Bankers install officers, honor veterans

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), May 5, 2004 by Journal Record staff

El Reno banker Doug Tippens has been inducted as chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association.

Tippens, community bank president of Gold Bank in El Reno, accepted the OBA chairman's gavel from 2003-04 Chairman Albert C. Kell Kelly Jr. on April 30 during the association's annual convention in Tulsa. Kelly is the president and chief executive of SpiritBank in Bristow.

Tippens has been with Gold Bank since 1982. He is a former member of the Oklahoma State Banking Board and currently serves on the executive committee of the Higher Education Alumni Council of Oklahoma.

R. Dale Nichols, president and CEO of First National Bank of Wewoka, was elected to the office of OBA vice chairman; he will become chairman next year. Steven Rahill, president of First Bank and Trust in Duncan, became OBA first vice chairman at the convention and is starting his final year of a three-year tenure as a member of the board.

The OBA membership elected bankers to six seats on the association's board of directors, to serve three-year board terms:

* Jim Odom, president and CEO, Guarantee State Bank, Lawton.

* L. Bruce Boehs, president and CEO, Farmers & Merchants National Bank, Fairview.

* R.L. Simpson III, chairman of the board and CEO, State National Bank of Eufaula.

* Larry E. Briggs, president and CEO, First National Bank and Trust, Shawnee.

* Marsha Coffey, vice president and regional manager, Intrust Bank, Oklahoma City.

* Randy G. Allison, CEO, Community Bank and Trust, Tulsa.

Seven board directors completing their three-year terms also were recognized: Eddy Allensworth, Oklahoma State Bank, Vinita; Randy G. Allison, Community Bank and Trust, Tulsa; J.D. Boyer, First State Bank, Pond Creek; James Finch, BancFirst, Oklahoma City; John Goad, American Bank, Edmond; Jim Odom, Guarantee State Bank, Lawton; and Ben Walkingstick, Union Bank, Chandler.

Each year, the OBA's chairman recognizes individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to the state banking industry. This year, Kelly presented Chairman's Awards to OBA President and CEO Roger M. Beverage, OBA Chief Financial Officer Lea Ann Jackson and OBA Senior Vice President/Education Janis Reeser. All three reside in Edmond.

Five longtime bankers have been inducted into the OBA's 50-Year Club, denoting individuals who have devoted 50 years or more of their lives to their banking careers. Inducted were:

* Donald K. Bixler, business development officer of BancFirst, Tulsa.

* Curtis A. Brooks, chairman of The First National Bank and Trust, Chickasha, and Cyril State Bank.

* Robert H. Croak, president and chairman of the board, First National Bank, Midwest City.

* F.L. Holton, Jr., chairman, Central National Bank, Poteau.

* Don R. Symcox, vice chairman, First Fidelity Bank, Oklahoma City.

Four bankers were honored for their service as chairpersons of OBA task forces. These task forces were established this year, from helping formulate key issues for small banks to furthering women's industry involvement. Honored were: Jim Hamby, First National Bank and Trust, Ada, on the Credit Union Task Force; LaVonda Jones, First National Bank and Trust, Ada, on the Women in Banking Task Force; Jim Odom, Guarantee State Bank, Lawton, on the Farm Credit Task Force; and Todd Russ, Washita State Bank, Burns Flat, on the Small Banks Council Task Force.

Honored for their service as chairpersons of various OBA school boards were: Curtis Armor, Shamrock Bank, Coalgate, for the Intermediate School Board; Steven Bagwell, First National Bank and Trust, Prague, for the Commercial Lending School Board; Lori Miller, Security National Bank, Enid, for the Compliance School Board; Charlotte Mindeman, F&M Bank and Trust, Tulsa, for the Consumer Lending School Board; and Roy Wile, Community Bank and Trust, Tulsa, for the Operations School Board

Eight bankers were honored for their service as chairpersons of the committees and boards that drive the OBA's programs:

* H.C. Bauman, Bank of Wyandotte, for the Agriculture committee.

* Steve Burrage, FirstBank, Antlers, for the Oklahoma Association of State Banks.

* Ken Fergeson, NBanC, Altus, for the OBA Services Co. Board of Directors.

* Dee Ann Gay, First American Bank, Moore, for the Lending Committee.

* Jerry Hensley, Oklahoma National Bank and Trust, Tulsa, for the Bank Operations/HR Committee.

* Jim Odom, Guarantee State Bank, Lawton, for the Marketing Committee.

* R.L. Simpson III, State National Bank of Eufaula, for the OBA Insurance Agency Board of Directors.

* Doug Tippens, Gold Bank, El Reno, for the Government Relations Council.

Two Oklahoma bankers were recognized for their outstanding work on behalf of the OBA this year: Jennifer Davis, SpiritBank, Sapulpa; and Linda Matthews, American Heritage Bank, Sand Springs.

Founded in 1897, the OBA today represents about 270 banks and supports the state banking industry with a broad array of services, including government relations, education, legal services and communications.