Dean O. Bass began his career at Citizens National Bank in Abilene as a mail room man as he completed his BBA. From 1975-1979, he served as a national bank examiner for the OCC. During his career, he served as a SVP with Horizon Capital Bank, president and CEO of Royal Oaks Bank, chairman and CEO of Spirit of Texas Bancshares, Inc., and served as a director of Simmons Bank for two years. He has served on TBA’s Executive Committee and as chairman of the Community Bank Council. He also served on the Bank Advisory Board at Sam Houston State University.

Keith Chambers has been with Austin Bank in Jacksonville for more than 26 years and currently serves as the bank’s controller. He began his banking career at Texarkana National Bank in September 1974. Chambers has served the community in various capacities, including local Chambers of Commerce, Texarkana Chapter of CPAs and local LCMS congregations. He also served the Easter Seals Society at both the state and local levels. Chanbers received a Certificate of Recognition for 50-Year Licensure as a Texas CPA from the State Board of Public Accountancy.

Lana Cook is a senior vice president/banking center manager with Prosperity Bank in Jacksonville. She began her career as a clerk with Jacksonville Building and Loan, which changed names several times, including Franklin Bank and Prosperity Bank. Cook has spent her entire career in her hometown of Jacksonville and has served on committees for the Nan Travis Hospital Foundation, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Industrial Foundation and Jacksonville Economic Development Corporation. She shares, “We have always had a wonderful group of people working here. We have a small town, so it gives a very close, personal atmosphere to the job.”

Linda Douglas has been with Frost Bank her entire career. Her first position was as a coupon clerk in the Brokerage Department. She has held positions in commercial lending operations, mortgage loan operations, retail banking and customer service. Douglas has served as a private banker in the Boerne market for the last 12 years and is currently a senior vice president for the bank. Her favorite part of banking and working at Frost Bank has been the relationships she has created with both co-workers and customers.

Max Ham was born into a banking family — they have been in banking for four generations. He started his career as a teller with First National Bank of Quitaque. While at the bank, he also served as a loan officer, AVP and assistant cashier. For two years, 1986 to 1988, he also worked at Citizens National Bank of Crosbyton. Ham currently serves as Citizens National Bank’s president, chairman and CEO. He is a member of the United Methodist Church, the Lions Club, Crosbyton Hospital Board of Directors, president of the Chamber of Commerce and treasurer for the Crosbyton Housing Authority.

Kim Laws is vice president, consumer and commercial lender and lobby manager with TexasBank in Weatherford. She began her career as a loan secretary with First State Bank in Mesquite. Laws has also worked at Mesquite National Bank, Bank of Texas, Texas Commerce Bank, First American Bank, Plano Savings & Loan, East Park National Bank, Bank One, Citizens National Bank, Crockett National Bank, The Bank of Weatherford and Texas Bank Financial. She has been a Weatherford Chamber Ambassador since 2011, served as United Way Division Chair three times and as a board member for Freedom House in Parker County.

William P. Mewhorter has been with the West Texas National Bank in Midland since 2006 and currently serves as a senior vice president. He started his career as a teller with Security National Bank in Lubbock. Throughout his career, he has worked with First National Bank in Lubbock, Midland National Bank/First City Bank and Texas Commerce Bank/Chase Bank/American State Bank in Midland and Odessa. Mewhorter served as a board member of the Petro Plains Council of Campfire and was an honorary board member of Casa De Amigos. He has volunteered with the American Cancer Society, Midland Chamber of Commerce and the American Diabetes Association.

James P. O’Jibway joined Austin County State Bank in Bellville in 1976 as a senior vice president, became president in 1979 currently holds the positions of CEO and chairman. The bank was acquired by First State Bank in 1997, sold to Norwest Bank and subsequently became Wells Fargo Bank. In 2006-2007, O’Jibway and several local investors chartered a new bank, using the bank’s original name. He has served the banking industry as a past chairman of the TBA Community Bankers Council, member of the TIB Board of Directors for 19 years and was a past president of the Brazos Valley Bankers Association.

Debbie Reaves is a senior vice president, cashier and COO at Jacksboro National Bank where she has spent her entire 51-year banking career. She has served several organizations during her career, including Jacksboro Board of Zoning and Adjustments for the City of Jacksboro, North Texas Workforce Development Board, Jacksboro Chamber of Commerce, Jacksboro ISD and Perrin-Whitt CISD Improvement Teams and as an assistant Scoutmaster Troop 111. She also served as a past president and state officer for the local Business and Professional Women’s Club.

W. Michael Shipman serves as a director for North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. Prior to his retirement in 2021, he served as the bank’s president, CEO and board chairman for 25 years. Shipman began his career with First National Bank Lubbock on the control desk. He was also with Security State Bank & Trust Co in Ralls, Carrollton First National Bank, Texas American Bank in Farmers Branch, First Texas Bank in Dallas, 1st Coppell Bank and Overton Bank & Trust in Fort Worth. Shipman has supported a number of organizations including Rotary International, United Way and the Metrocrest, Coppell and North Dallas Chambers of Commerce.

John P. Williams serves as a director for Austin Bancorp Inc. and Austin Bank Texas N.A. He served as the bank’s president and CEO from 2006 until his retirement in 2019. Williams began his banking career as a teller with Exchange Bank & Trust Co. in August 1973. He continued his career at Texas American Bank, Prestonwood N.A., Texas American Bank, Team Bank and First National Bank of Whitehouse N.A. Williams has served a number of community organizations, including United Way, Boy Scouts of America, Whitehouse and Jacksonville Chambers of Commerce and the South Tyler Rotary Club.

Joe Brown serves in business development for Texas Regional Bank in McAllen. He began his banking career as a teller at Merchants Marine Bank in Port Isabel. He continued his career at Island Bank South Padre Island, First National Bank in Edinburg, Security State Bank, First Valley Bank and Texas State Bank. In 2006, he became president & CEO of McAllen National Bank, which later became Border Capital Bank. When the bank was acquired by Texas Regional Bank, he became the bank’s COO and semi-retired in 2014. Brown served 30 years with the U.S. Coast Guard — four years of active duty and 26 years in the Reserves.

T. Keith Clark served as executive vice president, cashier and director for Citizens National Bank at Brownwood from 1985 to 2019. He began his banking career in 1969 with Graham National Bank as an assistant cashier. Clark also worked for community banks in Childress, Rockdale, Vernon and Athens. He has been involved in many local organizations, including the Greenbelt Bankers Association, the Wichita Falls Chapter of the Bank Administration Institute, the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, Brown County United Way, Community Advisory Council – Ron Jackson Unit, Brownwood State School and the Board of Trustees for Howard Payne University.

Ben Cunningham is a director for Liberty Capital Bank in Addison, where he served as the bank’s CEO prior to retiring from full-time banking in 2021. He started his banking career at Republic National Bank in Dallas as a banking officer trainee. He was with InterFirst Bank for seven years, starting as an AVP and eventually serving as the bank’s president. He also worked at Signature Place Bank and Compass Bank. Cunningham has been a member of the Carrollton Farmers Branch Rotary Club for 35 years; he served as a past president of the organization. The Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce awarded him with both the Citizens of the Year and Eagle Award.

Lynn Ford has been with Texas Bank and Trust in Lindale for 34 years and is currently an assistant vice president. She began her banking career as a courier at First City National Bank in Houston. She was also with Main Bank, Mercantile Bank/Allied Mercantile Bank, Republic Bank, Fondren National Bank and Lindale State Bank. Ford has been involved with a number of community organizations, including Girl Scouts of America, Lindale Youth Soccer Association, Grace Community Women’s Ministry and Meals Ministry, Financial Women in Texas, Christian Women’s Job Corp. and Hearts and Hands of East Texas.

James Hudson is a loan officer and vice president with Incommons Bank in Rosebud. He began his banking career as a teller at the First National Bank of Rosebud. Hudson has been with Citizens Bank in Cameron, Planters National Bank and Farmers & Merchants in Rosebud, which was bought by Enterprise Bank and subsequently by Allegiance Bank. He is a charter member of Cameron Evening Lions Club, served as chairman of United Way in Cameron and president of Powers Chapel Cemetery Association for 25 years. Hudson is also a member of the Milam Co. Jr. Livestock Association and the Rosebud Community Pantry Board.

John Henry Luton has been with First National Bank of Granbury for 50 years, beginning as a vice president and currently holds the positions of chairman of the board and government relations officer. He was promoted to senior executive vice president in 1980 and became president in 1984, serving in that position for 31 years. He is currently a member on the Brazos River Authority Board, which is appointed by the Governor. He is a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers, has been a member of the Hood County Livestock Raisers Association and served on the Lake Granbury Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Billy Mullins is a chief risk officer with Austin Bank in Longview. He began his career as an assistant bank examiner for the OCC. In 1979, Mullins joined Allied Bankshares in Crockett as an internal auditor and lending officer. He was a senior lending officer at East Texas Bank and Trust in Longview. It was when that bank failed in 1984 that he started his career with Austin Bank. Mullins has served his community as a volunteer, director, officer and past president of the Newgate Mission, the United Way Longview Leadership Society and as treasurer of the Pine Tree ISD Bond Support Committee.

L. Anthony Page is chairman and CEO of Citizens State Bank of Corrigan. He began his career in the trainee program at Spring Bank in Spring. A year later, he became an assistant examiner for the Texas Department of Banking in the Beaumont, Fort Worth and Houston districts. He was later promoted to senior state bank examiner, serving in Waco and the northwest Houston district. Page joined Citizens State Bank in 1975 as EVP/CEO and became the bank’s president in 1976. He is a member and past president of the Lions Club and a member and vice president of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce.

H.B. (Trip) Ruckman, III has been with Karnes County National Bank his entire career and currently serves as chairman. He began his career as an AVP trainee in the Credit Department, held the position of loan officer for 10 years and has been a director since 1978. He served as the bank’s president and CEO for 37 years and was named chairman earlier this year. Ruckman has served on the San Antonio River Authority board since 1987, serving as chairman of the board for two years — he is the longest serving elected board member in the history of the River Authority.

Alma N. Velasquez joined Falcon International in 2005 and currently is a first vice president. She began her career as a cashier at Frontier State Bank in Eagle Pass. The bank was later acquired by Camino Real Bank and subsequently by Sterling Bank. In 2001, she joined South Texas National Bank as a vice president/business development officer. Velasquez has served as a director and secretary/treasurer for the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce and as a member, secretary/treasurer and vice president of the Eagle Pass Rotary Club.

William C. Woodby is an executive vice president for Stellar Bank. He began his career at East End State Bank as a leader. Woodby served as chairman and CEO of Navigation Bank, Houston Commercial Bank and Enterprise Bank. He served as vice chairman and EVP at Allegiance Bank before the merger with Stellar Bank. Woodby served in the U.S. Army for six years with most of his duty in the Far East. He has served on the boards of the OLG School East of Downtown Houston, the Cossaboom YMCA, as well as past president of the Kiwanis Club of Southeast Houston.