Marshall Bookman Peters, former chairman and CEO of First City Bank of Bryan and Texas Bankers Hall of Fame inductee, passed away peacefully on July 2 at the age of 89.
He was raised in Navasota and, at the age of 11, his family moved to Bryan. After earning a BBA degree from the University of Texas–Austin, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. He then earned his MBA degree from Texas A&M University (TAMU).
Peters—known as Bookman to friends and colleagues—launched his banking career in 1961 while also serving as an adjunct lecturer in finance at TAMU for several years. In 1962, when his family became involved with City National Bank of Bryan, Peters joined as president. After 26 years, he retired as chairman and CEO of the former First City Bank of Bryan.
During his tenure in banking, Peters was passionately involved in the banking industry, serving as president of the Texas Bankers Association, vice president of the American Bankers Association, director of the Houston branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and trustee and dean of the SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University, a program from which he was an alumnus.
Peters served as a founding trustee and treasurer of the Texas Housing Agency, an appointment from then-Governor Bill Clements. He further served on the board for Gulf States Utilities, as an advisory director of Entergy Corp. and as trustee of the Texas Presbyterian Foundation for 15 years. Locally, he served as Chamber of Commerce president, United Way chairman, Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center president, Brazos Valley Industrial Foundation president and as a member of the Bryan/College Station Library board. He was also known to support numerous philanthropic organizations.
Peter’s involvement with Texas A&M University included serving as chair and founding member of the university’s Chancellor’s Century Council, member of the TAMU System Investment advisory committee, TAMU Mays College of Business development council and the first chairman of the TAMU OPAS Society Underwriters. He also served as a member of the TAMU Library steering committee, successfully securing the location of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library at TAMU. He remained a member of the advisory board of the Bush School of Public Policy at TAMU until recently. Peters was an honorary pallbearer for former President George H.W. Bush. His commitment to providing educational quality and opportunity led to his endowment of a finance professorship in the TAMU Mays College of Business, a history professorship in the TAMU College of Arts and Sciences and several student scholarships.
While a student at the University of Texas, Peters met Patricia Ann Stehr of Dallas. They were married in 1956. During 38 years of marriage, they had an active family life, raised three daughters—Karen Ellen, Laura and Eileen—and were involved in their church and extended community. Patricia died of breast cancer in 1995. Peters was fortunate to find love for a second time. In 1998, he married Florence Elizabeth Carter. They were to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on August 15. Throughout their years together, the couple enjoyed traveling, both in the U.S. and abroad. Their favorite destination was the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina, which they considered “paradise.”
Peters was honored in 1989 as Bryan/College Station Citizen of the Year, received the 1994 Hero Award from the Texas Society of CPAs, was recognized in 1994 as an Outstanding Alumnus of TAMU Mays College of Business, was a recipient of the 2014 Hall of Honor from the Bryan ISD Education Foundation and recognized by the Brazos Valley Arts Council for Lifetime Contribution to the Arts. In 2016, Peters was inducted into the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame.
