September 5, 2014
Joe Don Mashburn spent his entire life working in agriculture and a group of friends, family and colleagues are keeping his memory alive by sharing his passion with future generations of farmers and ranchers. Texas Heritage National Bank recently created a $25,000 endowed scholarship fund at Northeast Texas Community College to provide financial support for students in the NTCC Work Scholarship Program.
"Our dad worked hard and taught us all to do the same. He loved agriculture and I can't think of a more fitting way for us to honor his life," daughter Kristi Townes said of the scholarship fund.
The Work Scholarship program, which kicked off this summer on the NTCC farm, provides motivated students with meaningful work in their preferred fields of study. As these students work throughout the term, money is deposited into a scholarship account for their next semester's college expenses. Essentially, they work to prepay for their education.
"We are thrilled and honored that this program was chosen for the Mashburn Endowed Scholarship. We are finding that there are a lot of people who are very interested in working for their college education. These are folks who don't want to go into debt to pay for college and they are willing to sweat and get dirty to accomplish that goal," Dr. Jonathan McCullough, NTCC Vice President for Advancement, said.
Mashburn, who passed away in March 2014, was a farmer and rancher for many years in southwestern Lamar County. He was president of the Lamar County Farm Bureau, served on the Soil Conservation Board, FSA County Committee and was recognized as a Young Farmer of the Year. In the early 1980s, he accepted a position as a loan officer at the Sulphur Springs branch of North Texas Production Credit Association, where he was later promoted to Vice President and Branch Manager.
Mashburn worked hard to support local farmers and ranchers throughout his banking career. After retiring from Farm Credit in 2008, he accepted a position as a Vice President with Texas Heritage National Bank. In this role, Mashburn was instrumental in the establishment of the Sulphur Springs Branch of Texas Heritage National Bank in 2009. He worked as Branch Manager for Texas Heritage National Bank until his death.
"Joe Don was loved and respected by customers and associates throughout Northeast Texas. He assisted others in fulfilling their dreams of purchasing their own farm or ranch," John Bryan, Texas Heritage National Bank Chairman of the Board, said. "He was also loved and respected by the many employees he supervised throughout the years and by all of the Texas Heritage National Bank Directors and staff."
Members of the Mashburn family gathered with Texas Heritage National Bank employees at the NTCC Agriculture Complex this summer to celebrate Joe Don's life and present the scholarship.
"Texas Heritage is very proud to present this scholarship in honor of Mr. Joe Don Mashburn and we hope the students that benefit from this endowment will use his life as an example as they complete their education training in pursuit of their own personal goals and aspirations," Bryan said.
The endowment fund will provide scholarships to an NTCC student each semester in perpetuity. To learn more about the NTCC Work Scholarship program, call McCullough at 903-434-8115.
