Gene Delcomyn currently serves as the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer at BankPlus in Jackson. He has worked his entire career with Mississippi banks and is known for his high business acumen, but his love and passions are in his family, baseball and classic cars.
He has been a part of BankPlus since the founding of the company and has been a vital part of the company growing to a $2.8 Billion bank with 66 Mississippi branches it is today.
Delcomyn has spent the last 40-plus years expertly working his way up through the financial and banking industry by day, but dedicated much of his free time to his love of classic American muscle cars. Namely the iconic Chevrolet Corvette. While guiding businesses in the financial sector and assisting them to realizing their financial goals, he has invested his personal time in his Cheverolet Corvette obsession.
Delcomyn vividly remembers the first time he saw a corvette back in 1965 just after graduating from Forest High School. In that moment he fell in love with the car that most car enthusiast agree is the most iconic American sports car ever made. The car had an awe inspiring affect on him, he believed that owning one was beyond his wildest dreams.
“When I graduated from high school a friend of mine, Steve Dukes, got a 1965 Corvette and that was the first time I had rode in one,” Delcomyn said. “We spent a lot of time in the car that summer and I fell in love with it. The car was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my life. I believe the Corvette is the first real American sports car and will always have a place in history. I was in total awe that first time I rode in it and dreamed about owning one, but I thought owning one would always remain a dream of mine.”
Because of his hard work and numerous accomplishments in the banking world, Delcomyn was able to make his dream of owning a Corvette come true. He now owns two Corvettes and has bought and sold to many to count. He said he still has to pinch himself at times to make sure he is not dreaming.
“I feel so fortunate at this time in my life,” said Delcomyn. “There are times when I have to make sure that I’m not dreaming. Back in the 1960’s when I first fell in love with these cars I would have never thought I would be fortunate enough to own one much less build, buy and sell them for most of my life.”
The 1963 split window Corvette is thought by many experts and enthusiasts to be the most iconic Corvette ever made. This is the automobile that Corvette collectors and enthusiasts get really excited about.
Delcomyn took a 1963 split window and created a car that looks like the original muscle car on the outside, but has all the modern day comforts and necessities on the inside. The car took approximately 30 months to build and has garnered numerous “Best In Show” awards at car shows around the country. The car is truly a show stopper when you see it.
“I have been very blessed by God and I feel extremely lucky to own my dream cars,” Delcomyn said. “My 1963 coupe was a special car. I took the body of a 1963 split-window Corvette and put in all new components in it.
“On the outside I kept the car as close to original as possible with the exception of a few things like tires and rims. On the inside I added rear-view camera, navigation system, touch-screen display and many more modern upgrades that really made the car unique. I named the car my Split Personality and she truly is a sight to see.”
His 1963 Corvette won Best in Show numerous times and won two Builders Choice Awards. It also won Best of Show at the National Corvette Home Coming car show and was chosen by Corvette/Chevy executives as their favorite car. The car is also featured on numerous car enthusiasts and collector websites. After winning the second Builders Choice Award Delcomyn had reached the pinancle with his “split personality” Corvette. As tough as it was, he sold the car to the Muscle Car City Museum in Punta Gorda, Florida where the car is on display today.
“It was hard to sell that car, it was like part of the family. It was just a special, special car, but I knew it was going to a good home and it’s a real honor that other car lovers take an interest in a car I put so much work into. I plan on starting a new build on a second generation (1963-1967) Corvette in the near future.”
In 2014, The Wall Street Journal took notice of Delcomyn’s Corvette collection and wrote a piece on his cars “A Corvette Collection Spanning 51 Years”.
“Being a Corvette enthusiast, I was excited that other collectors would have the opportunity to see what I have worked for 50 years to now have. It also creates the chance to meet new people that have the same passion for Corvettes.”
When Delcomyn is not spending time working with his cars or showing them at car shows he loves spending time with his wife Bettie.
“We have been so blessed. My wife and I love to give back in anyway we possibly can. We both feel so blessed and fortunate that we attempt to show our thanks through community outreach programs that help others,” Delcomyn said.
The Delcomyn’s also share their generosity in Forest by supporting athletics at FHS. “Forest will always be special to me. God gave me a great foundation to grow-up and that great foundation was Forest,” he said.
“My father built the baseball field at the high school and it is my field of dreams,” Delcomyn said. “Each year at the beginning of the year I call Coach Brown and ask him what the team needs and do everything I can to help Forest baseball remain successful.”
Delcomyn has worked hard to earn every success he has enjoyed since graduating from FHS in 1965. He feels that he has been blessed throughout life with his wonderful wife and family, as well as in his business life.
“All I ever wanted to be growing up was a banker. Being the Senior Executive Vice President at a bank that was founded right here in Mississippi is more than I could have ever imagined,” he said. “I consider myself to be an extremely blessed man.”
While retirement is not yet in his immediate future there is one fact that should play out to be a certainty. When Delcomyn does decide to call it a career and ride off in the sunset, it’s safe to say he and Bettie will be riding in a Corvette.
