News

Officials at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) announced Art Cousatte as this year’s Award of Merit recipient. Cousatte will be formally honored during the Alumni Awards luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon in the Calcagno Family Ballroom. All alumni and friends of the college are invited to attend. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. To purchase a ticket or for more information, please contact the NEO Development Foundation office at 918-540-6115. NEO’s homecoming festivities Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. This year’s homecoming theme is “NEO Superheroes in Disguise.”

Cousatte’s record of achievements began at Quapaw High School in 1962, where he was named Most Outstanding Student of his class. In addition to involvement in athletics, he was a member of 4-H and served as President of Future Farmers of America (FFA).  While serving as the organization’s President, Cousatte received the Green Hand Award for helping secure a new agriculture building. This building still stands and, in 2014, was dedicated as the Art Cousatte Agriculture Building. After graduating from high school, Cousatte went on to receive his associate’s degree from NEO in 1965. Shortly after, he graduated from the American Institute of Banking and graduate school at SMU in Dallas where he became certified to oversee trust and estate planning. Cousatte’s career began at the Bank of Quapaw and Bank of Wyandotte. After four years of employment in Wyandotte and Quapaw, he was named Assistant Vice President at Security Bank in Miami. During his 30 years of service there, he rose through the ranks and was promoted to Senior Vice President and served on the board of directors. In 1997 he joined Welch State Bank where he currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board/CEO and co-owner.

Throughout his career, Cousatte has been a member of the Ottawa County Jaycees, Lions Club, Elks Club and Kiwanis Club. He has served on many boards including the Miami Area Chamber of Commerce, the Northeast Oklahoma Council on Alcoholism, Ottawa County Rural Water #5, National Wildlife Turkey Federation, Downstream Development Authority, Adjustment Board for the City of Miami, and Ottawa County’s Industrial Finance Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Miami Area Economic Development Service, where he is a past-president and the panel for Graduated Sanctions.

In addition to devoting his services to the community, Cousatte is very active with NEO. Since 2008, Cousatte has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the NEO Development Foundation.  He is a member of the President’s Partners program and has served on various committees including: the foundation’s investment committee and property committee.

Cousatte and his wife, Vickie, have been married since 1989. He has two daughters, Tracee and Chandee, and five grandchildren. The Cousattes are members of the First Assembly of God Church in Miami. “Art is a great ambassador for NEO A&M College and more than deserving of this honor,” said Jennifer Hessee, executive director of the NEO Development Foundation.  “He takes great pride in being a Norseman and has volunteered countless hours to help make NEO a better place for students, alumni, faculty and staff.”