Texas Big Country Board of Directors
The Boards of Directors with their combined diverse experiences are critical to assisting with strategic planning and fundraising to support the Chapters' humanitarian mission and services.
Physician Marketing Manager
Kristy McDonough is the current board chair of the Big Country Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has been involved with the Red Cross since 2019. Kristy and her husband, Dr. Paul McDonough, have lived in Abilene, Texas, for 23 years and have four children and six grandchildren. Kristy works for many nonprofit organizations, including the VOAD board, the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra and the Medical Alliance. She is the Communications Director for the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
EVP Community Relations
Texas Bank
Liz Brown is the current EVP of Community Relations for Texas Bank. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Angelo State University. She has been with Texas Bank since 1990, serving as the head of the mortgage department for 33 years before transitioning to her current role. Liz resides in Brownwood with her husband and spends time with their seven grandchildren.
She currently serves on the board of directors for the American Red Cross, Brownwood Municipal Development District (BMDD), Lyric Theatre and P&Z Committee. Liz's previous community service includes the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, Brownwood Woman's Club, United Way, Early Chamber of Commerce, Girls Scouts and the American Heart Association.
Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair
Gene Deason of Brownwood first joined the board in 2013 after retiring from a 40-year newspaper career, most of it as editor of the Brownwood Bulletin.
He started working there as a reporter while a student at Howard Payne University (Class of 1972). He has also held management positions at daily newspapers in Alice and Stephenville.
Gene became aware of American Red Cross programs through press coverage and as a local United Way board member, but learned first-hand how Red Cross helps residents in crisis when flooding hit Brownwood in the 1990s and his church (Union Presbyterian) opened its doors as a registration site.
Gene is currently chairman of the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom Board of Directors at Howard Payne University, a former board president of Brownwood Public Library, and a former trustee of the Texas Presbyterian Foundation. He was named the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1997. He and Valeri, his wife of 50 years, have two grown children living in the Austin area, and one grandson.
Benefits Consultant Board Development & Engagement Committee Chairperson
Gallagher
David Farabee is a native of Wichita Falls, Texas and served 6 terms in the Texas House of Representatives. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Midwestern State University and began his career as an insurance agent at 20 years of age. He is currently associated with Gallagher Insurance in Wichita Falls and has earned the professional designations of LUTCF and Chartered Life Underwriter.
Before his public service in the Texas House, Representative Farabee served as the At-Large Member of the Wichita Falls City Council from 1989-1993. Representative Farabee's prior community service includes serving as Chairman of the Small Business Council for the Wichita Falls Board of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of Friends of Hospice Wichita Falls, Chairman of Child Care Incorporated of Wichita Falls and Chairman of the Board of the Helen Farabee Regional M H R Centers. Other community service includes serving on the Board of Directors for First Step Inc., Budget and Allocations Committee for the Wichita Falls United Way, and the Steering Committee of the Clean Rivers Program for the Brazos River Basin. Rep. Farabee is also an active Member in the Wichita Falls Optimist Club and an active Member in the First United Methodist Church. Since retiring from the Texas Legislature he served on and chaired the boards of The Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Boy Scouts of America, and the United Way.
Representative Farabee continues his family heritage with his dedication to public service. He is the second son of former State Senator, and former Vice-Chancellor and General Council for the University of Texas System, Ray Farabee and the late Helen Farabee, who is known statewide for her work with Texas' mental health laws and health care reform. David is married to Terri, who is an RN and teaches in the School of Nursing for MSU Texas. They have three children, Worth, Nancy and Russell.
Chief Information Officer
First Financial Bank
Mission Committee Chairperson
Broker/Owner
Spears Legacy Real Estate Group
Kristi Thaxton has been a Red Cross board member since 2020, volunteering in areas such as Sound the Alarm. Her first association with the Red Cross was through swimming lessons from a young age through high school, where she received first aid and rescue skills alongside swimming training and eventually became a lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor.
Kristi has been a board member and volunteer for many organizations, such as Presbyterian Medical Care Mission, Junior Achievement, Junior League of Abilene, Center for Contemporary Arts, Abilene Arts Alliance, Day Nursery of Abilene, NCCIL, and Abilene Zoo. She has also served on several committees at her church, Southern Hills Church of Christ.
Kristi, a native of San Antonio, received a BBA and MEd from Abilene Christian University, where she met her husband, Kirk, a native of Abilene. They have lived in Abilene for 41+ years and have three children and two grandchildren.