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Senior Management
F. Scott Dueser Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
F. Scott Dueser
Title
Chairman, President and CEO, First Financial Bankshares, Inc.
Chairman of the Board, First Financial Bank, Abilene
Board member since 1991
Committees: Executive (Chair)
Experience
Mr. Dueser has been with the First Financial Bankshares family for 33 years, starting as a management trainee in 1976 with First National Bank of Abilene (now First Financial Bank, Abilene). He served as President and CEO of First Financial Bank, Abilene from 1991-2001 and was named President and CEO of First Financial Bankshares in 2001. He was named Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2008. Mr. Dueser began his banking career shortly after high school graduation in 1971, working as a bookkeeper for First National Bank in Breckenridge, Texas, during the summers while attending college. He also worked during college as a teller at Plains National Bank in Lubbock, Texas. Following his college graduation, Mr. Dueser worked as an assistant bank examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas.
Education
Mr. Dueser earned his BBA in finance and BBA in accounting from Texas Tech University in 1975. He graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in 1981.
Activities
Mr. Dueser serves as a board member for the Texas Tech Foundation and is a member of the Texas Tech Advisory Investment Committee. He is also a board member of the Abilene Higher Education Facilities, Inc. and the Abilene Industrial Foundation. Mr. Dueser has previously served as chairman of the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, the Texas Bankers Association and the TBA's BankPac. He has also previously served as chairman of the board and campaign chairman for United Way of Abilene, president of Day Nursery of Abilene, treasurer of the West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association, president of the American Institute of Banking, chairman of the Abilene Industrial Foundation and co-chairman of the Mayor’s Task Force on Technology.
J. Bruce Hildebrand, C.P.A. EVP, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary & Treasurer
Title
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Experience
As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Hildebrand oversees all of the financial and accounting aspects of First Financial Bankshares. He is actively involved in the Company’s merger and acquisition activity and is responsible for investor relations and external reporting. Prior to joining First Financial in December 2002, Mr. Hildebrand was an audit partner with KPMG LLP, where he led the southwest region banking and real estate practice. He began his career with KPMG in 1979. In addition to working in KPMG’s Dallas and Shreveport offices, Mr. Hildebrand spent three years in Zurich, Switzerland, serving primarily financial institutions. He served as a primary recruiter on college campuses in Texas and Louisiana and was an instructor in firm courses, winning several awards for instructor excellence.
Education
Mr. Hildebrand holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Northwestern State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of CPAs.
Activities
Mr. Hildebrand serves on the board of directors of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center and recently served on the finance committee of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. Prior to moving to Abilene, Mr. Hildebrand served as chairman of the finance committee and was on the administrative board of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas. He also served on the citizens’ finance committee of the Carroll Independent School District.
Gary L. Webb Executive Vice President, Operations
Title
Executive Vice President, Operations
Chairman, First Technology Services, Inc.
Experience
Mr. Webb is responsible for technology, operations, market research, product development and marketing. He is also chairman of First Technology Services, Inc., the Company’s technology subsidiary. Prior to joining First Financial Bankshares in January 2003, Mr. Webb served as a consulting partner with Arthur Andersen/BearingPoint (formerly KPMG Consulting), where he led the southwest region strategy consulting practice. His former client list included Mitsubishi Corp., Compaq Computer, Duke Energy, the University of Texas and community banks in the Southwest. Previously, he led a banking technology consulting practice for Arthur Andersen (1989-1993) and was chief operating officer for ExTraCo Banks in Temple and Waco, Texas (1993-1998).
Education
Mr. Webb holds a BBA in management and a master’s degree in finance from Texas A&M University.
Gary S. Gragg Executive Vice President, Lending
Title
Executive Vice President and Senior Lending Officer
Experience
Mr. Gragg joined First Financial Bankshares in 1990, as manager of the Company’s loan review program. He has responsibility for coordinating and managing all lending functions and has oversight of the Loan Review Department and Compliance Audit Department. He has also been actively involved in the Company’s acquisitions. Mr. Gragg began his banking career in 1978, while still in college, at Citizens National Bank of Abilene. He joined Citizens National as a credit analyst following graduation and worked at that bank (and its successors) until 1990 in a variety of jobs that included manager of the Credit Department, manager of loan review, manager of credit administration and commercial lending officer. Prior to joining First Financial, Mr. Gragg worked as the West Texas area manager for NCNB’s Problem Loan Workout Department.
Education
Mr. Gragg graduated in 1981 with a BBA in finance from Hardin-Simmons University.
Activities
Mr. Gragg has been active in the Abilene community. He is a former coach, manager and board member of the Dixie Little League. He also serves as a Sunday school teacher and deacon with the Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.
Michele P. Stevens Senior Vice President, Marketing
Title
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Advertising
Experience
As Senior Vice President, Marketing, Ms. Stevens oversees marketing and advertising for First Financial’s growing family of community banks in Texas. She has 28 years of experience in banking and has worked for First Financial and its family of banks for more than a decade. Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Stevens served as East Group Marketing Representative and was based in Southlake, Texas. In that role, she managed marketing and advertising for First Financial’s banks in Southlake, Weatherford, Stephenville, Mineral Wells and Cleburne. She also served previously as Senior Vice President and Cashier for First Financial Bank, Southlake and as Vice President for First National Bank of Abilene (now First Financial Bank).
Education
Mrs. Stevens earned a bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University and holds an MBA degree from Tarleton State University. In addition, she graduated from the Bank Marketing Association Graduate School of Bank Marketing.
Activities
Mrs. Stevens is a member of the Cross Timbers Middle School PTA and Band Boosters Club. She is also a member of Richland Hills Church of Christ. She has taught college courses on a part-time basis at Hardin-Simmons University, San Juan Community College and New Mexico Highlands University.
Tommy J. Barrow Senior Vice President, Lending
Tommy J. Barrow
Title
Senior Vice President, Lending, First Financial Bankshares, Inc.
Experience
Tommy J. Barrow serves as Senior Vice President, Lending, for First Financial Bankshares. In his 25 years with First Financial, Mr. Barrow has served in several key senior management positions, including President and CEO of First Financial Bank in Eastland County and Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for Credit Administration for First Financial Bankshares in Abilene. He has four decades of experience in banking and previously served as President of First National Bank in Andrews, Texas.
Education
Mr. Barrow earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Texas State University and is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.
Activities
Active in the community, Mr. Barrow is a member of the Eastland Visionaries for Historic Preservation Committee and serves as a deacon at the Daugherty Street Church of Christ in Eastland, Texas. He is a former board member and President of the Eastland Economic Development Corporation and served on the board for The Woodlands Assisted Living Center. Mr. Barrow is a past President of the Rotary Club in Andrews, Texas, and served as a board member for the Andrews Chamber of Commerce.
Courtney Jordan Senior Vice President, Training and Education
Title
Senior Vice President, Training and Education
Experience
Courtney Jordan brings 14 years of banking experience to her role as Senior Vice President of Training and Education. She joined First Financial Bankshares in 2008 as Vice President of Training and Education and was promoted to Senior Vice President in early 2010. In addition to banking, Ms. Jordan's career history includes sales work for AT&T and Pitney Bowes.
Education
Ms. Jordan earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Texas Tech University and attended the Texas Tech Banking School.
Activities
Ms. Jordan is a member of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, the American Society of Training and Development, the Texas Tech Alumni Association and the Texas Tech Club of Abilene. She was a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Abilene.
Bill Rowe Vice President, Investment Services
Bob Goodner Compliance Officer
David A. Hogan Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Gaila N. Kilpatrick Assistant Secretary
Michelle Fagan Compliance Officer
Board of Directors
F. Scott Dueser Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
F. Scott Dueser
Title
Chairman, President and CEO, First Financial Bankshares, Inc.
Chairman of the Board, First Financial Bank, Abilene
Board member since 1991
Committees: Executive (Chair)
Experience
Mr. Dueser has been with the First Financial Bankshares family for 33 years, starting as a management trainee in 1976 with First National Bank of Abilene (now First Financial Bank, Abilene). He served as President and CEO of First Financial Bank, Abilene from 1991-2001 and was named President and CEO of First Financial Bankshares in 2001. He was named Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2008. Mr. Dueser began his banking career shortly after high school graduation in 1971, working as a bookkeeper for First National Bank in Breckenridge, Texas, during the summers while attending college. He also worked during college as a teller at Plains National Bank in Lubbock, Texas. Following his college graduation, Mr. Dueser worked as an assistant bank examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas.
Education
Mr. Dueser earned his BBA in finance and BBA in accounting from Texas Tech University in 1975. He graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in 1981.
Activities
Mr. Dueser serves as a board member for the Texas Tech Foundation and is a member of the Texas Tech Advisory Investment Committee. He is also a board member of the Abilene Higher Education Facilities, Inc. and the Abilene Industrial Foundation. Mr. Dueser has previously served as chairman of the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, the Texas Bankers Association and the TBA's BankPac. He has also previously served as chairman of the board and campaign chairman for United Way of Abilene, president of Day Nursery of Abilene, treasurer of the West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association, president of the American Institute of Banking, chairman of the Abilene Industrial Foundation and co-chairman of the Mayor’s Task Force on Technology.
Tucker S. Bridwell Lead Director
Board member since 2007
Committees: Audit, Nominating
President, Mansefeldt Investment Corporation
President, Dian Graves Owen Foundation
Board member, First Financial Bank-Abilene, since 1987
Board member, Petrohawk Energy Corporation (NYSE: HK)
Steven L. Beal, C.P.A.
Joseph Edwin Canon, J.D.
Board member since 1996
Committees: Compensation
Executive Director, Dodge Jones Foundation
Board member of First Financial Bank-Abilene since 1982
Board member of First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A.
Former Executive Vice President and Trust Officer, First Financial Bank-Abilene
Former President, Conference of Southwest Foundations
David L. Copeland, C.F.A.
Board member since 1998
Committees: Executive, Nominating, Audit (Chair)
President, SIPCO, Inc. and Shelton Family Foundation
Board member, First Financial Bank-Abilene since 1993
Board member, First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A.
Board member and Audit Committee Chairman, Harte-Hanks, Inc.
Murray Edwards
Board member since 2006
Committees: Audit
Principal, The Edwards Group, agribusiness
Former President, Bluebonnet Feeds
Founder, Innovation Event Management
Owner, Cape & Son
Former owner, Abilene Cattle Feeders
Former President, Alderman-Cave Feeds
Co-founder and former President, Automated Farm Systems
Ronald Giddiens
Board member since 2009
Committees: Audit
Investments/Business Consulting
Partner, D&G Consulting
Retired banker; former Market President with Bank of America in San Angelo
Board member, San Angelo National Bank
Derrell E. Johnson
Board member since 2000
Committees: Audit
President, American Council of Engineering Companies Life Health Trust
Founding Director, Texas National Bank, Southlake, since 1985 (now First Financial Bank-Southlake)
Registered Professional Engineer in Texas
Former President and CEO, Rady Associates
Kade L. Matthews
Board member since 1998
Committees: Compensation
Ranching and Investments
Board member, First Financial Bank-Hereford, since 2004
Director, Dodge Jones Foundation
Board of Trustees, Texas Christian University
Dian Graves Stai
Board member since 1993
Committees: Compensation (Chair), Executive, Nominating
Chair, Mansefeldt Investment Corporation
Director, Dian Gaves Owen Foundation
Board member, First Financial Bank-Abilene, since 1984
Former Chairman, Owen Healthcare, Inc.
Former Savvy Magazine Top 60 Business Women in America
Former Working Women Top 25 Business Women in America
Johnny E. Trotter
Board member since 2003
Committees: Executive, Nominating, Compensation
President and CEO, Livestock Investors, Ltd.
President, XCL Feeders, Inc.
President, Bar-G Cattle Company
President, Texas Auto Investors, Inc.
Board member, First Financial Bank-Hereford, since 1995
Board member, American Quarter Horse Association
