WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Harris Simmons, a Davis County native, has been named as chairman of the American Bankers Association. He is chairman, president and CEO of Zions Bancor-poration, and has been involved in the banking business since the age of 16. He was introduced on the floor of the Senate by Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, himself a member of the Senate Banking Committee. Bennett noted that Zions has branches in Utah, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Washington.

It is included in the S&P 500 Index, and is a national leader in Small Business Administration lending, Ben-nett told his colleagues.

He recalled how Simmons started in the business.

"Harris started banking at the age of 16, when as a summer job he filed canceled checks at Zions. He continued his work at Zions in the investment department as he studied economics at the University of Utah. Harris then left Utah for a period as he furthered his studies and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School."

Bennett further noted Simmons took a job in Hous-ton, Texas, upon graduation, working for Allied Banc-shares.

After a year and a half, he returned to Zions and became the Chief Financial Officer at the tender age of 27. Nine years later he was named President and CEO of the multi-billion dollar asset bank holding company "which has seen fantastic growth and success as it has helped build communities and business under his leadership," the senator said.

Bennett noted how Sim-mons has held many positions in the community, beyond his banking responsibilities. He has served as president of the Utah Foundation, chairman of the Utah Symphony, and chairman of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. He currently serves as president of the Shelter-the-Homeless Committee, as well as co-chairman of the Utah Committee of the Newcomer Society of the United States.

Simmons and his wife are the parents of four children.



tbusselberg@davisclipper.com