Pub 1 2012 Issue 2

March 2012 15 Leading advocate for the banking industry in Kansas. O NE OF THE GREAT STRENGTHS OF the banking industry inKansas is the fact that many of our banks have remained under the leadership of the same family for many, many years. In order to recognize those families, the KBA created a special award – “A Century of Family Bank- ing” – to be given to those banks where members of the same family have held positions of leadership in their bank for a century or more. As with many cases the fortunes of a community and the local bank are tied together. That was never truer than the tie between City of Olpe and The Olpe State Bank. The two were founded on the same day in October, 1905. One of the co-founders of the bank was N.S. Wendling. N.S. was elected President of the bank in 1909 and served in that posi- tion until his death in 1926. There has been a descendant of N.S. on the Board of Directors ever since. N.S.’s two sons S.F. and Joseph A. Wendling served on the Board formany years with S.F. serving on the Board beginning in 1927 and served as Chairman of the Board from 1951 until his death in 1977. Joseph A. served on the Board from 1951 to 1980. The next generation is represented on the Board by Delbert Wendling who served on the Board from 1981 to 2006 and Joseph J. Wendling. Joe joined the bank in 1961 and was named CEO of the bank in 1964. And last, but hopefully not finally, the 4th generation from N.S. Wendling is repre- sented on the Board by Diana Kuhlmann, who joined the Board in 2004. It is nice to remember our ancestors, but it is a privilege and a pleasure to share the accomplishments and triumphs of our friends and colleagues who are still active and continuing a family legacy. Joe has been active in banking circles and has been a strong advocate for the banking industry. He has been active in the Kansas Bankers Association for many years serving on several commit- tees and on the KBA Board of Directors where he has helped shape the banking industry in Kansas and in some cases the country, by helping develop the KBA’s position on important legislation at the State and National level. He was once given the “unofficial” recognition of the KBA’s Golden Pen award for a letter he wrote to U.S. Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum regarding bankruptcy reform legislation. And, just recently, Joe was given the “official” recognition of being inducted into the KBA’s 50-year Club, in recognition of his 50 years of service to the banking industry. The Langley family joined into part- nership of the bank soon after the bank was founded when John Langley became a member of the Board of Directors in 1909. He served in that capacity until 1926. He was followed on the Board by his sons, John S. Langley, from 1927 to 1951, R.B. (Dick) Langley, from 1922 to 1962 and Preston Langley in 1951. Preston Langley was killed in a tragic automobile accident in 1951. John S. Langley served as the active President of Citizens Bank in Emporia and as the mostly inactive President of the Olpe State Bank until his death in 1951. The third generation of the Langley family to serve on the Board was Loretto Langley, who served on the Board from 1962- 1987. And, again, lastly, but hopefully not finally, the fourth generation of the Langley family is represented by Michael Langley, who has served on the Board of Directors since 1988. In addition to family involvement, the bank has been a leader in the com- munity. When both the city and the bank celebrated their 100th anniversary, it was proudly noted that the bank had lived through three attempted robberies and one actual robbery, multiple economic shocks and 3 buildings, and not a single depositor has lost a dime. In addition to the strong support the bank has shown to schools in Olpe, the bank has also been the sponsor of a scholarship to Emporia State University for a high school senior. From the time that N.S. Wendling co-founded the Olpe State Bank and was soon thereafter joined in partnership by J.S. Langley, until today, the Wendling and Langley families have provided extraordinary leadership in their com- munity and to the banking industry. Each generation has unselfishly donated their time and energies to the betterment of Kansas banking and the industry. For these exemplary efforts, we at the KBA are proud to present to JosephWendling, Diana Kuhlmann and Michael Langley and the members of both families, the Kansas Bankers Association, “Century of Family Banking” Award. The KBA “Century of Family Banking” Award The Olpe State Bank | The Wendling and Langley Families Chuck Stones presents the Century of Family Banking to members of the Wendling and Langley families currently serving on the Olpe State Bank Board of Directors: Diana Kuhlmann, Joe Wendling, Chuck Stones, Mike Langley