Pat McCulley was named Polk Countian of the Year during the 90th annual Awards Gala of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce Thursday night at the Polk County Commerce Center. Others honored include First State Bank, El Trompo Villarreal, Center of Hope and Megan Rowe.
Jaime Placker presented the award to McCulley.
“The Polk Countian of the Year is no stranger to anyone in this room. She is a prominent real estate professional and civic leader with over 40 years of service to the Greater Lake Livingston area.
“She has served as president for several major organizations including the Livingston Rotary Club, the Polk County Chamber of Commerce, Polk County Habitat for Humanity and the Republican Club of Polk County. She is a Paul Harris Fellow recipient and has been inducted into the Rotary District 5910 Roll of Fame. She also received the Four Avenue of Service Citation for Individual Rotarians. She was named Polk County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year for three years and was on the board of directors for 12 years total. She serves as a director for the Boys and Girls Club of Polk County and Polk County Habitat for Humanity.
“She has been licensed in real estate since 1985 and previously owned/brokered her own firm for 20 years. She claims to be retired, but we think she is as busy as ever. She is a notable collector of Corvettes, possessing a collection that spans every generation of the vehicle from a 1960 C1 to a 2020 C8. She may have more than that possibly. She is well-known not only for her Corvettes, but also her fabulous pies. She bakes and donates to many charities and fundraisers and they are always a hit.”
Large Business of the Year honors went to First State Bank, presented by Cheryl Downing.
“First State Bank is an early-chartered bank of the Texas State Banking System and has proudly served Polk County and the surrounding East Texas region since 1910. Originally organized as Guaranty State Bank with an initial capital of $25,000, the bank was first located at the corner of Church and Washington in downtown Livingston. H.D. Reynolds served as its first president, laying the foundation for more than a century of trusted community banking.
“As Livingston and Polk County grew, so did the bank. In 1918, the bank was relocated to a larger facility on Washington Avenue, and on April 16, 1925, it formally became known as First State Bank. Throughout the decades, First State Bank has played a vital role in the economic and cultural development of the region, supporting the area’s transition from a primarily agricultural and timber-based economy to a thriving regional trade center. In 1965, First State Bank opened its current main branch at the corner of Jackson and Polk. The bank’s historical significance was recognized by the Texas Historical Commission in 1972 with the placement of a historical marker. Continued growth followed, reaching $29M in assets by 1973 and $61M by 1980 which included a drive-thru and second story expansion that remains part of the main branch today.
“Expansion continued throughout the region with the opening of First State Bank of Livingston and First National Bank of Jasper uniting two highly-respected community banks under the First State Bank name. With a combined asset size exceeding $700 million and branches across Polk, Jasper, Tyler and San Jacinto counties, the merger strengthens the banks’ ability to invest in technology, enhance operational efficiencies, and continue delivering exceptional customer service – while keeping all branch locations open and maintaining local leadership.
“Today, First State Bank remains deeply rooted in the communities it serves, guided by integrity, personalized service, and a long-standing commitment to helping East Texas thrive. The bank is proud of its history and grateful to the people of this region who have made First State Bank not only a place to bank, but a trusted community partner for more than 115 years.”
El Trompo Villarreal was honored as the Small Business of the Year, presented by Matt Anderson.
“El Trompo Villarreal did not start with a food truck or a big business plan. It started in 2018 right in their home. They were simply trying to earn a little extra money for their daughter’s Quinceanera. They began selling tacos every Friday and Saturday to friends and family, never imagining where it would lead.
“Little by little, people started asking them to cater parties and then fundraisers. Before they knew it, what started as a small weekend effort turned into catering and a growing dream that they did not know they had. In 2022, they were offered a food truck. Things did not go exactly as planned, but instead of giving up, they made the decision to invest in themselves and have their own custom-made truck built. That decision changed everything.
“Since becoming a legally established family business in 2022, they have been incredibly blessed to be voted the “best of the best” every year. That support reminds them why they keep going, even on the hardest days. This business has always been about family, hard work and the community. They would like to thank their family for standing by them and their customers for believing in them, supporting them and sharing their food with others. What started as tacos for a Quinceanera became a dream that they get to live every day.”
Center of Hope was honored as the Non-Profit Organization of the Year, presented by Kaycee Hendrix.
“The Center of Hope has been serving Polk County families in need in the name of Jesus for over 40 years. What started as a very small pantry with five area partner churches is now home to seven ministries and 15 partner churches. The pantry is the largest in a multi-county region and is a platinum-level pantry affiliated with the Southeast Texas Food Bank. The center supported almost 9,000 family visits last year with over a half million pounds of food.
“The Cancer Support Ministry fills a void for families struggling with cancer and in 2025 supported 998 trips to 16 different treatment facilities. The Emergency Health Campaign 300 assists families financially who come up short during a crisis. In 2025, they were able to help 260 families with needs ranging from keeping their utilities on, making car repairs and shelter for single mothers. In its fourth year of operation, the Christmas of Hope Ministry provided a Christmas shopping and gift wrapping experience to the parents of over 875 children in Polk County – that’s about 5,000 new gifts to kids in the county.
“At the request of the county, the center’s Disaster Response Team receives and distributes tons of relief supplies, assists at the shelters, and organizes and supplies local and out of area volunteer teams to assist survivors. In the past, they have also used donated funds and materials to repair homes and purchase immediate needs for the families. Their Bus Ministry volunteers pick up families unable to get into the center for food and delivers to shut-ins. The desire of their all-volunteer team is to show the love of Christ to their neighbors – and through God’s amazing provision and the generous people of Polk County – continue to serve their neighbors for another 40 years.”
Megan Rowe was named Ambassador of the Year, presented by Philip Allison.
“The recipient of this award is involved in so many things. She goes above and beyond for everything that she is a part of. Not only does she have a fulltime job, she has three children that are involved in numerous sports, hobbies and activities all at the same time. She is on the Livingston School Board, a member of the Livingston Lions Club and is very active in the chamber. She is the best at putting together meetings and Canva classes at the last moment. She is also the chairman-elect for the chamber for 2027.
“This award recognizes outstanding dedication, leadership and service to the chamber and this lady exemplifies these qualities in every way.”
