TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Longtime banker Blake Boyd, president of Lubbock-based Peoples Bank, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on April 8. He was 61. He spent the last several years of his life fighting lung cancer, although he never smoked a day in his life. Boyd began his banking career in 1980 at Lubbock National … Read more
On March 15, Dallas-based Vista Bank announced that it has “lost a friend, mentor, colleague and banking legend” with the passing of Tony “T-Man” Stephenson, metro market president, adding that he “was best known for his contagious smile and genuine love of others.” “Tony literally shaped the trajectory of our company through his tireless efforts … Read more
Harlan Raymond Heitkamp, founder and former chairman of Corpus Christi-based ValueBank Texas, passed away on February 6. Raised in Bracken, he attended Texas Tech University, earning a master’s degree in civil engineering. After marrying his wife of 64 years, Gerry, in 1958, the couple moved to Corpus Christi where Heitkamp worked for the City of … Read more
Terry Lee, director of correspondent banking for Dallas-based Veritex Community Bank, passed away on July 31 in McKinney. He grew up in Weatherford, graduated from North Texas State University and later was a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Lee was deeply devoted to his family and his faith. … Read more
John Massey, the charismatic and big-hearted chairman emeritus of Durant, Oklahoma-based First United Bank, passed away surrounded by family on June 24. He was 86 years old. An Oklahoma native, he grew up in Boswell, Guthrie and Durant. He learned the value of hard work and resilience early from his parents, Jennie and Emmett Massey. … Read more
Longtime banker Bobby Ray Glenn passed away peacefully at age 80 on June 1. He was born on January 28, 1942, in Weatherford. His banking career endured for 57 years, beginning at First National Bank in Weatherford. He also worked for Citizens Bank, Merchants & Farmers Bank, Texas Bank and PlainsCapital Bank, from which he … Read more
George D. Miles Jr., 83, passed away on March 23. He was born on June 26, 1938, in Jacksonville. After graduating from Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in 1961 with a BS degree in journalism, Miles went on to graduate from the Southwestern Graduate Banking School at Southern Methodist University. The majority of his career … Read more
Dr. Lloyd R. Ferguson, one of the founders of Pearland State Bank, passed away in his Pearland home on March 9. He was 96. Ferguson served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-17 gunman during World War II. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Howard Payne University, a master’s degree from Texas Christian … Read more
Ralph Gilbert (Gib) Blackman Jr. died peacefully at home on January 8 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. A Texas community banker, he was most widely known as the publisher and editor—along with his wife, Bonnie—of Bankers Digest for more than 30 years. Born October 11, 1947, to Ralph and Betty … Read more
Longtime Texas banker Jerry Charles Hughes passed away on December 8. He was 87. In his early 20s, he joined Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust Co. and converted its accounting system to digital. That launched a career in banking, which lasted until his retirement. In 1970, Hughes accepted a position with American National Bank in Beaumont … Read more