Realizing the vision of Texas bankers
... bankers across this state have continued to be the visionaries of their communities and of Texas.”
What an exciting time in the history of the Texas Bankers Association. Our new building stands tall and strong, just like our industry. It will serve the bankers of Texas just as the bankers are serving the financial needs of Texans.
The Texas Bankers Association was established in 1885 by a group of community bankers in Lampasas. Since then, bankers across this state have continued to be the visionaries of their communities and of Texas. For example, it was visionary bankers who purchased the Austin 203 W. 10th Street property in 1974, establishing TBA headquarters across the street from the Governor’s Mansion and only a block away from the Capitol building.
At the time, TBA headquarters was based in Dallas, but TBA President C. Truett Smith had an idea that the Association needed to be headquartered in Austin convenient to the Capitol. Smith was authorized by the board to organize a committee to study the idea. S. Ross Greenwood of Temple was named chairman of that committee. Also on the Committee were Ed Wood Jr. of Dallas, Charles L. Childers of Tyler, Irby Metcalf Jr. of Fort Worth, Gene Edwards of Amarillo, A. C. Spencer of Huntsville and John A. Wright of Abilene. Moving quickly, the committee acquired the property where our new building now stands, breaking ground in 1975. In 1977, TBA staff moved into the space. They were truly men of vision.
In the last few years, bankers from across this state saw the need and possibilities of having a newer building. These visionary bankers made the decision to take this very valuable property and turn it into a TBA headquarters that reflects the strength of our association and our industry. The building will also be a source of revenue for our association, which in turn will allow TBA to better serve the needs of our members.
As your Chairman, I want to acknowledge the bankers who shared that vision and made this building become a reality. First, there was a vote by the membership to move forward with this building. Bankers across Texas shared the vision of what could be. Second, there were 70 community banks that participated in funding a loan to complete this building with the coordination of the TIB, N.A., being the lead bank. It also took Austin-based bankers to help navigate local governmental approvals and construction documents.
TBA management played a role in the vision. It started with President and CEO, Eric Sandberg, who was followed by our current President and CEO, Chris Furlow. We also had the leadership of John Brigance, COO, overseeing the project on a day-to-day basis. The funding of the project was handled by Heather Ruschitzko, CFO. And finally, it took the leadership of TBA Chairmen Bobby Hoxworth, Chip Jenkins and Rusty Rust to advance the dream and provided the leadership to bring the idea to fruition.
For 138 years, our association has represented the banks of Texas. What TBA provides far surpasses any other banking association — it is the oldest and largest state banking association in the nation. Only the American Bankers Association in Washington D.C. is older than TBA.
As your Chairman, I had the opportunity to meet bankers from across this nation. When they learn that I am the Chairman of the Texas Bankers Association, they let me know how fortunate I am to be in Texas and to have a strong banking association representing us.
TBA is well respected across the nation by other bankers. It is financially strong and our new building is an outward expression of the strength of not only our association, but our industry in Texas. Bankers from across the state work diligently to strengthen the communities they serve financially. And because of these stronger communities, our state is the envy of the nation.