[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 124 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REGARDING THE DEATH OF JULIAN HESTER

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                             HON. BOB BARR

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2001

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay 
tribute to Julian Hester, CEO, Community Bankers Association of 
Georgia, who passed away on September 4, 2001 after a long battle with 
cancer.
  Julian was a native of Washington, Georgia. Upon graduation from 
Washington High School, he received a scholarship and attended the 
University of Georgia where he earned a bachelor's degree in business 
administration. Following graduation in 1955, he began his long and 
illustrious banking career with Farmers and Merchants Bank in his 
hometown of Washington. While at the bank, Julian graduated from the 
University of Georgia School of Banking. Later, in 1979, he served a 
term as president of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia. 
After serving more than 15 years with Farmers and Merchants Bank, he 
became president of Habersham Bank in Clarksville, Georgia, where he 
served for nearly 12 years.
  During the early 1980's Julian worked for a large Southeastern 
correspondent bank, and recognized the need for a correspondent bank in 
Georgia. In 1984, he organized the Georgia Bankers Bank, which 
currently serves more than 800 community financial institutions across 
the Southeast. The following year, he began lobbying for the Community 
Bankers Association of Georgia, and in 1986 joined the staff as 
Executive Director/CEO.
  As a well-respected lobbyist for more than two decades, Julian 
expanded the Association to include important services for its member 
banks, such as educational programs, group services and a strong system 
of inter-bank networking. Currently, the Association has more than 200 
associate members and 330 community bank members statewide.
  In addition to his incredible dedication and commitment to community 
banking, Julian was also very active in several business and civic 
organizations, and served in many leadership positions. He was a past 
president of the Independent Bankers Association of America's National 
Association of State Independent Banking Association Executives, and 
the Northeast Georgia Chapter of the Bankers Administration Institute. 
He also served as vice president, treasurer and president of his local 
Georgia Jaycees chapter, and president of the Rotary Club of Habersham 
County. he was an active member and a deacon of Bethlehem Baptist 
Church in Clarksville.

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