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Texas A&M University-Texarkana |
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James W. Bramlett
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences
Texas A&M University–Texarkana
Distinguished Faculty
James W. Bramlett is a life-long resident of Texarkana, Texas and a graduate of Texas High School. He attended Texarkana College and earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in 2000 from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. He is employed with Bank of the Ozarks as a business development officer.
During his life, James has developed a remarkable record of commitment to community service and leadership. Since 1998, he has served the citizens of Texarkana, Texas as mayor. Prior to this post, James was elected councilmember for Ward 6 in 1996. He also served as a member of the City of Texarkana, Texas, Planning & Zoning Committee and Zoning Board of Adjustments. He serves on the Texarkana Regional Museum of History Advisory Committee, Boy Scouts of America Caddo Area Council and the Conifer Girl Scouts “Scout O Rama” Planning Committee and the First Choice Pregnancy Center Planning Committee. James was a member of the 2006 Texarkana Chamber of Commerce Membership Drive Committee and served on the Northeast Texas Committee for Higher Education. He is a member of the A&M-Texarkana Alumni Association.
James is married to his wife Kathy and they have a son James William II ( J.W. ) who is a senior at the University of North Texas. The Bramletts are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Distinguished Alumnus
Tina R. Green was born in Hobbs, New Mexico. She is a graduate of Arkansas High School. Tina continued her education after high school and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1983 from the University of Arkansas. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University-Texarkana in 1992. In 1995, she received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law. While in Law School, she served as editor for the Arkansas Law Review. In 1996, Tina obtained a Master of Laws degree in Taxation from the New York University School of Law.
Tina has been practicing law since 1996 and is a partner with the local law firm of Patton, Roberts, McWilliams, & Capshaw, L.L.P. She is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a Certified Elder Law attorney for the National Elder Law Foundation. Her expertise revolves around taxation, estate planning, probate, trusts and business transactions. She is admitted to practice in state court in Texas and Arkansas.
Tina is very active with community and civic organizations. She has been involved with the State Bar of Texas-Tax Section, Leadership Texarkana, Bowie County Adult Protective Services, Friends of the Foundation at Christus St. Michael Health System, Texarkana Community Foundation, Sunrise Rotary Club and the local YWCA.
Tina R. Green
Master of Business Administration
Texas A&M University–Texarkana
Ronald L. (Ron) Mills
Master of Business Administration
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
Distinguished Alumnus
Ronald L. (Ron) Mills was born in Texarkana, Texas. He is a graduate of New Boston High School. After completing high school, Ron attended Texarkana College and then went on to receive a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1983 from Texas A&M University-Commerce. In 1997, Ron received a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. He is also a graduate from the Texas Tech School of Banking, the Texas Trust School and Personal Trust Administration School at Southern Methodist University and the National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University. He currently teaches banking and finance classes at the Center for Financial Planning.
Ron began his career in banking in 1983 as a management trainee at First National Bank of New Boston. Ron currently serves as the senior vice president and trust officer at BancorpSouth. His job duties include overseeing BancorpSouth’s trust activities in Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas.
Ron is very active in the community. He serves as treasurer of the Oaklawn Rotary Club and Texas High School Band Boosters. He is a board member of the Texarkana Museum Systems, Texarkana Community Foundation, and Wadley Regional Medical Center Foundation. He also serves on the Finance Committee for the United Way of Greater Texarkana.
Ron and his wife Deborah have two sons, Clay, who is a senior at Texas High School and Wes, who is a freshman at Texas High School. The Mills are members of Hardy Memorial United Methodist Church. Ron and his sons are members of Boy Scout Troop 102.
Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Billy L. Payne was born in Streetman, Texas, and graduated from Mexia High School. He then served two years in the United States Army during World War II. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History and a Master of Arts degree in History from Sam Houston State University and was awarded a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Payne’s teaching career spanned a period of 33 years, beginning in the El Campo Independent School District in 1954 through 1967. His teaching experience includes elementary and secondary teaching in Texas schools and college level teaching at Wharton County Junior College, The University of Texas, the University of Tennessee and East Texas State University. His professional certifications include elementary and secondary supervision administration. He served as a consultant to numerous school systems and public groups. During the last fifteen years of his career, he served at East Texas State University at Texarkana, now Texas A&M University-Texarkana. He was one of the original nine faculty members and his varied areas of service included director of education, associate professor, graduate advisor, certification officer, and director of student teaching. He developed the university’s first official catalog and facilitated the achievement of separate accreditation by the Texas Education Agency and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Dr. Payne has been married to Virgie Hightower Payne for 56 years. They have three children; Rebecca Mazoch, a teacher who resides in Texarkana, Daniel Payne, a registered nurse in San Francisco and the late Deborah Brooks from Paris, Texas. He has seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Dr. Payne is a member of First Baptist Church in Texarkana where he has served as a Sunday School teacher. He is a 51 year member of the Masonic Lodge. Dr. Payne has worked with young children as a scout master with the Boy Scouts of America and as a Commander with the Civil Air Patrol. His hobbies include spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, researching genealogy, writing books, building houses, and raising limousine cattle.
Dr. Billy L. Payne, Ph.D.
Distinguished Faculty Member
Bob Nelsen
Spirit Award
Spirit Award
Robert C. (Bob) Nelsen is originally from South Bend, Indiana. He graduated from John Adams High School in South Bend. He went on to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He attended the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development in 1986.
Bob is retired from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. His career with Cooper encompassed a span of 34 years. He served as the plant manger for the Texarkana facility during his last 12 years of service with the company.
Although retired, Bob still maintains a very busy routine with his involvement in community service. He is currently the chairman of the board for the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as the chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Caddo Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is member of the Engineering Advisory Council at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, as well as a member of the Wilbur Smith Rotary Club. He previously served on the Wadley Regional Medical Center Board of Directors. He is a 1989 graduate of Leadership Texarkana, an organization for which he also served as curriculum chairman for the class of 1997. He has previously served on several committees at the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce. Bob is a past member of the Texarkana Soccer Association. Bob was instrumental in starting a high school soccer program at Texarkana Independent School District.
Bob has been married to his wife, Carol, for 34 years. Bob and Carol have three sons, Robert Jr., Andrew and Michael. The Nelsens also have four grandchildren.
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Distinguished Alumni and Faculty
Last Updated: February 22, 2007