Langford retires from First Texas Bank Board of Directors

Third-generation Lampasan Henry Langford has retired from the First Texas Bank Board of Directors after 34 years of service, and former Lampasas Independent School District assistant superintendent Nancy Yeary said she is honored to take his place.

The First Texas Bank board has five members: Kelvin Barkowsky – the bank’s president and chief executive officer – Shannon Martin, Gary Monroe and Barry Haag, the board’s chairman.

Langford grew up on a ranch northeast of town along the banks of the Lampasas River. He graduated from Lampasas High School in 1956, and has ranched and farmed on the property – settled by his grandfather John Henry Langford in 1902 – since then.

He raises Angus cattle, sheep and goats, and grows hay, wheat and oats.

Langford began banking at First Texas Bank 65 years ago and has financed all his ranching endeavors there. He began serving on the board in 1986.

“I’m proud of the way the bank has carried on and remains a community bank even though it was bought by a holding company,” Langford said. “It still caters to the hometown people, and I’m very proud of it.”

Barkowsky said Langford helped set bank policies while on the board.

“It’s hard to quantify his accomplishments,” Barkowsky said.

Since Langford began serving on the board, First Texas Bank has grown from owning $63.9 million in assets in 1986 to $164.8 million in 2020. It was renamed First Texas Bank from First National Bank. Its total loans have grown from $37.8 million in 1986 to $81.6 million in 2020.

Barkowsky said Langford was a faithful board member and rarely missed a meeting.

Langford also served on the Agriculture Stabilization & Conservation Service (now Farm Service Agency) board for 47 years, the Hamilton County Electric Cooperative Association board for 41 years and the Lampasas Independent School District Board of Trustees for six years.

He was a district director for the Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association for six years and a member of the Texas Farm Bureau board of directors for six years. He was named Young Farmer and Rancher of the Year, and later Farmer and Rancher of the Year by the Farm Bureau.

Langford’s father, John B. Langford, served on the First Texas Bank board, and Langford’s children Alicia Langford Straley, Henry John Langford and Asa Langford bank at the financial institution. Straley worked at the bank for two summers during high school.

“It’s always been a family bank, and my family has stood with it through the years,” Langford said. “It’s always provided good customer service.”

Langford and his wife, the former Camille McCann of Lometa, have been married for 54 years.

Langford has been a member of School Creek Baptist Church for 73 years and served as a deacon at the church for 58 years. The church recently celebrated its 136th anniversary.

Langford’s children and their families continue to farm and ranch on the family property on the Lampasas River.

Langford said he has appreciated his time on the First Texas Bank board.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure for me to have been on the board at the First Texas Bank,” he said. “I love the community of Lampasas, so I’m very proud of our bank here.”

Barkowsky said Langford’s knowledge of farming and ranching was invaluable, and the First Texas Bank board is excited to add another member with ranching experience in Yeary.

Langford resigned Oct. 5, and Yeary became a board member Oct. 21.

Yeary grew up in Mason and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. She moved to the Lampasas area 36 years ago when she married her husband Billy, a native Lampasan.

She worked for the Lampasas Independent School District for 33 years as a teacher, campus administrator and assistant superintendent. Since retiring from LISD in 2017, she has worked as an education consultant training school districts, administrators and teachers in Texas, Arizona and Colorado.

Yeary said she “learned the value of what boards can bring to an administration” while working with the Lampasas ISD board.

She has served on the Spring Ho Committee and was the Spring Ho board president, and currently serves on the Lampasas Salvation Army board and the Lower Colorado River Authority board.

Yeary grew up in a ranching family and owns a cow-calf operation in Burnet with her husband, who is a full-time rancher and livestock auctioneer. Daughter Carey lives in Dallas, and daughter Caley lives near Atlanta.

Like Langford, Yeary said she considers the First Texas Bank her family’s bank. She began banking there 36 years ago and said she appreciates the friendly welcome she receives when visiting there.

“I was humbled when Kelvin Barkowsky and Barry Haag approached me to serve on the board,” Yeary said. “First Texas Bank is a solid bank with a long history as a community bank serving Central Texans.”

Yeary said the bank has adapted to customers’ evolving needs.

“First Texas Bank has embraced the ever-changing role to meet the needs of those who welcome technology and online banking to those that desire to sit down with their banker to do business,” she said.

Barkowsky said First Texas Bank is grateful to Langford and Yeary for their willingness to serve.

“We are very appreciative of Mr. Langford’s contribution to our bank over the past 34 years, and we look forward to Mrs. Yeary’s involvement,” he said.

Yeary said she looks forward to learning and growing with First Texas Bank as she takes up Langford’s duties.

“This is an incredible honor to be asked to fill his shoes, and big shoes they are,” she said. “Henry Langford is a man of such impeccable ethics and integrity who served on the board for 34 years.

“The Lampasas community has great respect for Henry and his family.”