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October 2025

Alumnus finds meaning in lending side of banking

At one time, Chris Coke was unsure about his future, dabbling in the music scene but seeking something permanent. Today, he’s the executive vice president and chief lending officer for Western Bank, based in Lubbock.

A native of Lubbock who grew up in Wyoming, Chris and his family returned to the Hub City at age

15 and he graduated from Monterey High School in 1987. He followed many friends to Texas Tech, noting he had a lot of fun but didn’t accomplish much academically. He was also struggling personally.

“My dad passed away when I was 19, and I was struggling with what I wanted to do. I went into the Marines, then injured my ankle and got a medical discharge,” he recalled. “One I got out of the Marines, I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.”

A longtime music lover, he found a band looking for a singer and guitar player and auditioned. They hired Chris to join them and they began playing country music covers all around West Texas. He made another friend and the two formed a new band called Renegade.

“We played on the road a few years, then came back to Lubbock. At that point I was burned out a bit from the travel,” Chris said. “I got a call from a place in Lubbock that wanted a house band, so we played at Country Live a few years. During this time I got married and we had a baby.”

Knowing it was time to settle down, he did some research and chose 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s Lubbock campus to finish his degree, drawn by the then-quarterly term schedule and night classes that allowed him to work during the daytime. Coke said he mostly took business classes but recalls the two required Bible classes being enjoyable as well.

After a few years of coursework, he earned a BSOE degree in general business in 2001. He found one professor particularly encouraging, and that motivated him to finish.

“I don’t think I could have done it without Ms. Valerie Tharp talking to me and keeping me going. I kept coming back until they told me I didn’t have to come anymore,” he laughed. “I give them a lot of credit because we needed that piece of paper to get a job. It was perfect for what I needed at the time.”

Drawing from his experience at American State Bank while at Texas Tech, Chris went back to ASB for a few years. He then applied for a job with the Department of Banking as an examiner, hired in 2003 and spending about five years there. He followed that stint with a time as a loan reviewer for Plains Capital Bank and then at ABC Bank in Lubbock.

In 2012, Chris decided he wanted to get into lending, so he took a position with First State Bank and moved north to Stratford. While the job provided good experience in the field, he found it hard to be away from home and moved back shortly to Lubbock, working for Centennial Bank as a lender, spending three years there.

While at ASB, Chris had worked with the brother of Dan Odom, whom he had helped get a job with the Department of Banking as well. In the between years, Dan’s family had purchased banks in Gruver and then in Lubbock, later branding them all under the Western Bank name. Wanting to work with Dan, who is now CEO and president, Chris soon joined the Western family.

“I came in October 2016 to open an loan production office while building the business there, and we established that with Randy Jordan,” Chris said. “We grew the bank quite a bit in that time. Then we added Amarillo and Plainview and merged Gruver State Bank into Western in 2019.

“Now, we’re knocking on the door of nearly a billion dollars in total assets. That’s a big threshold,” Chris added. “I’m proud of what we’ve done here. We opened a mortgage department when a lot of banks were running away from mortgages. We’ll be in a good position to help Lubbock with that.”

Chris became chief lending officer in 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ, working to help facilitate business and loans, and working with the various market presidents in that arena. Ultimately, he says, “My role is to help Dan keep growing the bank in whatever capacity that can be.”

Finally at home in his Western Bank role, Chris said there are many rewards to his job.

“I enjoy coming to work every day and work with great people. I get to

see what we’re growing and giving back to Lubbock in terms of bank functions and charity events we participate in. It’s great to have a job you love to go to every day,” he said. “It hasn’t always been that way for me, but here we have a really good culture of people that take care of each other and look after our employees. It’s a lot of fun to be here.”

But he is quick to give credit to those early years of exploration.

“Whatever success I’ve had is because of the time I spent at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ and helping me get where I

need to be. When I got serious about it, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ was there to get that done,” he said.

Oh, and that band that once was Chris’ sole job? He’s still playing with the same guys as Renegade, mostly private events and some regular gigs at Lubbock’s Silver Bullet or The Spoon. They also play at fundraisers, performing mostly country dance music covers from various decades. Chris is lead singer and plays the guitar.

Chris and wife Melissa, a teacher at All Saints Episcopal School, are members of First Christian Church. They have two children between them: Brett, who serves in the Marine Corps, and Macy, who works for the American Quarter Horse Association in Amarillo. They also have a one-year-old granddaughter.

 

 

Devotional: The Power of Speaking Out Loud

 

Scripture:
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." — Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)

"So I say to you: Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." — Mark 11:24 (NIV)

Reflection

Our words are powerful. They can build up or tear down, heal or hurt, give life or bring destruction. Too often, we keep our hopes, confessions, and even our prayers inside our hearts, fearing judgment, doubt, or embarrassment. But God calls us to declare His truth out loud, to speak life into situations, and to boldly proclaim His promises.

Speaking out loud does more than communicate with others—it shapes our own hearts. When we verbalize our faith, gratitude, or desires, we acknowledge God’s power and reinforce our trust in Him. Faith spoken quietly in the heart is good, but faith spoken boldly has the power to move mountains.

Consider Moses at the Red Sea. God told him to lift his staff, and Moses spoke and acted on God’s command. The waters parted. His obedience in word and action became a witness of God’s mighty power.

Practical Takeaways

1. Pray aloud: Begin your day by speaking prayers, thanking God, asking for wisdom, and declaring His promises over your life.
2. Confess Scripture: Speak God’s Word over yourself and your circumstances. For example: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) or “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
3. Encourage others: Use your words to lift someone up. A kind word, spoken in love, can be life-changing.
4. Declare faith in difficulty: When facing challenges, speak God’s truth, not the fear around you. Say out loud, “God is with me. He will make a way.”

Meditation

Take a moment today to speak one truth of God over your life—aloud. Let your voice join the chorus of creation proclaiming His goodness. Even in fear or doubt, your spoken words can release faith that moves mountains, for the Spirit of God works through what we speak.

 

In the mix

Alumni and Current Students: Different Stages, Shared Spirit

At 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University, our community spans generations—from those walking our halls today to alumni who have carried the Pioneer spirit into the world. While alumni and current students may be at different points in life, they share a deep connection to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ that bridges the years.

Current students are immersed in the day-to-day life of campus. They experience classes, student organizations, athletics, and social events firsthand. Their perspective is fresh, full of curiosity, and shaped by the challenges and opportunities of student life.

Alumni, on the other hand, bring years of experience beyond campus walls. They’ve launched careers, built families, and

contributed to communities across the country and the globe. Their experiences offer a unique lens on how a 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ education shapes life after graduation.

Despite these differences, alumni and students share much in common. Both groups are driven by curiosity, a desire to grow, and a commitment to faith and service that defines 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ. They each carry the Pioneer spirit—whether it’s navigating a first college class or a career milestone years later.

The relationship between students and alumni is a two-way street. Alumni inspire current students with stories of perseverance and success, while students remind alumni of the excitement and promise of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ journey. Together, they form a vibrant, connected community that celebrates tradition while looking toward the future.

Whether you’re an alumnus reflecting on your 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ days or a student navigating your first semester, one thing is clear: the Pioneer spirit transcends time. It’s a bond that connects us all, wherever life’s journey may take us.

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