2026 Rusk High School Hometown Heroes
Posted Date: 10/30/26 (08:13 PM)
Tonight, we have the privilege of recognizing two individuals whose impact on Rusk, Cherokee County, and East Texas has been felt for generations.
For decades, Jim Perkins and Margaret Perkins have dedicated their lives to strengthening communities through education, service, philanthropy, and leadership. Through Citizens 1st Bank, a hometown institution founded in Rusk more than 100 years ago, they have helped support local businesses, families, and economic growth while remaining deeply committed to the community they call home.
Margaret, a former teacher, librarian, and member of the Rusk ISD Board of Trustees, has spent her life championing education and opportunities for young people. Jim's leadership in banking, higher education, and community development has helped shape institutions and initiatives that continue to impact lives across East Texas.
Together, through the James I. Perkins Family Foundation, they have invested in students, schools, colleges, arts programs, and communities throughout our region, supporting organizations including Stephen F. Austin State University, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler Junior College, and many others.
Of course, here in Rusk, their legacy is perhaps most visible through the Rusk TJC Citizens Promise, a visionary program that has opened the doors of higher education for hundreds of Rusk High School graduates and inspired similar programs across East Texas.
And their commitment continues. Just today, the groundbreaking was celebrated for Tyler Junior College's new South Campus in downtown Tyler, a transformational project that will bear the Perkins name and serve generations of future students. Their recent gift of property in downtown Rusk is also helping create new educational opportunities right here in our community.
While the awards and recognitions they have received are numerous, what truly sets Jim and Margaret apart is their belief that education changes lives and that communities grow stronger when people invest in one another. The full reach of their generosity and service may never be completely known, but its impact can be seen in classrooms, communities, and countless success stories across East Texas.
Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Rusk High School Hometown Heroes, Jim and Margaret Perkins. Their unwavering commitment to Rusk and their remarkable dedication to education, opportunity, and community continue to leave a legacy that will inspire generations to come.
For decades, Jim Perkins and Margaret Perkins have dedicated their lives to strengthening communities through education, service, philanthropy, and leadership. Through Citizens 1st Bank, a hometown institution founded in Rusk more than 100 years ago, they have helped support local businesses, families, and economic growth while remaining deeply committed to the community they call home.
Margaret, a former teacher, librarian, and member of the Rusk ISD Board of Trustees, has spent her life championing education and opportunities for young people. Jim's leadership in banking, higher education, and community development has helped shape institutions and initiatives that continue to impact lives across East Texas.
Together, through the James I. Perkins Family Foundation, they have invested in students, schools, colleges, arts programs, and communities throughout our region, supporting organizations including Stephen F. Austin State University, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler Junior College, and many others.
Of course, here in Rusk, their legacy is perhaps most visible through the Rusk TJC Citizens Promise, a visionary program that has opened the doors of higher education for hundreds of Rusk High School graduates and inspired similar programs across East Texas.
And their commitment continues. Just today, the groundbreaking was celebrated for Tyler Junior College's new South Campus in downtown Tyler, a transformational project that will bear the Perkins name and serve generations of future students. Their recent gift of property in downtown Rusk is also helping create new educational opportunities right here in our community.
While the awards and recognitions they have received are numerous, what truly sets Jim and Margaret apart is their belief that education changes lives and that communities grow stronger when people invest in one another. The full reach of their generosity and service may never be completely known, but its impact can be seen in classrooms, communities, and countless success stories across East Texas.
Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Rusk High School Hometown Heroes, Jim and Margaret Perkins. Their unwavering commitment to Rusk and their remarkable dedication to education, opportunity, and community continue to leave a legacy that will inspire generations to come.