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.