State Co-Chair

John Harrison was appointed by Governor Bob Riley as a State Co-Chair of the Alabama Rural Action Commission.  Harrison is a member of the the Governor's Cabinet and currently serves as the Superintendent of Banks, State Banking Department, and has held this position since May 16, 2005. Prior to that, he was the Director for the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, being appointed in January of 2003. He is a former four-term mayor of Luverne, Alabama and brings a wealth of knowledge to this state agency that is responsible for all the Alabama state-chartered banks as well as (over 4,000) licensees under the supervision of the Bureau of Loans.

Beginning in 1983, he was president and chief executive officer of First Citizens Bank in Luverne and served on its board of directors. He was elected as “Outstanding Group Chairman” Group 10 of the Alabama Bankers Association. He also served on the board of the Community Bankers Association of Alabama and is a former board president and secretary/treasurer.

Harrison has been owner and president of Crenshaw Land and Timber Company for 27 years and serves on the board of trustees of the Alabama Forestry Association ForestFund. He was a partner and vice president of C&H Trucking Co. Inc. and owner of Glenwood Woodyard Inc. from 1976 to 1997.

Mr. Harrison is a 1988 graduate of the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking. He earned a Bachelor of Science with a double major in business administration and marketing from Troy State University in 1967. In 1992, he was honored as the Troy Alumnus of the Year and he currently serves on the university’s board of trustees.