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Simmons Insights

Betty Gonzales, United States Marine Corps Veteran and Simmons Bank Associate
Betty Gonzales shares the impact of her military service image

In honor of Veterans Day, Simmons Bank celebrates the women and men across our nation who serve or have served our country in the armed forces. Simmons Bank team member, Betty Gonzales is a retired Marine with more than 50 years of banking and finance experience.

Read more about Betty and her story.

What inspired you to join the armed services for the United States?
The Vietnam war was at its height in 1968. In my senior year of high school you are inundated with recruiting pamphlets, and I saw one with a female Marine in Dress Blues with “free a man to fight” on the pamphlet. I had always been a bit of a tomboy, so I said why not!  

In which branch of the military did you serve?
The best one of course! The United States Marine Corps.

How long were you a member of the service?
3 years

Can you share what you learned from your time in the armed services?
The Marine Corps motto is Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful). I learned that your word is your bond. I would hope that when I am gone, my children and grandchildren will think of caring and integrity when they think of me.  

What’s something from your years of service that resonates with you to this day?
If you are 15 minutes early you are late! I’m always early.

How long have you been in the banking/finance industry?
53 years

What is your “why” for being in the banking industry?
The Marine Corps thought that is where I should be, and I couldn’t argue with them.

What inspires you?
Getting up every morning, I know I could make someone have a good day or a bad one. I choose to be the one that makes them smile.  

What advice would you share with younger military members?
I strongly suggest to our younger veterans to align themselves with a Veteran Service Organization like the American Legion, VFW or DAV. If they ever need to navigate the VA system, it always helps to have their service officers work for them.

When you are not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?

I met my husband while in the service and have been married for 53 years. I have four daughters, two granddaughters and two grandsons. I am an extrovert and I love working with customers and try to make their banking with us a positive experience. I volunteer with Young Marines, which is an organization that provides leadership skills to children from the age of 8 to 18. I am a rifleman on the Marine Corps League Funeral Honors Team and serve as an auditor for them. I am the Missouri Ambassador for the Women’s Memorial in Washington D.C. providing information to women veterans on how important it is to leave their history for future generations. I serve as the American Legion legislative liaison to Senator Ann Wagner and I am involved with the Focus Marine Foundation as a team leader for Marine Veterans returning from combat into civilian life.