J. Pat Hickman

J. Pat Hickman, age 72, passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at Hillside Christian Church at 6100 S Soncy Rd, Amarillo. A visitation for family and friends will take place from 5:00pm - 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 in the Main Lobby at Hillside Christian Church. He liked to say he won the lottery when he was born on March 17, 1952, in Canyon, Texas, to the "neatest" parents in the world - John Boilvin "Bud" and Mildred Maureen Hickman. Pat claimed to be THE poster child for the American Dream. He was an Eagle Scout and a 1970 graduate of Canyon High School and first attended Texas Tech University as a student that year. He spent most of his time with the brothers-in-the-bond of Phi Delta Theta rather than in the classroom. Then at the age of 70, he resumed his studies and graduated 50 years later in May of 2024. When Pat married Nancy in 1977, he out-kicked his coverage and they had an incredible 48-year marriage. Pat was given many opportunities to influence and advocate for his community. By God's providence, Pat "fell into" the banking business in 1975 and worked for various financial institutions in Canyon and Amarillo for fifteen years. In 1989, Nancy and Pat took a step of faith and founded Happy Bancshares, Inc., where he led a group of investors in purchasing a small $10 Million bank in Happy, Texas (at purchase, the 812th largest bank in Texas). He, with his amazing staff, led Happy State Bank over the next 32 years as Chairman, President & CEO. It became the 19th largest bank in Texas with $7.4 billion in assets, serving 47 communities with 65 offices. It was named a nation-wide "Best Bank to Work For" eight consecutive years and in 2019, Forbes named Happy the third best bank in Texas. In 2022, he consummated the sale of the bank to Home BancShares, Inc. for just under $1 billion and served on their Board of Directors. Pat was involved with over 66 civic organizations in the Texas Panhandle, including Canyon Lion's Club, Amarillo Symphony, Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, Texas Tech Foundation, and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society. He was instrumental in starting the Canyon Crisis Pregnancy Center, the Canyon After School Program, and the CISD Education Foundation. He was elected to three terms on the Canyon ISD Board of Trustees (1990-1999) and as Board President. His hometown honored him as a member of the Canyon High School Hall of Fame (2006), the Canyon "Citizen of the Year" (2008), and the Randall County Agri-Businessman of the Decade (2010). He was a founding member of the Excellence in Banking Program at Texas Tech (2019). He was a past Chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (2001) receiving its "Chairman's Award" (2010) and later placed in the Texas Banking Hall of Fame: Heroes and Legends of Community Banking (2019). The Amarillo College Foundation recognized him with their "Director's Award" (2021) and the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University named him as a "Distinguished Alumnus" (2022). In 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board. J. Pat was known for his passion, leadership, and "no strings attached" love. He committed himself 100% to his undertakings and endeavors. He lived life with the glass half-full and a "10% circumstance, 90% attitude" mindset. Though he deeply loved his family, friends, and the bank, his love for Jesus surpassed it all. He wanted everyone to know that he was saved by grace and that they could have the gift of life that Jesus offers. He testified to God's constant provision in every area of life, believing nothing was an accident. In his leisure time, he enjoyed Sundays beside the backyard pool with his family, nine holes at the golf course, a game of cards, Texas Tech Athletics, traveling abroad, riding a four-wheeler at the J-Ann Ranch, staring at the Gulf of America off his porch in Florida, and always dreaming of the next opportunity to live this life to the fullest. His favorite pastime was relaxing at the end of the day with Nancy by his side. He is preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Mike. He is survived by his wife Nancy of Canyon; his children J. Brad (Heidi) Hickman of Amarillo; J. Grant (Jenna) Hickman of Tualatin, Oregon; Tara (Mark) Murray of Amarillo; Crista (Jarrett) Copheranham of Amarillo. He was J. Pop to his 19 grandchildren: Jack, Sophie, Jarah, Granger, Baron, Penny, Esther, Wren, Ella, Brackett, Lina, Grace, Calvin, Ford, Kai, Maxwell, Griffin, Rhett, and Nora. He is also survived by a brother, Don Hickman of Bettendorf, Iowa; a sister, Sara Jo Kunkel of Amarillo; and many other family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hope Choice (hopechoice.com/donate/), Faith City Mission (faithcity.org/give), and The Oaks Christian Academy (theoaks.academy/donate).