The Norman Transcript

The Norman Business Association recently honored Hoyt P. "Pat" Mayes as its latest Norman Business Legend winner.

The award, sponsored by the club and The Transcript, was presented to Mayes at the club's regular meeting Nov. 7. Presenting was Ed Copelin.

Mayes serves as chairman of the board of First American Bank. He served on the Norman Public School's Board of Education from 1965 to 1990.

Copelin said Mayes entered the banking business after a successful career as owner of a Norman funeral home.

"He did that at a time when most of us would have been content to retire," Copelin said.

O.T. McCall, a past Legends recipient, served with Mayes for many years on the school board. He said Mayes was always well versed on the issues and was elected president of the school board five terms.

Mayes moved to Norman in 1956 from Texas. He and his wife, Geraldine "Gerry" were married in 1959. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.

He has been involved in the American Red Cross, the Advisory Committee for the Joseph Harp Correctional Facility in Lexington, Purcell Airport Authority board of trustees, a board member of the Norman Alcohol Information Center and the Cleveland County Business and Industry Council.

He has been a longtime member and past president of the Norman Chamber of Commerce and a members of the state Chamber of Commerce. He served as chairman of the Cleveland County Business and Industry Council in 2002, president of the Heart of Oklahoma Economic Development Corporation, a community development corporation in Purcell.

He is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, having served as a member of the vestry of the church and is serving as its senior warden and a trustee of the Saint John's Episcopal Church Foundation. He also serves as a member of the Standing Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma.

He became involved in banking in 1988 and purchased the First American Bank and Trust Co. in Purcell in July 1990. The bank had formerly been in Washington, Okla., and was moved to Purcell in 1935.

Besides Mayes and McCall, other Norman Business Legends winners include Jack Black and Maudine Holland. The club meets each Friday morning at 7 at Davenport's Cafeteria on the University of Oklahoma campus.

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