The Jim Maag Golf Classic, held in conjunction with KBA’s CEO Summit and Annual Meeting, was once again a “sell out” this past August with 144 Kansas bankers enjoying The Broadmoor’s breathtaking mountain views and glass-like greens that golfers at every skill level can find challenging. About halfway through this summer’s outing, it dawned on me that I should take the opportunity to honor the namesake (Mr. Jim Maag) for this tournament for three very important reasons.
Reason #1: Kansas bankers who had the pleasure of working with Jim during his 24-year career at the KBA knew Jim was an avid and very competitive golfer. He was a talented athlete in his youth, and that athleticism carried through with his golf game until very late in his 85-year lifespan. Jim enjoyed wagering when he played, and he was adept at keeping the daily tally so he could inform everyone who would be collecting or paying debts after each round on the links.
Reason #2: When Jim passed peacefully, surrounded by his wife Kathy, his children and grandchildren on May 18, 2025, I sent an email notice to Kansas bankers informing everyone of the loss of one of the most trusted and respected leaders that had ever served this great association. But I subsequently realized I had failed to note Jim’s passing in The Kansas Banker, a publication that I truly believe Jim Maag loved more than anyone since the magazine’s first edition, published in 1911. Jim was a writer, and his pen and keyboard kept Kansas bankers equally informed and entertained. Simply put, Jim’s passing deserved to be noted in The Kansas Banker magazine, so I’m taking this opportunity to honor his legacy.
Reason #3: I realize there are a lot of Kansas bankers who play in the annual Jim Maag Golf Classic who didn’t have the opportunity to know Jim or understand the positive impact he had on the KBA, the KBA staff and so many Kansas bankers. Jim was a skilled political and policy advocate, he was a master scribe and orator, and his leadership and vision led to the construction of KBA’s current headquarters in Topeka, where banking industry leaders set the course for the future of our industry.
The Jim Maag Golf Classic isn’t just a golf tournament. It’s a testament to a great leader who fought passionately for Kansas banks and Kansas bankers. It’s a testament to the legacy of steady, thoughtful leadership that KBA benefited from thanks to a very, very good golfer who went by the name of Jim Maag.
