Nathan E. Christian

Nathan Elliott Christian, BBA ’72, MS ’73, died Jan. 18 in Austin after waging a valiant battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. He was born Aug. 4, 1950, in Kingsville, TX, to George Nathan and Mary Frances Christian, and he grew up in Kountze, TX. Baylor became the love of his life behind only his faith and family. Nathan was an avid supporter of Baylor Athletics, cheering for the Bears in any sport. He served on the Hankamer School of Business community board and mentored and provided scholarships for its students. Nathan’s career began with Houston’s First City National Bank, where he met and fell in love with fellow management trainee Margaret “Margy” Anne Christian. They married in 1975 and were inseparable for 46 years. In 1979, they moved to El Paso, where Nathan was president of First City National Bank and thereafter president of State National Bank of El Paso, which became Wells Fargo Bank. Nathan later led Wells Fargo’s San Diego-based Southern California and Border banking team, and he was named Wells Fargo regional president for Colorado in 2006. He retired from Wells Fargo in 2013. While in El Paso, Nathan led several civic organizations, including but not limited to serving as Chamber of Commerce chairman, Sun Bowl Association president, United Way chairman and Boy Scouts of America president. He also founded and led the annual El Paso Festival and the Trans Mountain Heart Association Run, was an elder and treasurer of First Presbyterian Church and was the inaugural El Pasoan of the Year. He continued civic pursuits in California and Colorado. In his spare time, Nathan ran a marathon, biked century rides and completed two Ride the Rockies five-day cycling events. He also took many hunting trips, including one in the Yukon, bagging a moose, caribou and grizzly bear, and one in New Zealand for a red stag. After his retirement, Nathan and Margy moved to Austin and also built their dream home in Deer Valley, UT. Nathan fly-fished, hunted, skied and traveled the world with friends and family. He was active at Crosspoint Presbyterian Church in Park City, UT, and Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church in Austin. He was a leader in Austin’s God of Hope prison ministry. Nathan returned to Austin upon becoming ill, and he was regularly visited by family and friends. He is survived by his wife Margy; daughter Anne Elizabeth Christian Klemp and her husband Craig Miyamoto Klemp; son Geoffrey Nathan Christian, BA ’08, MBA ’11, and his wife Joanne Marie Christian, BBA ’11; grandsons Elliott Matthew Klemp and William Craig Klemp; and sister Pennie Christian Olivo and her husband Brock Olivo.