Austin CEO Turns Cancer Survival Into $10M Mission

When Bob Barnes beat prostate cancer in 2012, he didn't just return to his corner office. He turned his second chance into a fundraising mission that's touched millions of lives.

As chairman and CEO of IBC Bank–Austin, the nearly 80-year-old leader has helped raise close to $10 million for UT MD Anderson Cancer Center over the past quarter century. His most recent golf tournament in May pulled in more than $280,000 in a single day.

Bob's connection to the cause runs deep. When doctors flagged elevated PSA levels in early 2012, he knew exactly where to go.

"It was early-stage and my urologist wasn't too worried, but I wanted to go to the premier cancer treatment center," Bob says. Living in Austin but formerly a Houston resident, he chose UT MD Anderson without hesitation.

The hospital offered him multiple treatment paths, including surgery, proton therapy, and hormone therapy. Bob opted for surgery that June and went home the same day, staying connected with his care team throughout recovery.

His PSA levels have remained undetectable ever since. Today he continues routine checkups with his local urologist while maintaining an active lifestyle with his wife Laura, three children, and four grandchildren.

The Ripple Effect

Bob's experience shaped more than his own health journey. As a Vietnam veteran who served as a platoon leader, he applies the same principles of leadership and service to his cancer advocacy work.

The lobby scenes at UT MD Anderson stuck with him. "You'd sit in the lobby and hear 10 different languages," he recalls. "It reminded you that people come from everywhere because they want the best care possible."

That global reach inspired him to go bigger. Working alongside Dennis Nixon, IBC Bank Chairman and UT MD Anderson Board of Visitors member, Bob championed the bank's "Give Cancer the Boot" campaign and matching efforts through the IBC Foundation.

He's watched friends, colleagues, and employees find their own paths to the cancer center. "Everywhere you turn for cancer treatment, so many of those roads lead back to UT MD Anderson," he explains.

Now Bob leads by sharing his story openly. "If you have a cancer story and don't share it, people miss out on learning what's possible," he says.

His message is simple: early detection matters, world-class care exists, and giving back multiplies hope.