The Texas Bankers Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Texas Bankers Association, honored Tom C. Nichols of Fort Worth with the 50-Year Banker Award during TBA’s 133rd Annual Convention on May 12 in San Antonio. The award honors bankers with a half century or more of service to the banking industry.
Nichols is chairman and CEO of Carlile Bancshares Inc. While attending Abilene Christian University in the ’60s, Nichols began his banking career as a part-time bookkeeper at First National Bank-Abilene. Upon graduation, he joined the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as a bank examiner. After leaving the FDIC, he worked as a lender in small banks in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Nichols organized Carlile Bancshares in Fort Worth in 2007
Nichols has served both the banking industry and his community. He was a board member of the Texas Bankers Association, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the National Kidney Foundation and various nonprofit hospital boards. He was also active in United Way Lubbock.
The Texas Bankers Association, formed in 1885, is the largest and oldest state bankers association in the nation.
First American Payment
debuts new logo, tagline
First American Payment Systems LP, a provider of transaction processing systems, has updated its brand logo and added a new company tagline.
The new tagline, Technology Driven Payments, was unveiled at the annual ETA Transact event in Las Vegas in May and will appear with the new logo. The Fort Worth-based company says it new tagline reflects its “comprehensive suite of payment solutions built on advanced and proprietary payment technology.”
“This is a really exciting time for First American and our customers and partners,” said Neil Randel, CEO of First American Payment Systems. “We are announcing our refreshed brand and tagline to reflect the advanced payment solutions we offer in the marketplace from in-store, mobile, online, integrated solutions and more. We have invested significantly in our technology over the years in order to provide our merchants and partners solutions to their payment problems. We know the answer is technology and we have grown the business based on that foundation.”
UIL award caps career
of longtime track coach
photo
Lee Williams, the long-time track and field coach for O.D. Wyatt High School, was recognized May 12 before a crowd of about 20,000 at Mike A. Myers Stadium at the University of Texas in Austin. Williams received the University Interscholastic League’s Distinguished Service Award as he approaches retirement and caps a coaching career that has been filled with local, state, and national honors during his 41 years in the Fort Worth Independent School District.
Williams began his track career as a student at Polytechnic High School. He was a member of the track team from 1968-1970 under the direction of Paul Galvan, who was head track coach. Galvan has had a long career with Fort Worth ISD, including nine years as athletic director. He is currently interim principal at Western Hills High School. He said he saw potential in Williams right away.
“Lee was quiet, but he was always prepared,” Galvan said, “and I knew he would be a high achiever. He was respected by his teammates and had leadership qualities even as student. He went to TCU on a track scholarship and became an All-American runner. Lee had a great career in college, which led to an outstanding career as a coach.”
Galvan said students and teams flourished under the direction of Williams. In 1998, the 400-meter relay team set a national high school record of 39.76 seconds and the 2,000-meter relay team won the Class 4A state title.
“That national record of 39.76 seconds still stands today. No one can touch it,” Galvan said. “Lee and his student athletes have won multiple district and regional titles over these many years and I am very proud of Lee and his accomplishments.”
District Athletic Director Kevin Greene said the 1998 record is an extraordinary milestone.
“That national record beats a lot of college times for that event,” he said. “Lee also has coached 52 All-American runners, and that is also an amazing achievement. He has consistently coached champions in his long career.”
Williams was named the 1998 Track and Field Coach of the Year for the State of Texas by the National Federation of Coaches Association. The Texas Senate presented him with a Senate Resolution recognizing his 1998 achievements and he also received a House Concurrent Resolution the same year. In 2011, the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association published Texas Track and Field Records, which named the 1998 relay team an All-Century Team.
ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Balcom Agency has hired Melissa Smilor as front desk administrator. Since it is customary for Balcom employees to receive a quirky nickname, Smilor will secondarily be known as “Smile. Sparkle. Shine.” The title is a play on her kind and hospitable personality and gift for making clients and team members feel cared for every day.
BANKING & FINANCE
Denise Russell has joined Elevate Credit Inc., a tech-enabled provider of online credit solutions for nonprime consumers, as chief risk officer. Russell was previously senior vice president, executive compliance officer for Cash America International Inc.
Mike Wood has joined Origin Bank as a senior vice president, commercial relationship banker in Fort Worth. Wood has 11 years of experience, specializing in private and commercial banking. He will focus on growing a portfolio of commercial and private clients, offering loans in areas including commercial real estate, investments, aircraft, and commercial and industrial lending. Wood will maintain an office at Origin Bank’s Fort Worth Financial Center at 500 Throckmorton St.
The Fort Worth Chapter of Financial Executives International has announced its officers and appointed committee chairmen for 2017-2018. Officers are: Carol Stuckley, Healthcare Payment Specialists LLC, president and head of membership committee; Ross Staffel, Advance Global Communications Inc., immediate past president; and Alan Martin, Catholic Charities, president-elect. Committee chairmen are: Dan Reynolds, Callloway’s Nursery Inc.; Joan Bradford Pope; Tina Castillo, Tandy Leather Factory Inc.; Lin Zou, Texas Woman’s University; Paul Keller, Completion Industrial Mineral LLC; Clayton Stockdall; Jennifer McKeever, Hub International Insurance Services; Vanessa Gomez LaGatta, LaGo Partners LLC; Connie McCarty, Rainwater Business Advisors LLC; Shannon Greene, Tandy Leather Factory Inc.; Cathy Litalien, Tandy Leather Factory; Michael L. Herman, TEP Barnett USA LLC; Philip Mangone, Tuesday Morning; Mason Kruse, Tumbleweed Royalty LP; Tom Jewell, Payment Data Systems; and Thomas Hook, Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC.
ENGINEERING
Dunaway Associates LP announced the promotion of seven employees to the associate principal and associate programs during a recent companywide quarterly meeting.
Named associate principals were Bryan Mask, Tim Hair and Richard Shaheen. Mask, ASLA, is director of landscape architecture and leads the San Antonio office. He founded Mask Landscape Architecture and merged with Dunaway in November 2016. Hair, ASLA, is director of landscape architecture in Midland and was a partner at Mask Landscape Architecture. Shaheen, PE, is director of land development in Fort Worth and started at Dunaway as an engineer in 2001.
New associates are Joe Noack, Stacy Rebert, Daniel Tremper and Sarah Willis. Noack is project manager in Fort Worth’s Private Sector division. He began his career at Dunaway 13 years ago as an entry level CAD technician, working his way to civil designer to production manager to project manager. Today, Noack is responsible for one of Dunaway’s largest clients, Texas Christian University. Rebert is director of human resources in Fort Worth, responsible for leading the HR function for 175 employees across five offices. Tremper, PE, has been a public sector project manager in Fort Worth since 2013. Willis, PE, is a project manager and structural engineer in Austin.
HEALTH CARE
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center’s president, John Phillips, was honored as Education Ambassador of the Year by the Mansfield Independent School District. The award recognizes a member of the community who goes above and beyond to promote Mansfield ISD, support district initiatives, and demonstrate exemplary performance and dedicated service to the school district.
PERFORMING ARTS
Amphibian Stage Productions has received a gift from Fort Worth philanthropists Cynthia and Grant Hodgkins. Joining with other supporters, the Hodgkins’ gift brings Amphibian’s annual fundraising campaign to $43,000 toward its $100,000 goal. To recognize their contribution, the Amphibian Lobby Bar has been officially named the Cynthia and Grant Hodgkins Bar.
Send newsmakers to Robert Francis at rfrancis@bizpress.net.