Former Texas Banking Commissioner Ken Littlefield passed away at age 79 on November 10 after experiencing a medical emergency while doing one of his favorite things in the world—snorkeling in the Cayman Islands. He led the Texas Department of Banking from 1986 to 1992.
After earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in economics from Central Missouri State University, Littlefield served for a short time as an economics professor at his alma mater before finding his true calling in the world of banking and finance. He began his career at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as a special projects examiner and national banking examiner and rose to the position of deputy regional administrator for planning and operations at the OCC before making a career move. Upon leaving the OCC, he served as a senior vice president at Central Mortgage Bancshares in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 1981, Missouri Governor Christopher “Kit” Bond appointed Littlefield as Missouri’s commissioner of finance.
Littlefield was later appointed commissioner of banking for the State of Texas. After serving at the Texas Department of Banking, he joined First Interstate Bank in Los Angeles, California, as executive vice president/senior credit analyst. His final career move was in 1995, when he relocated to Jefferson City, Missouri, to work for Central Bancompany. In 2007, Littlefield was named Central Bank’s president and oversaw significant growth of the institution.
Steve Scurlock, who worked at the Independent Bankers Association of Texas for nearly 30 years, was hired by Littlefield in 1987 and served alongside him at the Texas Department of Banking as deputy commissioner for four of the most tumultuous years in the state’s banking history. “There are few, if any, individuals who had a more significant positive impact on me and my career than my friend Ken Littlefield, and I know many of my colleagues and peers feel the same,” Scurlock notes. “Ken gave me an opportunity to find my calling and taught me so much about banking, bank regulation, leadership and life. He supported and encouraged me long after our professional relationship ended, and I will be forever grateful.”
While he enjoyed his work, Littlefield loved the people he worked with more. He took advantage of every opportunity to mentor emerging banking professionals and offer his sound advice and wisdom. Even in his retirement, he still found reasons to go into the office to work on spreadsheets, send emails and indulge in office treat day. He was a past president of the Missouri Bankers Association and served on several councils of the American Bankers Association.
Outside of his professional and civic duties, Littlefield found joy being on the golf course with friends, discussing politics, watching the bluebirds from his porch, playing with his dog, Cici, watching westerns and listening to old country music. He loved adventures to the Cayman Islands, snorkeling and soaking in the beauty of the islands. He was a wine enthusiast and often staged wine tastings for his family. His love of ice cream was nothing short of comical, and his willingness to share it with his grandchildren was a true act of love.
Littlefield is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ann Littlefield; three children, Amanda Prouty (Jonathon), Lindsay Kim (Kenneth) and Brett Littlefield; two grandchildren, Warren “Wren” Kim and Aria Kim; sister-in-law, Susan Cattan-Rybak (Gary); brother-in-law, Michael Wasson (Emily); and numerous nieces and nephews.
