Pat J. Hickman

J. Pat Hickman is chairman and CEO of Happy State Bank & Trust Company, domiciled in Happy, Texas (The Town Without a Frown). He has held these positions for the past 24 years and has led his bank from the 812th largest bank ($10 million total assets) in Texas in 1990 to the 25th largest bank (more than $2.5 billion total assets). The bank also owns GoldStar Trust Company, which does business in all 50 states and is the largest trustee in the nation for self-directed precious metal individual retirement accounts. A banker for 40 years, Hickman has served as a board member and chair of several community and banking organizations, including past chair of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas. He attended Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University.