In 1904, a man by the name of Detroit Francisco and his son, San Francisco, started the Gray County State Bank with $10,000 in cash. Sixteen years later, the bank offered a job to a young farmer by the name of Ruel V. (R.V.) Butcher, and he started there on Jan. 1, 1920, with an annual salary of $1,200. R.V. had arrived in Gray County, Kansas, 19 years earlier with his parents on a train from West Virginia, homesteading on a ranch east of Cimarron, Kansas. He started out sweeping sidewalks and helping anywhere else he was needed, and he quickly began to work his way up at the bank. By April of that year, he was elected Assistant Cashier, and the Butcher legacy was born.
In late 1924, a deal was closed that gave R.V. a substantial interest in the bank, and he was subsequently promoted to Cashier and Bank Director. In 1929, R.V. insisted the safest and most secure way for the bank to move forward was to nationalize, and in May of 1929, the bank increased its capital to $25,000 and converted to the National Banking System with the new title of First National Bank. Simultaneously, the bank became a family operation for the Butchers with R.V.’s father, J.D. Butcher, and father-in-law, W.H. Niemeir, also becoming Directors. His sister’s husband, E.V. Bryan, also joined the bank a few years later.
The stock market crash of 1929 followed shortly thereafter and sent not only the banking industry, but the entire world into a depression. While being interviewed years later for an article in the local paper (The Jacksonian, June 24, 1970), R.V. recounted the tough times — like 1930, when crops were good, but farmers could only get “two bits a bushel” for their wheat. Or when President Roosevelt declared a banking holiday in 1933, closing all banks.
“After a week-long holiday, only three of the previous seven banks in Gray County reopened. The First National Bank of Cimarron was one of them, but, like all banks, with strict government controls … the bank received a wire every morning telling them just exactly what they could and couldn’t do. Usually, a telegram said for the bank not to pay out over $50 to any one customer!”
The push to increase capital and nationalize saved the bank. Banking became even more difficult in the 1930s with the advent of the terrible dust storms that made it difficult for farmers to raise even rough feed, let alone crops. Through perseverance, the First National Bank in Cimarron survived and flourished. R.V. was named President in 1950 and worked at the bank for a total of 52 years until his sudden passing in 1972 while Chairman of the Board. His wife, Willa Butcher, then began serving as a Director. Prior to his death, R.V. received 50-year pins from the Kansas Bankers Association, Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Royal Arch Masons and Farm Bureau.
During the 1950s, R.V. was joined in the bank by his daughter, Phyllis (Butcher) Monical, and his son, Joe D. Butcher. Phyllis started as a Teller, Bookkeeper, and eventually Cashier. Joe and Phyllis both graduated from the Colorado School of Banking, with Phyllis becoming the first woman to graduate.
Joe followed in his father’s footsteps when he joined the bank in 1957, starting in an entry-level position as a Teller and Bookkeeper. As retold by Joe, “Dad thought that was where I ought to start, and it was the right thing to do.” In 1967, the bank relocated to its current location, and two years later, at the age of 33, Joe became President of the bank. Joe was known by many throughout his career for his incredible faith, integrity, humility and empathy. Every decision he made was with the best intentions and in consideration of everyone around him. He always considered his family, employees, community and church in his decisions. One of his most frequently used phrases was “Just do what’s right.” Many people in the community have shared stories of how he helped them, either personally, financially or through business mentoring. He genuinely cared about people and loved helping them. Joe was recognized for his philanthropy and served on countless nonprofit boards, local organizations and local councils. He preferred to give back quietly and without recognition. With Joe’s sound business acumen and exceptional character, the bank continued to prosper.
In the late ‘70s, following R.V.’s passing, Joe began serving as Chairman of the Board while his wife, Donna Butcher, served as a Director, a position she held for over 40 years. In 1981, the bank purchased the Ford dealership property across the street for the purpose of future expansion and remodeled it into the First National Annex building. Joe donated the vacant property north of the Annex for the new Cimarron City Library. He prioritized giving back to the community, and this library continues to bless the families in the community to this day. The bank expanded again in 1991 with the purchase of Farmers State Bank in Ingalls, which is now known as the Ingalls Branch of the First National Bank in Cimarron. They also acquired an interest in Centera Bank in Sublette, Kansas, in 1986, where Joe served as an Executive Officer and Director for 24 years.
Joe was an outspoken supporter of the Kansas Bankers Association and served on the Federal Affairs Committee from 1994-1998. He received his 50-year pin from the KBA in 2007. Like his father, this award was made even more special because all 50 years had been served at the First National Bank in Cimarron. In all, Joe’s service to the bank and the community spanned almost 66 years.
Joe and Donna’s daughters, Dea Ann (Butcher) Kreisman and Kimberly (Butcher) Fairbank, worked for the bank during summers in high school. The next generation of the Butcher family officially joined the team, with the additions of Kimberly in 1984 and Grant Butcher in 1986. Grant served as the Assistant Vice President and Information Technology Coordinator and led the bank’s technology evolution until his retirement in 2020. Kimberly served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for 26 years before becoming Chairman of the Board and CEO in 2010.
Kimberly and Grant worked alongside Joe for many years as he remained involved with the bank through his various roles as CEO, Chairman of the Board and later as an Honorary Director. When Kimberly stepped into his role of Chairman of the Board and CEO in January 2010, she continued the legacy set by her father and grandfather. While she continued to grow the bank, Kimberly remained committed to the core values demonstrated by each of them. She did this while contributing her own special blend of faith and compassion that continued to put the needs of the employees, customers and communities first. She selflessly served for almost 41 years at the bank.
Just like her father and grandfather, Kimberly was also a strong supporter of the KBA. She was a BLOK Class of 2010 graduate and served on the Bank Management Committee from 2010-15. Also like them, she was deeply involved in her church and various organizations and nonprofits.
In 2018, following a cancer diagnosis and ensuing treatments, Kimberly stepped down as CEO, but continued in her role as Chairman of the Board. She also continued to serve as an Executive Officer and Director of Centera Bank, as her father had. That same year, the fifth generation of the Butcher family took his place in the bank. Trenton Fairbank, the son of Kimberly, returned home to work in the bank after a career in engineering. He started as an entry-level employee, as did all the other family members before him. During his time at the bank, Trenton has had the opportunity to learn the family business while working alongside Joe and Kimberly. Trenton has held various roles, including Loan Officer, Security Officer, IT Systems Manager, Vice President, Director and Acting Chairman of the Board. On Jan. 1, 2025, Trenton was promoted to CEO. This was 105 years, to the day, that R.V. had started his first day of work at the bank.
Recent years have been tough for the family with the passing of Donna in 2020, Joe in 2023 and Kimberly in 2025. Joe and Donna’s sons Robert and Grant are currently serving as Directors and Trenton assumed the role of Chairman of the Board in 2025.
The Butcher and Fairbank legacy has been influenced and impacted by a countless number of people over the years. The family has been blessed with incredible employees whom they consider family and who deserve recognition and praise. The family and bank are honored to have been able to serve the communities over the past 105 years. The family members currently serving in the bank are excited to continue the legacy and values of those who came before them — and in the words of Joe, to always “just do what’s right.”
