W. Dewey Presley

W. Dewey Presley, BBA '39, of Dallas, passed away Nov. 9 at the age of 93. Presley served as a member of the Baylor Board of Regents from 1988-93 and served as the chairman of the board of Baylor University and Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas. He was the third recipient in Baylor's history of the Founders Medallion, the university's most distinguished award. Presley was named the 1967 outstanding alumnus of Baylor's Hankamer School of Business, was a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 1968 and received the George W. Truett Distinguished Church Service Award in 1999. He and his wife also were honored as recipients of the 1999 W. R. White Meritorious Service Award. For 10 years, Presley worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation before he began his career in banking in 1949 at First National Bank in Dallas, then the largest bank in Texas, where he later was appointed president. He held that position until First International Bancshares, Inc. was formed in 1972. As president of First International Bancshares (later InterFirst Corp.), Presley grew the organization to the largest bank group in the Southwest before his retirement at age 60. Presley also was a civic leader, volunteer, and a member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Shepperd Presley, BA '39.