Bank and Executive Vice President of Texas Regional Bancshares, Inc.

In 2006, Texas State Bank sold to BBVA. Paul served as the South Texas Regional Manager where he was instrumental in overseeing the 2008 integration and conversion of Texas State Bank into BBVA Compass. He continued with BBVA Compass as South Texas Regional Manager in the commercial line of business until his retirement in August 2011. In August 2012, Paul joined Texas Regional Bank as President/CEO and board director.

He has a record of service to his community and the financial industry. He was the recipient of the Oscar Cardenas Humanitarian and Community Leadership award for Easter Seals and the 2003 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Rio Grande Council, Boy Scouts of America. He takes pride in his 2004 role as Texas Bankers Association Board Chairman. In October 2017, Paul was honored as the McAllen Man of the Year. He currently serves on three boards and is a past member of 16 other community-based organizations.

Moxley and his wife, Paula, have been married since 1987. They have three sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren, and like to spend time traveling to see them, one who lives as far away as Alaska. Other than traveling with Paula, Paul likes to work, hunt, fish, and play golf.

Current Board Membership: McAllen Economic Development Corporation – Treasurer, McAllen Education Foundation - Vice President, Texas Regional Bank – Director

Past Board Membership: McAllen Health Facilities Development Corporation – President, Texas Bankers Association – Director and Chairman, McAllen Affordable Homes, Inc. – Director, Leadership McAllen – Director, Pharr Industrial Foundation – Director/Chairman, Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley Chapter – Director/Chairman, Pharr United Way – Director, Boys and Girls Club of McAllen – Director/President, McAllen Traffic Commission – Director/ President, McAllen Chamber of Commerce – Director/President, Pharr Chambers of Commerce – Director/President, McAllen Rotary Club – Member, McAllen Chamber Greeters – Member, Jaycees – Member, State Bar of Texas – District 12-B Grievance Committee – Member, McAllen Country Club – Past President/Director

Glendon (Glen) Edward Roney was born October 29, 1930, in St. Elmo, Texas. His childhood job as paperboy in Corsicana, Texas delivering papers to Texas Governor Beauford H. Jester was his first experience with a Texas governor, but it would not be his last. While he devoted his life to banking, he would go on to serve other Texas Governors: John Connally, Dolph Briscoe, Bill Clements, Mark White, Ann Richards, George W. Bush, and Rick Perry — along with Lieutenant Governors Ben Barnes and Bill Hobby. His service to both Texas and the Rio Grande Valley was a key aspect of his life's work.

Glen started his banking career at age 17 at the San Benito Bank and Trust Co. as a file clerk. He believed in working his way from the bottom up, often stating that he would have started as a janitor had that position been offered. Glen enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 to serve in the Korean War. In the Air Force he attended Chillicothe College in Chillicothe, Missouri. Upon discharge, Glen returned to San Benito, continuing a banking career that would span over 60 years. He worked in all areas of operations and lending in San Benito, serving as Vice-President and on the Board of Directors.

In 1961, Glen accepted a position with McAllen State Bank as Chief Operations and Lending Officer and member of the Board of Directors. Later, he served as Executive Vice-President, President and Chief Executive Officer. In 1979, Glen moved McAllen State Bank into its new 17-story building. Today it is still a Valley landmark and the centerpiece of McAllen's downtown business district. Glen and Valley business leaders opened Harlingen State Bank in Harlingen in 1974 and Texas State Bank in McAllen in 1981. Soon the banks grew into a statewide banking organization, led by Glen with his wife Rita K. by his side. He was a member of the Board of Directors of both banks, which merged in 1983 under a holding company —Texas Regional Bancshares, Inc. (TRBS).

One of the high points in Glen's banking career took place on March 15, 1994. He took TRBS public, selling its stock on the NASDAQ stock exchange. He and Rita K. rang the bell opening the stock exchange that day at NASDAQ in Times Square. TRBS — the holding company's stock symbol —rolled across the NASDAQ marquee for the first time, and in one day, the issue sold out.

From 1995 to 1998, additional banks were acquired with more locations in Rio Grande City, Roma, Mission, Hidalgo, Brownsville, Raymondville, and Harlingen. Another highlight of the 1990s was the opening of the 11-story Texas State Bank tower in 1998 — Glen's second bank tower impacting McAllen's skyline. Glen led the expansion of TRBS throughout the state of Texas with locations in Houston, Dallas, Eagle Pass, and Sugar Land. The holding company also acquired Corpus Christi Bancshares, Southeast Texas Bancshares, Port Arthur Abstract and Title, McAllen-based Valley Mortgage Co., and Dallas-based Mercantile Bank & Trust.

Texas Regional Bancshares, Inc. had grown from its humble beginnings of a few assets to a $7 billion banking organization with 73 locations throughout Texas, selling to BBVA in November 2006, for $2.165 billion in cash. This was reportedly the largest cash transaction ever for a bank in Texas. Glen continued to serve as a director for 10 years after BBVA merged with Texas State Bank and Compass Bancshares, Inc.

A strong supporter of public, charitable, and political organizations, Glen served many organizations for a combined 65 years. In 1973, he worked closely with McAllen city leaders and other colleagues to obtain approval of the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), the first inland non-seaport Foreign Trade Zone in the United States. Today over 400 companies are located in the FTZ, representing 42 countries across the globe. Glen was appointed by Governor Dolph Briscoe and re-appointed by Governors Bill Clements and Mark White to the Texas Water Development Board. He served as chairman of the Texas Water Resources Finance Authority, co-chairman of the Governor's Task Force Committee on Border Economic Development, founding member of South Texas College Board of Trustees. He served as director for the Texas Bankers Association, South Texas Higher Education Authority Board, Council of South Texas Economic Progress, and South Texas Academic Rising Scholars (STARS) Scholarship Fund Board. In 1980 Glen and Rita K. joined other community leaders to open Chapel by the Sea, a Christian fellowship at South Padre Island where they continued to serve.

He was a founding member of the Vannie E. Cook, Jr. Cancer Foundation in McAllen, and faithfully served in various board capacities at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple for 33 years. In October 2013, Glen and Rita K. were excited to participate in the opening of the Roney Bone and Joint Institute, a 75,000 square-foot multidisciplinary musculoskeletal/orthopedic addition to Baylor Scott and White.

Glen and Rita K. were honored in 2004 when the McAllen Boys and Girls Club built the Glen E. and Rita K. Roney Center. In 2008, Glen was named a Texas Business Legend and inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame. He received numerous additional awards within his community. Known for finding ways to make things work, searching for solutions to problems, and helping customers succeed in their businesses, Glen will always be remembered as a leader in the generation that made the Rio Grande Valley great.

Glen passed away November 10, 2018. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Rita K. Robertson Roney and three children, Elaine Roney Bready (Doug), Stephen Roney (Patricia), Mark Voss (Brandy), four grandsons, and six great-grandchildren.

B.A. Donelson is a native Texan, born in Stratford, Texas and graduated from Stratford High School. He received a BS in Economics with a minor in Finance from Texas Tech University in 1958 after transferring from Arlington State College.

Donelson returned to Stratford after graduation and began a farming and cattle business. Banking was not in the picture at that time, but life had other plans. In 1967, he was approached by The First State Bank of Stratford to see if banking might interest him as a career. Continuing to farm and ranch, he became a banker. The goal when he began was to become the President and owner of the bank. It took 18 years before the bank came for sale and the opportunity arose. Only with the help of other investors was this goal realized. In 1985, the Stratford Bancshares group was able to purchase the bank from JA Whittenburg, III. This group later purchased North Plains Savings and Loan with offices in Dalhart, Dumas and Stratford.

Once his career in banking began, civic involvement became a large part of his career. Along with his commitment to the bank, Donelson greatly enjoyed civic involvement. The creation of the Stratford Area Foundation and the Stratford Education Foundation count as the highest among his favorite civic projects. Along with community activities, came the banking political world. Donelson was one of the founding members of the group known as North Panhandle Bankers Association, a very active political group of banks from the upper Texas Panhandle during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Other activities included serving banking interests on the national and state level with American Bankers Association, Texas Bankers Association, Independent Bankers Association of America, and the Independent Bankers of Texas as Chairman from 1990-1991. Along with these activities, Donelson taught at Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and the Texas Tech Intermediate School of Banking in Lubbock.

Donelson was honored in 1992 by the Texas Tech Ag Conference for service to the Commercial Banking Profession, and in 2013, he received The Bruning Award presented by the American Bankers Association for Commitment to Agricultural.

Donelson is retired and lives in Amarillo with his wife of 63 years, LeRayne. They have two daughters, Blynn Weldon of Amarillo and Barrie Breed of San Marcos, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Jack Griggs combined a career in banking with that of a university professor and dean. Currently, he serves as President, Director and CEO of Southwestern Bancorp, Inc; Chairman of Texas Heritage Bank; Director of Liberty Capital Bank; Director of Liberty Capital Bancshares, Inc.; Director of GrandWorks, Inc.; and Director of Lytle Lake Water Control and Improvement District. He is on the Board of Trustees of Abilene Christian University and is an elder in the church he and his wife attend.

Past banking leadership positions include President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of First National Bank of San Antonio; Chairman of Sanderson State Bank; Chairman, President, and CEO of Plaza National Bank and of Plaza Bancorporation; Director of Compass Bank-Dallas; and Chairman of First State Bank of Abernathy.

Non-banking business leadership positions held include service on the board of the holding company for Blue Cross and Shield operations in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Illinois; Casa Bonita, Inc., LaQuinta Motor Inns, LC; Hester Capital Management Company; Burger Street, Inc., Recreation Ventures, Inc., and Kent Oil Company.

Graduating from Monahans High School, Griggs entered Abilene Christian University the fall of 1960 on a football scholarship. Summers and holidays, Griggs worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of the Permian Basin, which both toughened him for the football field and provided him sufficient funds to complete all non-scholarship school costs and date and marry the prettiest girl on campus. Ann and Jack were married August 9, 1963, a week before football two-a-days Jack’s senior year. At the end of the football season he was named by the Associated Press as a First Team Academic All-American linebacker, and he was later inducted into ACU’s Sports Hall of Fame. He graduated from ACU with honors in May 1964, completed requirements to become a CPA, and entered the University of Texas at Austin completing an MBA and a PhD in finance and entrepreneurship. Griggs has taught at UT Austin (where he was later named a Senior Fellow at the IC2 Institute), Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, and Abilene Christian University, where he also served as Dean of the College of Business.

He and Ann have been married 53 years and are parents to Tim and Angie Martin, Brent and Julie Pennington, Mike and Ashlie Stegemoller, and Erin and Jackson Griggs. Ann and Jack have seventeen grandchildren.

George Martinez currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of Allegiance Bank, which he co-founded in 2007.

Martinez began his banking career in 1962 while a student at Rice University. He received a BA in Business Administration and Economics from Rice University in 1963. From 1964 to 1972, he served as the financial officer of Retzloff Chemical Company, a local manufacturer of chemical products for agriculture and the oil industry.

1974, he co-founded Sterling Bank, where he served as Chief Executive Officer from 1980 to 2001 and retired as Chairman Emeritus in 2005. Martinez is very committed to community banking and served as Chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas in 1992-93.

He currently serves as a director of NCI Building Systems, Inc. (NYSE:NCS), one of North America’s largest integrated manufacturer of metal products for the nonresidential building industry.

He was the recipient of the 2004 Ethical Leadership in Action Award from the University of St. Thomas Center for Business Ethics and the 2003 Exemplary Leader Award from the American Leadership Forum/Gulf Coast Chapter. Martinez was appointed in 2002 by President George W. Bush to serve on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.

His civic and community activities are extensive. He currently serves on the boards of the University of St. Thomas and the Council of Overseers, Emeritus - Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University. An advocate for early childhood education, he also serves on the board of Collaborative for Children.

He is a former Chairman of the Center for Houston’s Future, and a former Board Member of CHRISTUS Foundation for Healthcare, Greater Houston Partnership, Greater Houston Community Foundation, and the Houston Zoo, Inc., among other organizations.

Martinez is a native Texan, born in Alice, Texas and graduated from High School in McAllen, Texas. He and his wife, Kathryn, are longtime Houston residents and have been married for 53 years. They have five children and fourteen grandchildren.

Milton S. McGee, Jr. currently serves as a bank consultant throughout East Texas. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BBA from Baylor University and an MBA from Northeast Louisiana University. He attended the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University and the National Commercial Lending School, sponsored by American Bankers Association.

After obtaining his MBA in 1972, McGee worked for Arthur Andersen & Company until 1974, when he transitioned as partner with Bradley, Heller & Company, CPA’s.

In 1977, McGee began his banking career with Republic Bank Henderson, serving as Controller, Vice President and President and later serving as President and Chief Executive Officer in Brownwood. In 1986, he became President and Chief Executive Officer at NCNB Texas, N.A. and in 1989, accepted the position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at Kilgore Federal Savings and Loan Association.

In 1990, he began his long-standing career with Citizens National Bank (CNB) serving as President and Chief Executive Officer, also assuming the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of Henderson Citizens Bancshares and HCB, Inc. In 2010, he served as Vice Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 2012. After his long-term career with CNB, he accepted the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Texas Leadership Bank in Royse City, where he worked until 2015.

His commitment to community banking led him to serve as Chairman of the Board of The Independent Bankers Bank, Chairman of the Board and Board Member of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), and Board Member of Texas Bankers Association. From 2010 to 2015, he served as IBAT Ambassador of Goodwill/Advisor to Management on a part-time basis.

McGee serves as a Director for Mills County State Bank and Advisory Director for multiple banks in East Texas. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Howard Payne University, and formerly, as Finance Committee Chairman, and serves in leadership roles with the Henderson Industrial Trust and Henderson Memorial Hospital, among others organizations. He is a former President of the Rusk County Chamber of Commerce and Board Member of the Henderson Economic Development Corporation.

He was the recipient of the 1983 John R. Alford Award for the Outstanding Young Man of the Year and the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award for Rusk County.

McGee was raised in Coushatta, Louisiana and graduated from Coushatta High School. He and his wife, Sharla, are longtime Henderson residents and are active members of the First Baptist Church of Henderson. The McGee’s have two children and three grandchildren with another due at the end of May.

Milton L. Payne was born November 12, 1922 in Madison County, Texas. He graduated from Carthage High School in 1940 and attended Sam Houston State University until he was drafted by the United States Army Air Corps in 1943. He served for three years in the European Operation as a Control Tower Operator. When he was discharged in 1946, he returned to Sam Houston State University where he graduated in August of 1947 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Economics. He was a member of the first graduating class of Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in 1960.

Payne began his career with First State Bank and Trust Co. in the summer of 1941 as a part time bookkeeper and continued to work summers while on break from college until his induction into the military. He became a full time employee in 1948 after graduation. Payne served First State Bank & Trust Co. in many capacities: Vice President, President, Chairman of the Board and Senior Chairman of the Board, a position he held until the time of his death in 2012.

Payne attributed his longevity in banking to a deep desire to see people achieve their lifetime goals. His favorite part of working in the banking industry for over 70 years was helping customers through tough times when the economy impacted local farmers and merchants. Payne felt education was a top priority and something that could never be taken from you. He lived by the philosophy "Always treat a person as you would want to be treated and be honest in all your dealings".

Payne became a member of Central Baptist Church of Carthage in 1943. He served on the Industrial Development Foundation Board, Panola County Chamber of Commerce, Panola County Cattleman’s Association, and the Development Board for East Texas Baptist University. The Texas Bankers Association honored him in 2010 for serving in the banking industry for 69 years.

Payne was married to the late Frances Perkins Payne for 59 years and together they had two daughters, Christie Payne Rose and Cindy Payne Stark and four grandchildren. Milton Payne passed away in March 2012.