He and his wife were guests of honor at a retirement reception the IBA hosted for him on his final days in office. Approximately 100 friends and associates from different facets of Cousins’ career came to wish him well in retirement. He was honored as a Distinguished Hoosier by then-Gov. Mitch Daniels and received several resolutions commending him on his notable career, presented by representatives of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and the American Bankers Association. Cousins held honorary positions with the Indiana Financial Institutions Group Insurance Trust, the Indiana Legal Foundation, America’s Community Bankers and the State Association of Trade Executives. He is survived by his wife and son. Jim Cousins speaks during the banking industry’s joint 2001 Legislative Reception, joined by Ted Nowacki of Bose, McKinney & Evans, Indianapolis; Joe DeHaven representing the Community Bankers Association of Indiana; Tom Ristine of Ice Miller, Indianapolis; and Kerry Spradlin of the IBA. (from left) Bill King, IBA president from 1988-2000; Sandi Crites, IBA staff member; Jim Cousins, IBA president from 2000-06; and Bob Nelson, IBA president from 1967-88; at an Association event in 2001. Three “generations” of IBA presidents (left to right): Bill King, IBA president from 1988-2000; Joe DeHaven, 2007-16; and Jim Cousins, 2000-06 Fred Demske, then-CEO of Community State Bank, Avilla, and Jim Cousins in 2000 September/October 2025 41
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