Oklahoma Bankers Association We make bankers better!
On Dec. 5, the Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame inducted four new members.
This year’s class included four outstanding bankers who have been – and still are – pillars in the banking industry, their communities and the state of Oklahoma.
This group of bankers falls right in line with previous inductees with their storied history and contributions still being made today to our industry.
I had the opportunity to introduce each inductee at the ceremony on Dec. 5 and read their bios to the gathered crowd. I also wanted to take this space to share with you those bios of each of the inductees who make up the 2024 class in the Oklahoma Bankers Hall of Fame.
Guy Berry III
The late Guy Berry III was a longtime banker in Sapulpa, and served as president and vice chair of the board of directors at American Heritage Bank there before retiring in 2014.
Berry began his career in the banking industry when he worked for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in Washington, D.C. shortly after college. After five years as a bank examiner for the FDIC, he started his own bank auditing firm. In 1980, he returned home to the family business when he succeeded his father, Guy Berry Jr., as president and vice chair of the board at American Heritage.
He took the utmost pride in being a third-generation community banker. Under his and his brother Bill’s leadership, the bank grew and thrived. It remains a strong and respected institution in Oklahoma. It’s in part due to his industry experience, business acumen, adept judgment of character, keen analytical abilities, reputation, vision and impeccable code of ethics.
Berry was a graduate of Culver Military Academy, in Indiana, and the University of Oklahoma, from which he held an economics degree. While in college, he was an active member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the Army ROTC.
Berry’s first wife, Dianne, passed away in 1993. Together, they have one daughter, Elizabeth. With his second wife, Caroline, he had a son, Henry.
Berry passed away in 2022 at 73.
Herschel Brewster
Herschel Brewster has been a stalwart in Oklahoma’s banking industry for over four decades, finishing his career as president and CEO of First National Bank & Trust Co. of Weatherford before retiring.
Brewster started his career as a teacher, with his first job as the vocational agriculture instructor for Cordell Public Schools. In 1978, he left teaching to join Cordell’s Farmers National Bank as an ag specialist and learn the banking business.
In 1990, Brewster moved to Weatherford, where he was offered a position as head of lending with First National Bank & Trust Co. of Weatherford. Nine years later, Brewster was named president and CEO and served in that role until Blue Sky Bank acquired First National Bank & Trust Co..
Brewster is a native of Miami, OK. He attended Northeast Oklahoma Junior College (now Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) and is a 1974 graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in animal science and agricultural education.
He has been married to his childhood sweetheart, Carol, since 1974. They have two children and six grandchildren.
Bradley Krieger
Bradley Krieger recently retired after a 52-year vocation in banking, most recently serving as executive vice president, director and regional manager for Arvest Bank.
Krieger specialized in commercial lending during his career, along with leadership of large bank groups. He joined Arvest Bank in 1998 and led efforts for diversity, equity and inclusion and mentored multiple up-and-coming bankers during his career. As regional manager, Krieger oversaw the bank’s interests in Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. Today, Arvest is a $28-billion bank.
Krieger received a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois, where he also played football for the Fighting Illini. He also attended Oklahoma City University’s law school.
Krieger has always had a passion for nonprofits and the incredible work they do for our communities. He has been active with the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits; National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum; Allied Arts; United Way; OMRF and more.
He has also served, or currently serves, on many boards, including as director and past executive committee member for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce; director and chairman of the Oklahoma State Chamber; director of the Oklahoma State Banking Board; and director of United Way of Central Oklahoma.
He has also been a member of the Oklahoma Bankers Association Board of Directors, and served as the Association’s chairman in 2008-2009.
Krieger is married to his wife, Robin Roberts Krieger, and has one son, Jonathan Chase, and two grandsons.
Gregg Vandaveer
Gregg Vandaveer recently retired after a multi-decade career in the banking industry, most recently as president and CEO of Sooner State Bank, Tuttle.
He began his banking career in 1976 at Fidelity Bank in Oklahoma City. He has also spent time as president and CEO at Oklahoma State Bank, in Guthrie; as well as in leadership positions at American Bank, in Edmond, and United Oklahoma Bank, in Oklahoma City.
Vandaveer has been a diligent servant of the banking industry during his career. He has been a part of numerous banking organizations over the years, including several committees and councils with the American Bankers Association. He also was on the board of directors for the ABA, as well as The Bankers Bank and remains on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka board.
He has also been a member of the Oklahoma Bankers Association Board of Directors, and served as the Association’s chairman in 2006-2007.
A native of Shawnee, Vandaveer was a decorated football (inducted into Shawnee High School Football Hall of Fame) and track athlete for Shawnee High School before continuing his success at the University of Kansas. He was a Big Eight Conference champion in the 60-yard high hurdles and held the KU school record in the 120-yard high hurdles for 34 years. He has been inducted into five indoor and outdoor University of Kansas Hall of Fame track teams.
Besides banking, Vandaveer has dedicated his efforts to several other causes, including as chairman of the Jim Thorpe Association and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, president of the Edmond Fine Arts Association and president of the Tuttle Chamber of Commerce.
Vandaveer is married to his wife, Jayne, and has three daughters, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.