Jeff Austin III Wins Top Scouting Award

TYLER — Longtime banker and civic leader Jeff Austin III wins this year’s Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award from the East Texas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Among other credentials, the vice chairman of Austin Bank NA is a TxDOT commissioner with a long history of Boy Scout involvement. Austin told KTBB, “Wow! What an honor. There are so many people that have received this award before me that are absolutely outstanding citizens.” One of those was his grandfather, Jeff Austin Sr. Austin III also notes, “I have learned a tremendous amount” from scouting. “They teach you how to use your resources, and those are principles that can be applied to any family, individual, or business.” Austin plans to keep right on serving his community, with a focus on banking, economic development — and, of course, Scouting. He’ll be honored with a luncheon October 23 at 11:30 a.m. at the Crosswalk at Green Acres Baptist Church.