Jack Harvard

Who is Jack Harvard?

Jack Harvard was the mayor of Plano, Texas from 1982-1990.

Harvard came to Plano in 1975 as a banker because of the city's inexpensive housing and good schools. In 1983, Harvard founded Willow Bend National Bank and served as its chairman during his time as mayor. Harvard, along with Jack Evans, former mayor of Dallas, Texas, formed the Metroplex Mayors Association in 1984. He was the president of the association from 1984-1990. Harvard was known during his four terms as mayor for drving his car around the city with his "PLANO" license plates. The city's current logo was chosen while he was mayor because of a contest created by him and the city council.

Harvard was sure to win a fifth term in 1990, but he decided not to run again, citing exhaustion. However, in 1992, he tried for the Texas State Senate, but lost to Florence Shapiro, who served on his city council and was his successor as mayor.

On September 13, 1996, Harvard pled guilty under a plea agreement in a federal investigation into a series of bank loans totaling more than $25 million.