Texas Bankers Association Elects 2021-22 Officers

The membership of the Texas Bankers Association recently elected officers for the 2021-22 fiscal year. Elected were Chairman Raymond “Rusty” Rust III, president and CEO of Commercial Bank of Texas in Nacogdoches; Vice Chair A. Ford Sasser III, president and CEO of Rio Bank, McAllen; and Treasurer David W. Osborn, president and chief operating officer … Read more

Bradford, Horizon Bankshares Chair, to Retire

George M. Bradford, who helped lead Fort Worth-based The National Bank of Texas for decades, will retire in April as the chairman of the bank’s holding company, Horizon Bankshares. The announcement was made by Wade Donnell, the bank’s current CEO, along with the board of directors. Bradford’s banking career started in 1972 at The First … Read more

In Memoriam: Jerome J. “Buddy” Lednicky Jr.

Jerome J. “Buddy” Lednicky Jr., former chairman of State National Bank, passed away on January 1 at his residence in West. He was 84. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and serving in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, Lednicky launched his banking career, which culminated with his roles as chairman and … Read more

Commericial State Bank’s Grist Acquires Controlling Interest in West Texas State Bank

On November 30, longtime West Texas banker John E. Grist acquired a controlling interest in Snyder-based West Texas State Bank, according to the Odessa American. Grist assumed the positions of chairman and chief executive officer. Mark Williamson will remain as president and continue to serve on the board, while Darryl Calley will continue to serve as executive vice … Read more

Liberty National Bank Chairman Philip Ridley Cecil Passes Away

Philip Ridley Cecil, chairman of Liberty National Bank, passed away peacefully on October 10 with his family nearby at Paris Regional Medical Center  in Paris, Texas, due to complications from COVID-19. He was 84. After earning a business degree from the University of Texas–Austin and then serving as a lieutenant JG in the U.S. Navy … Read more

In Memoriam: John Robert Dyer

Longtime Texas banker John Robert Dyer passed away peacefully with family at his side on October 6. He was 74. After graduating in 1968 from Stephen F. Austin University as a member of the collegiate golf team, Dyer served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Laredo. He then worked as an office manager and … Read more

Barrow Tapped as Chairman/CEO, Kuehl Named President at The First National Bank of Central Texas

Joe Barrow

The board of directors of Waco-based The First National Bank of Central Texas announced on September 11 that Joe Barrow will become the bank’s chairman and CEO and Sloan Kuehl will serve as president and chief lending officer, effective January 1, 2021. The board reached the decision based on current President and CEO Randy Crawford … Read more