H.R. No. 129

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Ray M. Bain of Dimmitt is to be commended for his longtime business leadership, civic engagement, and philanthropy in the Texas Panhandle; and

WHEREAS, Born in Plainview, Mr. Bain attended West Texas A&M University and continued his education at the SW Graduate School of Banking; he first worked in banking at the age of 15, as a part-time teller, and he embarked on a full-time career in the industry in 1960, when he accepted a job as a teller and as an assistant bookkeeper at Hale County State Bank; and

WHEREAS, In 1970, Mr. Bain moved to Perryton to assume the role of vice president and cashier of the town's First National Bank branch, now known as First Bank Southwest; after more than a decade in that post, he relocated to Deming, New Mexico, where he spent four years as president of Mimbres Valley Bank; and

WHEREAS, Ray Bain returned to the Texas Panhandle in 1985 to become president and CEO of First State Bank; two years later, he led an investor group in purchasing First State, which became First United Bank in 1994; under the astute guidance of Mr. Bain and his sons, R. Mark Bain and Michael L. Bain, First United Bank expanded from a single location to 15 locations across the Panhandle and the South Plains, while its total assets increased from $42 million to approximately $1.2 billion; now retired from the day-to-day management of the bank, Mr. Bain continues to chair the board of directors; and

WHEREAS, In addition to guiding the development of First United, Mr. Bain has contributed to the banking industry through his service on boards and committees for a number of trade organizations; for his lifetime of achievement, he has been honored with the Distinguished Banker Award from the Panhandle-South Plains Bankers Association and the 50-Year Banker Award from the Texas Bankers Association; and

WHEREAS, This esteemed civic leader has further shared his time and talents as a trustee for the Perryton Independent School District, as a board member and president of the chambers of commerce in Perryton, Deming, and Dimmitt, and as a member of the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, as well as through his involvement with the YMCA and Little League; his community service has been recognized with Citizen of the Year awards in both Perryton and Dimmitt and with the Workhorse of the Year award from the Kiwanis Club in Perryton; and

WHEREAS, A proud alumnus of WTAMU, Mr. Bain has given generously to his alma mater, playing an instrumental role in the creation of the Bain Athletic Center; he is also responsible for the creation of the $1 million First United Bank Endowment, which funds scholarships for WTAMU students, and the First United Bank Classroom, which is used for computer-based courses; in appreciation of his staunch support, WTAMU has conferred on him the Pinnacle Award and the Legacy Award and made him a lifetime member of the Buffalo Club; and

WHEREAS, Ray Bain and his wife, Barbara, have shared a rewarding marriage of more than 55 years; their fine family includes their two sons, their daughter, Nancy Seybert, and many treasured grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Ray Bain has forged an outstanding career in banking while in turn striving to create opportunity for countless fellow citizens, and his efforts have won him the lasting respect and admiration of all who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby honor Ray M. Bain for his immeasurable contributions to advancing the quality of life on the South Plains and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Bain as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Price

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 129 was adopted by the House on June 25, 2013, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House