In late September, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) announced that Greg Wilson, president and CEO of Paris-based Lamar National Bank, has been elected chair of the IBAT board of directors for 2025–26. He officially accepted the position during the association’s 51st Annual Convention held September 20–23 in Fort Worth. In addition to Wilson, members of the community banking organization elected Gabe Guerra (president and CEO of Corpus Christi-based Kleberg Bank) as IBAT’s chair-elect and Jay Bearden (president and CEO of Legend Bank in Decatur) as secretary-treasurer.
Wilson, Guerra and Bearden will serve on the IBAT executive committee alongside Tracy Harris (chief strategic planning and project officer at Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank) immediate past chair; Sarah Long (vice president at First National Bank of Ballinger) chair of the IBAT Leadership Division; Kevin Monk (executive vice president and chief operations officer at Sulphur Springs-based Alliance Bank) chair of the IBAT Education Foundation; Brad Tidwell (president and CEO of Henderson-based VeraBank) chair of the IBAT Political Action Committee; and Christopher Williston VI (IBAT’s president and CEO).
In addition, IBAT welcomed new and second-term members to its 2025–26 board of directors:
- Chet Clayton, First State Bank of Ben Wheeler
- Barry Gober, First State Bank, Graham
- Jody Lee, Southwestern National Bank, Houston
- Christine Beaulieu Weinzapfel, Muenster State Bank, Gainesville
- Wade Easley, First National Bank, Hereford
- Aaron Flencher, Citizens State Bank, Somerville
- Greg Jackson, Cornerstone Capital Bank SSB, Dallas
- Ralph Riddel, III, The First National Bank of Aspermont
- Les Robbins, Avana Bank, Abilene
- Blain Rumage, Jacksboro National Bank
- Leslie Sedlock, The First National Bank of Eagle Lake
- Ryan Friend, Liberty Capital Bank, Addison
- Scot Long, First National Bank of Sterling City
- Brad Giddens, Integris, Financial Institution Division, Dallas
- Gordon Dobner, Forvis Mazars, Houston
