Gary Padgett

  • Earned bachelor’s degree from KU School of Business, 1955

  • Member of KU men’s basketball team, 1953-1955, and baseball team, 1955

  • KU School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, 2017

  • KU Alumni Association Fred Ellsworth Medallion recipient, 2003

  • K Club Lifetime Service Award recipient, 2015

  • Member of KU Endowment Board of Trustees

  • Former member of KU Alumni Association Board of Directors

  • Charter member of Williams Education Fund All-American Club, Chancellors Club

Gary Padgett is chairman of The Citizens National Bank, a family-owned, independent financial services organization based in Greenleaf, Kansas.

A native of Greenleaf, Padgett earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas in 1955. During his time at KU, he was a member of the men’s baseball and basketball teams and played in the first-ever game in Allen Fieldhouse.

After graduation, Padgett worked for Wichita, Kansas-based Fourth National Bank and Trust Co. until the military called. He served in the Air Force for three years before going back to the position.

In 1960, Padgett returned home to work for The Citizens National Bank, founded by his grandfather in 1915, and performed duties related to all facets of the business, succeeding his father as president and CEO. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on the viability of the small community of Greenleaf as well as economic development in rural Kansas and advocating for small businesses. Padgett received the Small Business Administration’s Advocate of the Year Award for Kansas in 1997. He has also served in a variety of roles for the Kansas Bankers Association and American Bankers Association as well as on the Marymount College Board of Trustees.

Padgett has been a dedicated supporter of KU since graduating, serving on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and as a member of many committees. A charter member of the Williams Education Fund All-American Club and the Chancellors Club, he has also been active with KU Endowment. In recognition of his many contributions, Padgett was awarded the KU Alumni Association’s Fred Ellsworth Medallion, the association’s highest award for service to KU. He also was awarded the K Club’s Lifetime Service Award, and in 2017, he was honored with the School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award.