COMMERCIAL BANK...CONTINUED
July 13, 1978
PIX #1 - Commercial
Bank Officers
PIX #2 - Commercial
Bank presidents
EDITOR'S NOTE:
This is the second and last installment of an historical sketch about
the Commercial Bank and Savings Company, this being their 75th Anniversary.
GUTKNECHT PRESIDENT
With the passing
of Lucian Kinn, John Gutknecht became the bank's new president in 1952.
Most readers know that Gutknecht lived most of his youth in Fostoria.
He graduated from Ohio Northern as a law student and has practiced in
Fostoria ever since.
During his presidency,
the bank built the new main office on Perry Street; remodeled the original
location to serve as the downtown branch; established a branch in Bascom
and merged into itself the New Riegel State Bank.
And the assets
continued to grow from approximately $6,347,000 in 1962 to $27,000,000
in 1974.
Many changes in
personnel took place during Gutknecht's regime.
Charles Ash who
had been chariman of the Board passed away in 1954 at age 96. Carmen
Lyon, his daughter still lives in Amsden. I was privileged to talk with
her at a recent Historical Society meeting.
Charles Yost became
vice president in 1955 after 45 years with the bank, during which time
he ahd been cashier for many years. Then in 1957 Yost passed away.
Herman Blaser,
a well known Fostoria industrialist and a bank directory, died shortly
after Yost.
Charles Gribble
who was associated with the bank during its early years, and a director
in later years, died in 1956.
C.D. Houser who
had joined the bank in 1937 as a cashier and secretary, later becoming
a director and vice president, passed away in 1949.
J.F. Fruth who
had been a director for many years, was elected vice president but died
in September, 1954, after holding the office for only two years.
In 1957, Roy Hoffman
decided it was time to retire after a lively 45 years, having served
as bookkeeper, teller, assistant cashier and secretary. On June 11,
Hoffman now living at Good Shepherd Home, was honored for his 90th birthday
at an open house by his daughters Mrs. F. Kirian, Mrs. R. Swartz, Mrs.
C. McPherson.
By 1974, Gutknecht
decided it was time to relinquish his post as president and devote his
full time to law practice. During his 22 years as the bank's top officer
he had been dividing his time between banking and law.
FRANK KINN'S RECENT
YEARS
In 1974, Frank
J. Kinn, the son of former president Lucian E. Kinn, was named president
and chief executive officer. He is a lawyer and certified public accountant,
having received his education at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
and at The University of Michigan.
The bank under
his leadership has expanded and there has been extensive remodeling
to the main office.
Assets have grown,
until at the end of 1977, they amounted to nearly $44,000,000, and there
are 617 shareholders...all vitally interested in assuring that the bank
offers the highest quality of service and continued growth in this market
area.
A REAL STORY
A successful bank
became a reality because of the people behind it...the stockholders
and directors who have vision, enthusiasm, who are enterprising. ..who
provide leadership in the community.
The following
list of names are directors, not heretofore listed, who have helped
guide the banks progress through the years. Readers will remember many
of them and identify them with their businesses and professions:
I.L. Cadwallader
- Real estate and industrialist
Latshaw - engineer
Charles Strauch - Lawyer
D.C. Hanover - salesman
Geo. Rinehold - farmer
Harry Hofmaster - farmer
Ted Rinebold - farmer
J.L. Murphy - physician
W.I. cory - farmer and legisletor
Fred Flechtner - meat packer
Stuart B. Fair - businessman
Oliver T. Green - farmer
C.A. Moran - industrialist
Dale McCarty - meat packer
J.P. Jones - contractor
Alfred K. Fox - dairyman - farmer
Richard Fruth - accountant
Robert H. Watson - farmer/real estate (Grandson of Charles Ash)
Robert M. Sellers - industrialist
WOMEN CONTRIBUTED
No reminder is
needed to include in this report hose women who have made a contribution
to the bank through the years.
Cara (Latshaw)
Davis was employed as a teller from 1917 to 1935. She came to the bank
from a teaching position at the old Union Street School during World
War I when men were being called into service.
Carmel Huth a
46 year employee, joined the bank in 1931, and just retired Jan. 1,
of this year.
Anna Rose Nichols,
present corporate secretary and cashier has been employed since 1955.
Celia (Dicken)
Cadwallader is another womam employee who had a long service record.
She started in 1928 and worked until 1948 when she married I. Lester
Cadwallader. When he died in 1955, she returned to the bank and stayed
until 1970 when she retired permanently...a total of 35 years service.
There were many
other loyal women employees through the past years, too numerous to
mention.
CURRENT OFFICERS/DIRECTORS
OFFICERS: John
W. Gutknecht, chairman of board; Frank J. Kinn, president/ chief executive
officer; Homer Ransdell, first vice president/loan administrator; Robert
Urguhard, vice president/operations officer; Rex Hathaway, vice president/controller;
Anna Rose Nichols, corporate secretary/ cashier; Richard V. Wilson,
vice president/installment loan manager; Carol Thaxton, assistant vice
president/branch manager; Laurence Miley, assistant vice president/loans;
David Kidd, assistant vice president/branch manager; Dale Swope, assistant
vice president/branch manager; Rosolie Bollinger, auditor.
DIRECTORS: Harold
J. Clouse, Robert W. Gillig, John W. Gutknecht, Victor D. Huss, Frank
J. Kinn, James D. Kinn, J. Peter McNerney, Donald P. Miller, Ray R.
Miller, William E. Munsey, Richard W. Norton, Robert W. Summer, Harold
E. Ulman, Robert H. Watson.
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