At this year’s annual meeting, recipients who have dedicated 50 years to the banking industry were honored with well-deserved awards, celebrating this remarkable milestone. Others not in attendance were given their awards throughout the year.
Rich Dickason, Exchange Bank & Trust in Atchison
For more than five decades, Chief Executive Officer Rich Dickason has been a driving force behind Exchange Bank & Trust’s success. On July 1, 2023, Rich stepped down as CEO after an extraordinary 50-year career.
After graduating from the University of Kansas, Rich became a certified public accountant for the Touche Ross Accounting Firm, which later brought him to Atchison. In 1973, after performing the audit of Exchange Bank, Rich was offered a job as Controller by the bank’s owner and president, John Adair, Sr. John saw Rich’s potential as a leader and, in 1978, named Rich as his successor.
In the bank’s 167 years, Rich was the 13th president. He served 29 years, second only to William Hetherington, the bank’s founder, who served for 31 years. He stepped down as president in 2007 and passed the title to Mark Windsor. He remained CEO until his retirement. During his overall tenure, the bank grew from one location to ten within northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri, which included five mergers.
Jim Richardson, Prairie Bank of Kansas in Stafford
Jim Richardson started at the Prairie Bank of Kansas in Stafford as a teller on Sept. 1, 1972. He has a Bachelor of Art from Southwestern College in Winfield that he completed in 1970 and a Master of Science from Emporia State University in Emporia in 1972. He also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking – Colorado in 1979 in Boulder, Colorado.
In 1980, Jim was promoted to President, and then in 1987, he was promoted again to President, CEO and Chairman. He currently is the CEO and Chairman of the Board for Prairie Bank of Kansas in Stafford and the CEO and Chairman of the Board for Farmers National Bancshares, Inc.
Throughout his career, Jim’s professional affiliations were serving on the Kansas Bankers Association’s Board of Directors from 1987-1990 and 1996-2000 and then as KBA Treasurer in 1990. During Jim’s time at Prairie Bank of Kansas, he was able to oversee several bank expansions. In January 1993, the bank completed the acquisition of Buhler State Bank. In October 1997, the bank also completed the acquisition of United Bank of Inman. In 2009, the bank opened its Hutchinson branch.
Frank Suellentrop, Legacy Bank in Colwich
Frank Suellentrop attended St. Gregory’s College in Shawnee, Oklahoma and received his associate degree in business in 1973. He is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1982.
He has held various positions in his banking career and is a fourth-generation banker. Frank began his career at the State Bank of Colwich in Colwich, KS, on May 30, 1973. At that time, the bank had one location with assets of $14 million.
Frank joined the board of directors in 1982 and was instrumental in forming Colwich Financial Corporation in 1986. In 1991, he was elected President of the State Bank of Colwich. In 2000, the bank’s name was changed to Legacy Bank as they opened at 21st St. & Ridge Rd. in Wichita, the fifth branch location. There are now nine branches servicing customers in Wichita, Colwich, Pratt and Sedgwick and assets totaling nearly $650,000,000.
Frank has served on multiple committees for the Kansas Bankers Association, such as the KBA Board of Directors as a Region 3 Representative from 2018-2021, the KBA Federal Affairs Committee from 1995-2017, the KBA Hodge & Porter, Inc. in 2002 and the Strategic Planning/Bylaws Taskforce in 2001. He has also served on the Boards for Bankers’ Bank of Kansas, Rolling Hills Country Club and Friends of McConnell AFB, where he is now designated “Golden Eagle” status.
Ron Wente, Golden Belt Bank in Hays
Ron Wente’s story with Golden Belt Bank begins just shortly after his graduation from Fort Hays State University. Ron had accepted a job at Gibson’s in Sterling, Colorado. He and his wife married just shy of two years, had already rented an apartment there and were preparing to move when an opportunity arose that Ron couldn’t pass up.
So, instead of starting his career in Sterling, Colorado, Ron began his banking career as a management trainee for Golden Belt Bank Savings and Loan Association. At that time, Golden Belt was small, with one office located in Ellis, Kansas, and only $5 million in assets. The learning curve was steep — in 1974, only a year after he first started with Golden Belt, Ron became President and CEO at the young age of 23.
In 1996, Ron was elected to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka Board of Directors, beginning his long 17-year career as an advocate for this banker’s bank and its bank customers. He was serving on the Board when the Mortgage Partnership Finance Program was created. A program that was adopted by Golden Belt Bank and quickly became a game changer. He also served on the Heartland Community Bankers Association Board for many years throughout his career.
In 2016, Ron saw a need for Golden Belt Bank to become involved with the KBA. He helped many of the state’s savings and loans transition to the KBA to provide benefits and advocate for their institutions. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the KBA and served on that board until 2022.
Wilma Olds, Wilson State Bank in Wilson
Wilma Olds started her banking career at Wilson State Bank in Wilson on Feb. 17, 1973, as a CSR/Loan Secretary.
Wilma graduated from Wilson High School in 1967 and from Brown Mackie School of Business in 1971. She also attended the Kansas Bankers Association Schools of Banking in 1988 and graduated with an associate degree from Barton County Community College in 2002.
She enjoys the day-to-day routine of assisting loan officers and customers, processing loan documents, reviewing and preparing reports, and working with fellow employees. She feels Wilson State Bank has a great team, which accounts for her longevity. Plus, she feels working keeps her up to date in the banking world, active and organized.
David Spencer and Dean Tuley, Denison State Bank in Holton
David Spencer graduated summa cum laude from Washburn University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in accounting. After graduating from college, David spent two years with Elmer Fox CPA accounting firm in Topeka and ranked in the top four in the state of Kansas on the CPA Exam.
In 1973, he applied for a position at the Denison State Bank, but they had recently hired Dean Tuley and had no jobs available for him. He then approached the other bank in Holton, Kansas State Bank, and was hired by them. David started out by doing all the jobs in the bank, including teller, bookkeeper, and then loan officer. He prepared the call report and was involved in operations and bank reports. His titles included everything from Assistant Vice President to Sr. Vice President and Cashier. In those days, a title was less important than the jobs you performed.
In 1990, David heard that Imogene Crow was retiring from the Denison State Bank and decided to apply there again. Jim Birkbeck decided he was worth the risk and hired him in October of that year. David had served as a loan officer, compliance officer, auditor, BSA officer and Chief Financial Officer and held various titles, including his current title as Executive Vice President. He also serves on the DSB Board of Directors.
Dean Tuley has been an employee, officer and/or director at Denison State Bank for 50 consecutive years in 2023. After graduating from Kansas State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1972, he started at the Denison State Bank in 1973 as an agricultural representative. He has held many positions, Assistant Cashier, Assistant Vice President, Executive Vice President and President from 2003-2013. He then retired in 2016.
Dean has served on the Denison State Bank’s Board of Directors for 40 years and is now the senior-ranking board member. Throughout his career, he also holds his Kansas insurance license, completed the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, WI, and has attended numerous banking schools, workshops and seminars. He has served as President of the Kansas Association of Agricultural Representatives and many committees at the KBA. Throughout his banking career, Dean had the opportunity to learn about the banking industry from a successful banking leader and friend — Jim Birkbeck.
Karen Schmale, United Bank & Trust in Marysville
Karen Schmale received a phone call from the bank President at Linn State Bank on July 16, 1973 — on her 16th birthday — requesting that she come into the bank and visit with him the next day. That meeting would be the start of her 50-year career.
Upon graduation from Linn High School, Karen went to Cloud County Community College for two years but continued her position with the bank, working Saturdays and during school breaks.
When she first started, her first task was to sort and file checks. As her career advanced, she has held the position of File Clerk, Teller, Bookkeeper, Vice President-Assistant Cashier, Vice President-Cashier and now her present position as Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer, which she has held since 2011. Karen has also been Secretary to the United Bank & Trust and UBT Bancshares, Inc. boards since 2004. In October 2021, Karen became a member of the board of directors of United Bank & Trust and, in June 2022, to the Board of Directors of UBT Bancshares, Inc.
The bank went through several changes in ownership/names; in 1977, it was the Linn State Bank; in 1988, the name was changed to First State Bank; in 1991, the name was changed to Tri-County National Bank; in 2000, the name changed to Peoples National Bank (when the bank was purchased by Gold Bank); finally, in 2004, a group of local stockholders purchased several branches in northeast Kansas from Gold Bank and changed the name to United Bank & Trust.
