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IBAT Members
                    Speak Up in D.C.

                        ore than 100 Texas commu-
                   Mnity bankers and industry
                    partners made their way to Wash-
                    ington, D.C., in April to tell the
                    community banking story. With
                    the recent Senate passage of
                    S. 2155, it was an ideal time to stress
                    the importance of prompt action      Congressional Visit participants Doak Crabtree (Happy State Bank), Mike Jumper (Alliance Bank),
                    in the House regarding meaning-           Justin Steinbach (Frost Bank) and Kevin Monk (Alliance Bank) in the U.S. Capitol
                    ful regulatory reform that bene-     This was the 26th consecutive   annual ICBA fly-in, and a number
                    fits community banks and their    trip during which IBAT mem-       of IBAT attendees joined bankers
                    customers. Attendees had contact   bers had an opportunity to speak   from across the nation to advocate
                    with 35 of the 38 members of the   directly with decision makers who   various issues impacting commu-
                    Texas delegation and heard from a   are important to our industry and   nity banking, including BSA, credit
                    variety of Congressional leaders in   communities. The IBAT Congres-  union competition, the farm bill,
                    a group setting.                  sional Visit overlapped with the   Subchapter S and housing finance
                                                                                        reform.

                   TIB’s Gayle Earls Passes Away                                       2018 Best Companies

                       ayle M. Earls, former president   retiring in 2005. But “retirement,”   to Work for in
                   Gand CEO of TIB–The Indepen-       in his case, is defined loosely. After   Texas List Includes
                    dent BankersBank, passed away     leaving TIB, he thrust himself into
                    on April 12 at age 81 after              new endeavors, eventually   Several Banks
                    a courageous battle with                 becoming chairman of the    n March, Texas Monthly maga-
                    cancer. His playful smile,               board of AccessBank in    Izine, the Texas Association of
                    booming West Texas voice                 Denton, a position he held   Business, Texas Society for Human
                    and passion for both life                until shortly before his   Resource Management and Best
                    and community banking                    passing.                   Companies Group released their
                    are being recalled by many.                 “Gayle Earls shepherded   2018 list of the “Best Companies to
                       Born in Tonkawa,                      TIB through one of the    Work for in Texas,” with a number
                    Oklahoma, and raised                     most difficult economic    of Lone Star banks and banking-
                    in Denver City, Texas, Earls was   times in Texas history,” says Chris   related companies making the cut.
                    influenced by his surroundings. “It   Williston, president and CEO of the   The list of
                    should come as no surprise that   Independent Bankers Association   medium-sized
                    Gayle had a measure of grit about   of Texas. “His West Texas grit and   best compa-
                    him,” is how his TIB colleagues   vast knowledge of the industry and   nies—desig-
                    remembered him in an announce-    its players contributed to his great   nated as hav-
                    ment issued upon his passing. “In   success. On a personal note, I will   ing 100 to 499
                    fact, we often referred to him affec-  miss his guidance and friendship.”  U.S. employ-
                    tionately as the Marlboro Man.” It   Earls was keen on nurturing    ees—includes:
                    was just such toughness that made   the future of the banking industry.   Guaranty Bank
                    Earls a key player in helping the   In 2006, the Western States School   & Trust N.A.,
                    Texas banking industry survive a   of Banking in Durango, Colorado,   Mount Pleas-
                    crippling economic downturn in    established the Gayle Earls Aca-  ant; Vista Bank,
                    the 1980s.                        demic Achievement Award, which    Ralls; Austin
                       Having launched his banking    continues to this day.            Bank, Jacksonville;
                    career in 1969, in 1986 he was hired   Earls is survived by his second   Texas Bank and
                    as president and CEO of TIB in    wife, Dolores, his children, Kelly   Trust, Longview; Citi-
                    Dallas and held that position until   and Brenda, and their families.  zens National Bank of



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