Harry J. “Johnny” Brooks, chair and CEO of Woodville-based Citizens State Bank, has been named 2026 Mr. East Texas as part of the community’s 83rd Annual Tyler County Dogwood Festival in Woodville, held on weekends in March and April. The Dogwood Festival is the longest-running outdoor celebration in Texas. Citizens State Bank has supported it for many years and is a sponsor of its Dogwood Dash.
The Mr. East Texas Award was established in 1967 and is presented at the discretion of the operating board of directors to the citizen who best exemplifies the spirit and quality of leadership that advances, shapes and gives direction to the growth and progress of East Texas.
Brooks has served as chairman and CEO of Citizens State Bank since 2021, following the acquisition of Security Bankshares, the parent company of Citizens State Bank. With more than 43 years of experience in the banking industry, he has spent his career serving the greater Houston metropolitan area. Throughout his career, Brooks has led multiple financial institutions, including Commercial Bancshares Inc., the Kingwood region of First Financial Bank, Sterling Bank and Partners Bank of Texas.
Brooks has made both an economic and civic impact on the people of Tyler County. Upon the acquisition of the local bank, he elected to keep the headquarters in Woodville instead of moving management to a larger city. He has also donated generously to local schools and community events, such as the Tyler County Fair.
Brooks earned a BBA degree from the University of Texas and an MBA degree from the University of Houston. He also earned a degree from the National Commercial Lending Graduate School at the University of Oklahoma. In addition, he has a professional certification in RMA credit risk certification for commercial lending. Brooks has long been active in civic and community service. He has served on the boards of the March of Dimes and the Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as an outside director of SpawGlass. Most recently, he was elected a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Established in 1919, Citizens State Bank operates in Central and East Texas, including the Houston region.
