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.
Kristy McDonough
Kristy McDonough is the current board president 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.
Anne Aaron
Patricia Burross
Gene Deason
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.
David Farabee
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.
John Ruzicka
Justin Smith
Krisiti Thaxton