Pub. 8 2019 Issue 1

January/February 2019 15 L E A D I N G A D V O C A T E F O R T H E B A N K I N G I N D U S T R Y I N K A N S A S Steve Ellis Retires After 52 Years in Banking After starting his banking career at Bank of Pleasanton in 1967, Steve Ellis, community bank President of Labette Bank in Pleasanton is retiring. He began as a teller, working weekends and summers at the bank his great grandfather started in 1887. In 1992, the Bank of Pleasanton was sold to Farmers State Bank. From there Steve went to work for the Linn County Bank, which was later sold to Gold Bank and then again to Labette Bank. Steve’s grandfather and father also served as presidents of the bank, making Steve the fourth president and giving the Ellis family 132 years in banking through his retirement. Legacy Bank Has Change of Leadership Frank A. Suellentrop has retired as president/chief executive officer of Legacy Bank effective December 31, 2018. After 28 years as president and over 45 years in banking at Legacy Bank (formerly State Bank of Colwich), he has stepped aside and turned the leadership of the bank over to the next in line, Executive Vice President Brad E. Yaeger. Brad Yaeger took over as president of Legacy Bank effective January 1, 2019. Brad has been the head of lending and played a key role in the management team at Legacy Bank for over 30 years. Frank Suellentrop will continue serving as the Chairman of the Board and as a Director for both Legacy Bank and Colwich Financial Corporation (the bank’s holding company). After 64 Years, Helen Deines of Solutions North Set to Retire Helen Deines started her banking career in 1954 with Trego-Wakeeney State Bank (now Solutions North) at the age of 20. Her first job at the bank was proof operator followed by becoming a teller, the position she held until retirement. Reflecting on the past 64 years, Helen has had special times, great customers, and shared many laughs and stories that she will always cherish. Going from working everyday for 64 years to retirement will be a bit of an adjustment, but Helen is ready for it. In Memory, JimHoover Jim Hoover passed away Thursday, December 6, 2018 surrounded by his family. He was born December 11, 1941 the son of Kelvin Vincent and Helen Elizabeth (Benson) Hoover. Jim graduated from Lawrence High School in 1959. He worked at Kaw Valley State Bank for 55 years and was president of Kaw Valley State Bank for 35 years. He considered his employees and many of his customers an extension of his family and treated all of them as such. Jim served on the city council and was the Mayor of Eudora for more than three decades, often taking calls and answering “friendly” questions at his own home at all hours of the day. He was a member of the CPA Picnic Association, and many of his friends have fond memories of him working the pop stand during the annual picnic. Jim is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carole, Eudora, KS. Other survivors include two sons, Jimmy (Julie) Hoover of (Louisburg), KS, Jason (Lindsey) Hoover of Eudora, KS; his sister, Dr. Eileen (Dr. Walter) Kintsch of Boulder, CO; and his beloved grandchildren, Grace, Payton, and Colby. Briefly ... In Kansas Banking Brenda Unruh (KBA) Helen Deines (Solutions North Bank, Wakeeney), and Richard Jensen (CEO, Solutions North Bank, Wakeeney). Frank Suellentrop Brad Yaeger