Oklahoma bank chairman to be Executive-in-Residence speaker at Longwood

Ken Fergeson, a banker and civic leader who is chairman of NBC Oklahoma, will be the Executive-in-Residence speaker in Longwood University's Blackwell Ballroom on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m.

Fergeson, who lives in Altus, Okla., is a past chairman of the American Bankers Association (in 2003-04) and is a major contributor to the banking industry, which he serves on the community and state levels. After working for two other banks (in Oklahoma City and later in Enid), Fergeson in 1985 purchased the majority of the National Bank of Commerce in Altus. Now called NBC Oklahoma, the bank has grown significantly both in and outside of Altus. It has four branches in Altus, two in Oklahoma City, where the corporate headquarters are located, and one each in Enid, Kingfisher, and Tulsa.

Fergeson also is active in supporting and promoting the arts and is chairman of the national organization Americans for the Arts. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2009. Fergeson, who grew up on a farm outside of Crowell, Texas, has a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in economics, both from Texas Tech University.

The title of Fergeson's talk is "Arts-Business-Creativity." The Executive-in-Residence series is a public service of the College of Business & Economics and is co-sponsored by Barrett Capital Management LLC and SunTrust Bank.