Mike Mauldin, associate professor of practice and the inaugural F. Scott Dueser Director of the Excellence in Banking program at the Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University, retired from a successful career in banking as the Chairman, President and CEO of the Hereford Region of First Financial Bank headquartered in Abilene, Texas on October 31, 2019. 

His banking career spanned for more than 41 years, serving 37 years in executive management and 34 years at the CEO level. He held most leadership positions with the Texas Bankers Association where he was elected as its chairperson in 2012. He also served American Bankers Association, serving on various committees and holding the position of Chairperson of the Grassroots committee and the Membership committee. 

Mike began his unplanned second career with the Rawls College of Business on November 1, 2019, He indicated that he never thought of being in academia and said that “not many jobs could take me away from banking, an industry that I love, but giving back to the banking industry and the communities they serve through a well-prepared work force would and has.”  Looking back, Mike admits that he misses being a full-time banker and serving the community, but this new career in academia has been exactly what he needed to complete his career. He enjoys the continued interaction with the banking industry and helping young people learn, discover, prepare, and choose their career. 

Mike has always lived and been actively involved in the community where he officed. He has been a mayor, chairperson of an industrial foundation, established a chamber of commerce and served on numerous boards, task forces, and committees. Mike’s extensive network of people, knowledge of banking, legislative understanding, and community experience make him the perfect person to lead the Excellent in Banking program.