A leader in the banking industry, Samuel John “Buzz” Irvine III, died Friday.

Irvine, 81, had been the third generation leader of NexTier Bank, formerly Citizens National Bank, retiring as chairman of the board in 2011 after 52 years with the bank.

He grew up in Evans City, and most recently spent his time between Butler, Bluffton, S.C., and Key Largo, Fla.

Citizens National began in Evans City in 1878. In 1907, the state bank charter was changed to a national charter, and S.J. Irvine became the first bank president.

In 1955, Irvine III succeeded his father and grandfather and became the bank’s third-generation president after graduating from the University of Maryland and playing professional football.

In 1959, Irvine led the bank through a progressive expansion program, beginning with the Wexford community office.

In 2005 Citizens National changed it name to NexTier.

His daughter, Margaret Irvine Weir, followed him as president. She took a different position in 2013, after NexTier merged with the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Western PA in Kittanning.

The Snyder Group of Kittanning now has majority ownership in NexTier.

Irvine was the first president of the Community Bankers of Pennsylvania, now PA Association of Community Bankers, when it was formed in 1972.

NexTier issued this statement today: “The board of directors and associates of NexTier Bank are deeply saddened by the passing of S.J. “Buzz” Irvine III.

“Buzz was a visionary, a leader, and the heart of NexTier Bank for over 50 years. His contributions were not limited to NexTier, but also included the financial services industry and the communities we serve.

“Those who knew him will miss his keen insight and intelligence and his warmth and unique wit. We, as an organization, and as friends and colleagues of Buzz, send our sincerest condolences to his family. “

Irvine served on many community boards, including the Butler Country Club, the Rotary Club, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, and the Evans City Historical Society.

Irvine and his family donated about 30 acres in Cranberry Township to the Evans City Library. Following the family’s wishes, that property was sold so the library could buy the property at 203 S. Jackson St. in Evans City.

The library includes the Leone and John Irvine Community Center, which is named after Irvine’s parents. It once was a data processing center for Citizen’s Bank. It will celebrate its 10th anniversary this June.

Rita Schoeffel, who was on the library board at the time of the purchase, called Irvine generous.

He was, she said, “a delight to work with. He would ask me, “What can I do next to help you.

“I’m just heartsick over the loss of such a wonderful person.”

Irvine also served on the board of Oberg Industries for more than 50 years.

“He was a well-respected and trusted adviser who always had a focus on the employees and their families here in the local area,” said David Bonvenuto, president and CEO at Oberg. “He always challenged us to do better as a business and how we serviced our customers. He’ll be missed by this entire regional area.”

Irvine also excelled in sports, especially football.

He was a standout player at University of Maryland, where he was a co-captain of the 1953 national championship team. Afterward, he played professionally for the Chicago Cardinals, now the Arizona Cardinals, and eventually joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Canada.

He was inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.