J. Pat Hickman, former chairman, president and CEO at Happy-based Happy State Bank, passed away on March 1. He was 72.
In 1970, Hickman first enrolled at Texas Tech University, but he spent most of his time with his brothers in Phi Delta Theta rather than in the classroom. He resumed his higher education at the age of 70, graduating from Texas Tech University in 2024, more than 50 years after he’d first enrolled.
Hickman “fell into” the banking business in 1975 and worked for various financial institutions in Canyon and Amarillo for 15 years. In 1989, Pat and his wife, Nancy, took a leap of faith and founded Happy Bancshares Inc., leading a group of investors in purchasing a small $10 million bank in Happy—at purchase, the 812th largest bank in Texas. He led Happy State Bank over the next 32 years as chairman, president and CEO. It became the 19th largest bank in Texas with $7.4 billion in assets, serving 47 communities with 65 offices. Happy State Bank was named a “Best Bank to Work For” in the nation eight years in a row, and in 2019, Forbes named the company the third best bank in Texas. In 2022, Hickman consummated the sale of the bank to Arkansas-based Home BancShares Inc. for just under $1 billion and served on its board of directors.
Hickman was involved with more than 60 civic organizations in the Texas Panhandle, including Canyon Lion’s Club, Amarillo Symphony, Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, Texas Tech Foundation and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society. He was instrumental in starting the Canyon Crisis Pregnancy Center, Canyon After-School Program and CISD Education Foundation. He was elected to three terms on the Canyon ISD board of trustees. Hickman’s hometown honored him as a member of the Canyon High School Hall of Fame, Canyon “Citizen of the Year” and Randall County “Agri-Businessman of the Decade” (2010). He served as a founding member of the Excellence in Banking Program at Texas Tech University and was chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) in 2002–03, receiving the oranization’s “Chairman’s Award” in 2010 and later inducted into the IBAT Heroes and Legends of Community Banking (2019). The Amarillo College Foundation recognized Hickman with its “Director’s Award” and the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University named him a “Distinguished Alumnus.” In 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to the Texas Economic Development Corp. board.
According to his obituary, Hickman “was known for his passion, leadership and ‘no-strings-attached’ love. He committed himself 100 percent to his undertakings and endeavors. He lived life with the glass half-full and a ‘10 percent circumstance/90 percent attitude’ mindset.”
“At Happy State Bank, our standard for excellence was unwavering, and Pat’s leadership and vision were inspirational,” remembers Gary Wells, a former Happy banker and past chair of the IBAT Leadership Division. “He was a man who was easy to get behind and follow because Pat knew where he wanted to go. Values such as providing outstanding customer service, family first and prayer—just to name a few—drove our culture. Because of Pat, we all worked hard to accomplish our mission and along the way we certainly had our share of fun! It’s not often that one looks back on their career at a company and uses the word ‘magical’ to describe the experience. What we had at the bank was certainly that—nothing short of magical!”
Hickman is survived by his wife of 48 years, Nancy; his children J. Brad (Heidi) Hickman of Amarillo; J. Grant (Jenna) Hickman of Tualatin, Oregon; Tara (Mark) Murray of Amarillo; and Crista (Jarrett) Copheranham of Amarillo. He was J. Pop to 19 grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Don Hickman of Bettendorf, Iowa; a sister, Sara Jo Kunkel of Amarillo; and many additional family and friends.
