L-R: Jessica Tidwell Bellant with her children; Dr. Claire Renzetti and Brad Tidwell.

By Joycelyne Fadojutimi

VeraBank President/Chief Executive Officer Brad Tidwell’s efforts on behalf of his city and profession have not gone unnoticed by those he serves and have earned him a Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award. The Boy Scouts of America reserve this recognition as their highest honor for those whose lives and endeavors make the most positive impact on the well-being of their communities and fellow citizens. Tidwell’s fellow banker and competitor Texas Bank & Trust Vice-Chair and Executive Officer Rogers Pope, Jr. spoke clearly and unselfishly about his colleague’s objectives and accomplishments.

“Brad represents all that is good about Longview and like me he knows how lucky he is with the Longview home,” he said. “Brad credits the influence of many friends, neighbors, teachers and mentors he encountered during his formative years in Longview for setting him onto the path of the enormous success he has enjoyed in his adult life.”

Smiling, Pope said his friend Tidwell “strayed a little bit” by attending Texas A&M because “nobody’s perfect.” He described their banking competition as tough,  but also a privilege and that it makes Longview better and more economically stable for its residents.

Pope furthermore cited Tidwell’s leadership role in the Independent Members Association of Texas and the Independent Community Members of America as examples of his dedication to assisting profitable commerce not only in the banking industry, but for businesses nationwide.

“You should know that Brad’s reputation as an outstanding community member has been recognized not just locally,… both at the state and national levels. He is an engaged and active advocate, not just for the banking industry, but also for small businesses across the country.”

Rogers Pope, Jr. – Texas Bank & Trust Vice-Chair and Executive Officer

Richard Manly followed Pope on the speaker’s podium. An ex-Marine, Alabama native Manley matriculated at Vanderbilt University in preparation for a career in the manufacture of medical devices and business leadership. He started by outlining Tidwell’s positive impact on East Texas by describing three tenants for leadership success:

1. Work hard but have fun.

2. Do the right thing for your customers and your co-workers.

3. Don’t be a jerk.

He explained that Tidwell’s devotion to both his vocational calling and his family are expressed in how, “He’s led the bank from $500 million to $1.2 billion, but he’s most proud of his family.” He also pointed out how Brad does not do his best simply to make himself look good.

“It may seem illogical, but I measure the sincerity of a person’s commitment by how well they serve [even] when they are not in the lead,” Manley said. “Brad Tidwell is someone this Marine Corps officer would be proud to work with because he’s always focused on the goal and the team, and not himself.”

Manley continued by telling how, in 2017, he was serving as president of Pinecrest Country Club, which was “in a tough spot.” Tidwell’s executive team worked with Pinecrest and returned it to solvency. Pinecrest Country Club was able to raise $1.2M from its membership to pay off outstanding loans without having to borrow yet more money.

“I’m convinced that we saved Pinecrest Country Club, and that would not have happened without Brad’s calm and professional leadership throughout the process,” he said.

“It may seem illogical, but I measure the sincerity of a person’s commitment by how well they serve [even] when they are not in the lead. Brad Tidwell is someone this Marine Corps officer would be proud to work with because he’s always focused on the goal and the team, and not himself.”

Real Estate Developer Richard Manley

After praising Tidwell for his unselfish, expert leadership in various community matters and programs, Manley yielded to the next speaker, local architect Ann Hugman, who recounted mostly humorous episodes from Tidwell’s past, highlighted by his “gift of gab,” plus his parents, Henry and Barbara great examples that paved way to a great upbringing.

For example, during a parent/teacher conference, his teacher told his mother Barbara that her overachieving son was finishing his assignments too quickly. She wanted him to “sit quietly and color,” but he was instead helping the other pupils with their work. Hugman quoted Barbara’s response:

“If you want him to behave, give him some more worksheets, and give him worksheets above his grade level,” she said. “That will keep him busy.”

Hugman pointed out that Tidwell is not one-dimensional, having interests wandering far from banking and civic service. She cited his love of guitar music, baseball, the Longview Lobos and “all things Aggie.” She also praised his devotion to his life partner Dr. Claire Renzetti, his two daughters, Jessica, and Shelby: his grandchildren, and sons-in-law, Chris, and Sean.

In addition, Hugman read a quote from his daughter Shelby in which the grateful young woman gushed over how, when she was growing up, her father packed thousands of lunches, showed up for all her school events, her swim meets and, later, drove round-trip to Austin in one day to check out her new condo.

“Brad is a good guy. He has a compassionate heart. He has a selfless heart. Brad is a giver and a patriot,” said Hugman. “We love you. We honor you. We celebrate you. We applaud you.”

The Good Turn Award was inspired through the foundations of Scouting. The Scouts slogan is, do a good turn daily. Mr. Daniel Anderson, CEO East Texas Boy Scouts, called upon past recipients to come forward and join in the presentation of the Good Turn Award to Tidwell.

Finally, it was time for the obviously moved guest of honor to speak.

“I can’t say thank you enough to the Boy Scouts. I want you to be part of the community,” he said. “I want you to be able to be part of our community. Thank you.”

He expressed his gratitude to the event organizers and his blessed family – his parents. He continued by expounding on how his seventeen years of community service have been a joy rather than a burden and that his fellow banking employees are a delight. He also expressed his love for Longview.

“Communities are not infrastructure. Communities are not demographics. Communities are not buildings. Communities are people, and this community is a quality community,” he said. “It’s a great community because of the people here. It’s because of the people who give back so much.”

Moreover, Tidwell outlined how leadership is not the domain of single individuals but depends on the efforts of groups of highly qualified individuals. He pointed out how he believed many of the people at that event were deserving of the same recognition being given him. He spoke of his love for Longview because it is, “such a great place for me and my family. I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else other than Longview.”

Refusing to take personal credit for his accomplishments, Tidwell described how he inherited his positive traits from parents Henry and Barbara, thanked Lucy Lester and several others who contributed to his banking success; in the audience, Mayor Kristen Ishihara who Emceed the event and his minister, Reverend Dr. Debbie Tipps of First United Methodist Church who gave the invocation. But wait, there is more.

Tidwell expressed his gratitude to Carolyn Northcutt for her efforts. “This is a labor of love, and her efforts and her energy are a huge part of why we’ve been successful. I’d also like to thank Diane Bucklew, Melissa Miller, and Ann Hugman for helping with today’s event.”

“When you hear all these nice things about yourself, you wonder who they’re talking about,” he said.

Everyone in attendance, except maybe for him, was clear on this.

“Brad is a good guy. He has a compassionate heart. He has a selfless heart and servant’s heart. Brad is a giver and a patriot. Most of all, we love you, we honor you, we celebrate you, we applaud you, and we appreciate your dedication to your family and our community. Thank you for everything you do.”

Ann Hugman – HLH Design Build