Former Bank President Killed in Rains County Plane Crash

EMORY — A plane attempting to land on a private airstrip in Rains County has crashed, killing the pilot — a leading citizen in the area. Killed in the crash around 2:00 Tuesday afternoon was John Armstrong, 80, of Emory. Armstrong was the former president at the First National Bank of Emory and the First National Bank of Bonham. He had also served on the Board of Regents at Texas A&M-Commerce. Witnesses say as the plane was coming in for a landing it flipped over on its top and caught fire. The accident happened off Highway 19, about two miles north of Emory. Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.