I hope to have some Sooner football fans in this crowd tonight…because if you know anything at all about me, you know that I am very proud to have graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1932 and I am an ardent fan of OU FOOTBALL!!! AND if you know anything else about me, you will know that I love cattle and I love banking…not sure of the order though.

Robert Lee Simpson Junior here, but it was my father Robert Lee Simpson Senior that instilled the love of both cattle and banking in me. I am sure that my Uncle JC might have had something to do with the cattle though. Oh, how my Uncle JC loved Black Angus.

My family got into the banking business in the early 1900's. I wish my dad could have seen that new modern bank building when it was under construction. I believe it was on June 15th of 1974 that the new State National Bank building became operational. I could almost see my dad or "Uncle Bob," as he was sometimes called, doing a little jig looking down from heaven.

Some of you may not know this, but the original ranch was on the Simpson allotment but was covered by water when the Eufaula Reservoir was built. As you might know, I was quite upset by this. It takes time to build a good ranch with the right grazing, not to mention my outstanding pecan orchard….both covered by water….But it's hard to keep a good pedigree of cattle down and I have been privileged to own many registered cows and bulls. I bought some more land up Checotah way and started a nice pecan orchard, raised peanuts and alfalfa when the building of I-40 cut my spread almost down the middle. Oh, well, I am a Sooner and Sooners survive.

My father was the oldest son of John Francis Simpson. He was a native of Kentucky and a rather colorful gentleman. My father's mother, my grandmother was Susan Ann Crabtree, who was of Creek descent. They were married in Texarkana, Arkansas and moved to this area about 1872. My grandfather was the first postmaster of Eufaula. He loved planting. I think I must have obtained my gardening skills from him.

My wife, Agnes, was an exceptional woman. Her maiden name was Janeway. What a hard worker she was. She gave me three fine children that I idolize. Charles, Sharmia, and Robert Lee. They all have been hard workers. Charles is in real estate and still runs the ranch up near Checotah. Sharmia is a retired school teacher and Robert Lee III is still in the banking business in good ole Eufaula. And I could not be happier about how they have conducted their life. My granddaughter Regan has blessed us earlier in the year with a fourth generation Robert Lee and may I give a special "thank you" to Regan and Charles for that new little one.

Well, folks, I have probably taken up enough of your time. Thanks for listening and you all have a fantastic evening. There is a lot more to come.