Paris-based Lamar National Bank has hired Corbett Howard—a former three-term mayor of Celina and widely recognized as the architect of the community’s unprecedented recent economic growth and development—to serve as market president. He will begin at the bank’s Celina branch at 110 S. Preston Rd. on June 16. He will lead the branch’s team while working closely with clients throughout the community, including the more than 300 military veterans and first responders who call Celina home.
Howard, who served a 24-year career in local government, most recently was director of business and government affairs for the City of Celina. He was a familiar face at the Texas Capitol in Austin where he actively participated in more than a dozen sessions of the Texas State Legislature, working to ensure that Celina’s citizens, business interests, city government and the Celina ISD were well represented.
From 2008 to 2018, Howard was executive director of the Celina Economic Development Corp. and earned the affectionate nickname “Mr. Celina” by successfully establishing and nurturing critical business relationships with executives from some of the world’s best-known corporations, as well as national and regional retailers and developers. Under Howard’s watch, companies—including McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Sonic Drive-In, Tractor Supply, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Brookshire’s Food & Pharmacy—opened brick-and-mortar stores in Celina. Residential and commercial projects by Hillwood Development Co. (Mustang Lakes), Republic Property Group (Light Farms), Cambridge Company Ltd. and Weitzman also commenced.
A decorated Vietnam veteran, Howard serves on the boards of the Military Warriors Support Foundation, Upper Trinity Regional Water District and McKinney Urban Transit District.
“There is no greater ambassador for the city of Celina than Corbett,” says Greg Wilson, vice chairman and CEO. “His tireless effort to build a great community is the same attribute that will build a great community bank. Corbett recognizes Lamar National Bank as the hometown community bank of Celina and places tremendous value on the contributions we have made to help Celina grow. His passion for the success of Celina makes him the ideal person to lead our team.”
Established in 1981, Lamar National Bank has branches in Paris, Celina, Frisco, Northlake and Reno.
