Longtime banker and rancher John A. Cole of Lampasas died Dec. 24, 2023 in Dallas. He was 92.
Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lampasas on Jan. 13, 2024, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the parish hall.
Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel has charge of arrangements.
Cole was born Sept. 2, 1931, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Hazel M. Kelly and Earl E. Cole.
He graduated from Classen High School before earning his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in geological engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1954 and 1956, respectively. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University in 1958, and was a graduate of Columbia University’s Banking School and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He also lectured at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU.
In 1958, Cole joined Cities Service Oil Company as an engineer.
His long career in banking began in 1961, when he joined Texas Bank and Trust in Dallas as an engineer in the oil department. He later became involved in energy and commercial lending.
In 1974, Cole moved to Houston to join Texas Commerce Bank (now part of J.P. Morgan Chase) as vice president in the energy division.
Two years later, he became manager of the correspondent banking division. When he retired from the bank in 1993, Cole had served in several management positions in the energy, financial and commercial loan divisions.
During his banking career, he was active in the American Bankers Association and Texas Bankers Association, and was a fundraiser for educational institutions as well as various civic endeavors. He served as director and trustee for several public, private and non-profit corporations. He was particularly interested in the Houston Symphony. Cole served for many years as treasurer of Trees for Houston and the Houston Regional Science Fair. He was a trustee of the Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (now TIRR Memorial Hermann) and served as treasurer of its foundation.
He was a member of Brook Hollow Golf Club, Houston Club and Tarry House, and was a lifetime member of the Society of Sigma Xi.
In 1991, Cole married Amy W. “Mimi” Campbell, a native of Lampasas.
After his retirement from Texas Commerce Bank in Houston, the couple moved to Lampasas where John began his 30-year career as a rancher. During this period, he was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry and was a member of its finance committee.
Cole also assumed several roles in Lampasas civic affairs. He served three terms on the Lampasas City Council and was named mayor pro tempore. He also served as a board member of the Lampasas Economic Development Corp., Central Texas Water Supply Corp. and Lampasas Association for the Arts. He was active in the Texas Trails Council of Boy Scouts of America and served on its board. In recognition for his service to the Boy Scouts, he was awarded the Order of the Silver Beaver. Cole also was a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory.
An art connoisseur, Cole amassed a collection that reflected his fondness for English prints. His wideranging interests extended to sports cars and his ownership of a 1965 Morgan Plus 4 that he had restored in England. He enjoyed membership in Morgan owners groups in Houston and Central Texas.
Cole was preceded in death by a brother, James R. Cole, and a sister, Geraldine Cole Campbell.
He is survived by his wife; niece and nephews Russell B. Cole, Randall E. Cole, John W. Campbell (Gerry), Kent A. Campbell (Bonnie), Kathryn A. Campbell, Jill E. Dickens (Jay) and Janine M. Bittner (Jim); and former wife, Ann Cook Cole.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 29, Lampasas, TX 76550; The Library Foundation of Lampasas, 201 S. Main St., Lampasas, TX 76550; or to support interstitial lung disease research at UT Southwestern Medical, c/o Southwestern Medical Foundation, 3838 Maple Ave. Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75219.
