Paul Kallman
In July 1969, right out of high school, Paul Kallman started his banking career working as an assistant to Walter Boyles, insurance agent at Scandia State Bank. Mr. Boyles was losing his eyesight, and Paul helped him with office tasks and daily work. After working as Boyles’s assistant, Paul held several banking positions starting in Jan. 1977: Assistant Cashier, Director, and Secretary to the Board of Directors. In Jan. 2006, he became VP/Cashier; in Jan. 2008, he was Senior Vice President (SVP); and in Jan. 2011, he became SVP and Head of Operations.
Paul is presently the Director of Astra Bank in Scandia. He has been very active in his community and has served on the Board of Kansas Guardianship, President of Republic County Tourism, Past President and active member of US 36 Highway Association, and is the Financial Officer for the Sons of American Legion Association. In the 52 years of his banking career, Paul has noted the biggest changes, from writing with pen and ink to the startup of computers to full data processing that is continuously changing.
Louise Berning
Growing up in Scott City, Louise Berning started her banking career in July 1971, working as a teller while still in high school. She graduated from the Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX, with a degree in Economics. She has held several banking positions, including teller and assistant cashier, to her current role as VP Trust Officer of Security State Bank in Scott City.
While active in the Scott City community, she served on board positions, including USD 466 President and Vice President, High Plains Educational Cooperative and Northwest Kansas Technical College. Louise enjoyed being involved in communal activities that included Leadership Kansas Class of 2004, being a former city council member and CASA volunteer. Her current memberships are the American Association of University Women, Scott County Historical Society and the Holy Cross Lutheran Church. In her downtime, she enjoys going to auctions and spending time with her six grandchildren.
Larry Henne
In 2020, Larry Henne joined his father, Ivan Henne, as a member of KBA’s 50 Year Club after a rich career history at Lorraine State Bank, where he held many titles and positions.
In Jan. 1970, Larry started working part-time at Roxbury State Bank, and became a bookkeeper at the Bank of Holyrood in Feb. 1971. In 1975, he was a cashier at the Bank of Holyrood. In March 1981, he became Executive Vice President at Lorraine State Bank and then Director in Oct. the same year. Following this new title, Larry then took on the role of President, CEO, Secretary and Security Officer of Lorraine State Bank in Jan. 1982.
Larry is a graduate of the H.V. Prochnow Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He attended an ABA convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, and has been part of regional KBA meetings that included pep talks with Harold Stones.
Steve Ebert
Steve Ebert will be celebrating 50 years at Farmer State Bank in Westmoreland this year, where he currently serves as Executive Vice President. After graduating from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s in Animal Science and Industries, he began working as an Ag Loan Officer with Ed Moore in 1971.
Steve likes the small hometown atmosphere that his bank has and the opportunity to have closer relationships with his bank’s customers. Since Steve began and aided by his passionate ideas and work ethic, Farmers State Bank has increased from $4 million in assets to $225 million, 35 employees and three locations, one each in Manhattan, Onaga and of course, Westmoreland.
Over the past 50 years, Steve made many friends throughout his career and has seen several changes in the banking industry, including how banks did not have much compliance early on and written policies that banks have and need today. He has been training Alan Engelken (who has a degree from KSU in Agronomy) to take over many loans. And even though Alan will be taking over a lot of Steve’s work, Steve plans to continue working part-time doing loan audits.
Mike Gibson
In February 1971, Mike Gibson began working at the Miami County National Bank in Paola, KS, after graduating from Kansas State University and being hired by former KBA President W.C. “Dub” Hartley. Mike began work in the bookkeeping department of the $20 million bank, and progressed through every department, getting his community banking “degree” along the way.
In 1981, then-Vice President Gibson won a national American Bankers Association contest by describing a community bank in 50 words or less. “A community bank is the financial lifeline of the community, providing the resources through which consumer and commercial customers perform the financial transactions of the local economy. These services are rendered personally, confidentially, and economically while striving for community improvement and achievement of the investment return expectations of its shareholders.”
In 1986, Mike led a group of inside officers in a leveraged ESOP buyout of the Miami County National Bank, the first ESOP bank buyout in the nation. As President of the resulting holding company, Team Financial, Inc., Mike took it to the market as a publicly traded stock offering in 1999. Upon retirement, Mike invested in and became a director of Merit Bank, in Overland Park, KS. He also invested in and remains a director of the First Security Bank of Overbrook, KS, with former KBA Chairman Kent Needham.
John E Morrissey
John E Morrissey started his first banking job at First National Bank in Topeka, KS, in May 1968, where he worked as a computer operator through the summer. He received a degree in Business Administration from Emporia State University in 1970, and his education continued with basic training and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
On Sept. 15, 1971, John began his employment at First National Bank in Wetmore as a teller then was promoted to Cashier and Executive Vice President. In 1989, when banking law allowed multi-bank holding companies, First National Bank of Wetmore was merged with Kansas State Bank in Holton, and he went on to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In 2002, Kansas State Bank was purchased by the Schifferdecker family, where John moved back to Wetmore to serve as Community Bank President and Investment Officer for GNBank. Slowly closing in on retirement, John gave up his duties as President and now serves as an Investment Officer at GNBank.
Nancy Gonser
Nancy Gonser began her banking career with The People’s National Bank in August 1971 through a Go-Ed program offered by Clay Center Community High School. Her first assignment was working as a bookkeeper, and upon graduation from CCHS, Nancy continued her banking career with The People’s National Bank. During this time, she held additional positions as a teller and secretary/receptionist, to Loan Administrator, a position she has held since 1995.
She has seen many changes in the banking industry during her 50-year career. As a bookkeeper, Nancy’s favorite part of the job was running the proof machine. During her years as secretary, Nancy used her high school shorthand skills to take dictation and transcribe outgoing correspondence for the loan officers.
The bank where she works has had several changes in ownership – and names – between 1988 and 2004: People’s National Bank, Gold Bank, and now United Bank and Trust. UBT has a fantastic leadership team and is a very family-oriented organization. Nancy feels fortunate and proud to be a part of their team.
Marjorie Rice
Marjorie Rice is celebrating 51 years in banking with Fidelity Bank & Trust in Dodge City. She started employment with the bank in August 1970 and has been the bank’s receptionist since she was hired. Congrats Marjorie!
