THE PERKIN
J o URN A L-TH U R S DAY,
ITOB ER 31, 1996
Galen Holsinger-50 years -continued from page one
here and see the new bank." a friend and mentor of mine very
"To this day, I can still hear his since. If ever I have a problem
voice telling me what I should do that I can't solve I call him or go
and say about things that hap- over there, and he's always got
pen..." the answer.
He and his wife Juanita pur- "Our styles are different, but
chased the stock in 1973 and the our concepts are the same...He
bank has continued to grow in has been integral to the success
assets. When he started in 1946, of that town..if it wasn't for Ga-
Payne County Bank had three len you would have a lot differ-
employees and $600,000 in as- ent town. He loves banking and
sets. Today it has 26 employees he loves Perkins."
and over $66 million in assets. *"We have known Galen for the
Growth and modernization has last 35 years since Joe and I
beenafactorinHolsinger'sbusi- moved here from Tulsa,"
ness approach to banking that Mercedes Barta said. "Joe al-
he credits his father for teach- ways did the banking for our
ing him. dairy business and it was always
His parents, Joe and Nellie with Galen.
(Kinzie) Holsinger were farmers "Sometimes Joe Would just go
and in 1942 with the coming of in and talk to Galen, just to visit-
modern tractors and other farm he loved doing that. He loved
related equipment, his father everything about Perkins.
told him "You had better get big- "Galen has always encouraged
ger or get out" us, especially the boys (Stan,
He added that Payne County Steve and Joe. E), in the dairy
Bank has tried to keep up with business. He has done a lot of
the ever changing needs of his things for the community and
customers by "keeping our has been helpful to us in many,
equipment up and accept as" many ways."
many modern ideas that we can. *'He does a lot behind the
You don't stay status quo-you scenes, but he doesn't take or
either go up or you go down." want the credit," Superinten-
There is an old picture hang- dent of Schools Jim Hyder said.
ing on the w all amidst other pho- "He is high on my list of people-
tographs of Perkins' past in integrity, honesty, and sincerity-
Steer Inn Restaurant that de- he'sjust always been super to us.
picts Holsinger, and longtime "I didn't get to meet him face to
bank employees Margie Jarvis face until I became principal
and Lenora West with a new here. He's always made me and
Burroughs posting machine that Jo feel like we were important
for its day was as modern as the and part of the community. He
computer is today, always took time for us."
"We used to have to post every- Hyder added that his support
thing by hand, but with that for the school system is often
thing you just hit a button and overlooked. With the bank bid-
everything came out of it," he ding on bond sales, for example,
laughed. "That was in 1947 or the rates have been more corn-
'48, and we had it until we petitive which gives the school
moved down here (South Main patrons more for their money,
and Stumbo)." Hyder explained.
His loyal employees over the •"I can't say anything bad about
years have also been important Galen Holsinger," Sue
to him. He gives as an example, Blackburn said. Sue and her
Felsa Hastings, who worked for husband, the late Ralph Crane,
the bank for 29 years. She re- founded Ralph's Packing Com-
tired in 1986 and now sits on the pany. The two, with their son
board of directors of Payne Gary, who now operates the
County Bank. plant with wife Tess, worked
"Joe (who is deceased) and many hours, for many days, for
Felsa have been a part of our many years to make the plant a
family and friends for many success.
years to Juanita and I," he said. Sue credits Holsinger for a big
"Felsa always says that she has part of that success. "Without his
never written a check on any help and advise we wouldn't
other bank." have made it. He was always
Those that know Holsinger, there, day or night. He has al-
know that it is difficult to get ways been there for us."
him to take credit for any of his *Inez Barnes, wife of Elmo
success as a banker. Barnes, said that"he has always
"Juanita and my two brothers helped the young people and lis-
have always been good support- tened to, and been so very kind
ers- in good times and bad," he to those older friends, also.
said. "He is a good Christian in the
Henames Butler, the Wilhites, true sense of the word and an
and Dr. Leon Freed, as guiding example our youth can be very
influences in his life and career, proud to emulate."
but the success of Payne County *"Through the years Galen and
Bank and Galen Holsinger he Juanita have been very support-
gives credit to the type of people ive of all the things that have
that are and have been Perkins. made Perkins great," Elmo
I think about all of the custom- Barnes said.
ers that I have had over the "I have worked with Galen in
years and the kind of people that so many ways-to recall a few,
they were, he said. American Legion, the fire de-
He listed Sig McDaniel partment, ticket-takers at the
(McDaniel and Son Hardware- football games, the Industrial,
now Eades), Guy and Emma Park, the football lights, Stillwa-
McClain, Ed Stumbo, Dale and ter Industrial survey, Lions
Florence Holbrook, Ralph and Club, ushering together at the
Sue.Crane "who I respected Methodist Church, Premium
greatly- (founders of Ralph's - Sales, and it goes on and on...
Packing Company) and how well"Galen is at the top of my list
Gary (Crane) has done with the of true friends. We've had many
plant; Delmar and Kate Niles good times together over the
(Del-Mar's Food Store-now years and I hope to have many
Dervin's); Charles Rushmore, more."
who started the Perkins "Y" •If you look in the dictionary
Livestock Auction; Garvin under "Sense ofHumor" you will
Cruse; you're Dad and Morn (Dr. see a picture of Holsinger's life-
R.V. and Bea Clark); and Elmo long friend Palmer Sadler who
(Barnes) and the Sadlers, and has retired from farming.
Paul Evans...so many." "One day I went in the bank
He also cited Perkins as being and asked Galen if I could bor-
a progressive community over row $30,000," Sadler grins. "He
the years from the "school boards asked me, "How would you like
keeping the facilities modern, to pay that back?'
and town boards trying to keep "I just said, Galen, I don't think
up with things to citizens being Yll ever have that much money."
receptive to new ideas. That's Wendell Sadler, Palmer's
part of what makes people want brother, and als'O.a life-long
to live here." friend of Holsingers, said he told
The positive influence that Ga- him one day many years back
len Holsinger has had on his that "By looking at my state-
community in the last 50 years ments you boys must be able to
can not be fully described in a buy that red ink cheaper than
few paragraphs in The Perkins you can the black..."
Journal. The memories both of the Sa-
The impact he has had on many dler brothers will tell you about
people of the area over the years Holsinger, is that the three of
can be partially documented: them have done a lot of things
*"I have known Galen since I together over the past 50 years:
was a pup," Bank of Cushing Fought fires on the volunteer fire
President John Bryant said. department, flipped pancakes at
"Number One, he is a real good the Lions Club pancake suppers;
friend of mine. I met him in 1963 and made it through some tough
at a Payne County Banker's As- times farming.
sociation meeting and he's been "He's an outstanding person
Payne County Bank lobby, circa 1973. Holsinger can be seen at the bottom left sitting at a desk.
at the teller's window helping a customer. To his left is Margie At the typewriter is Felsa Hastings a
Jarvis, and facing the camera is Viola Moorman. Dick Rogers, the bank who now sits on the board of
who is now a vice.president and cashier for the bank, is seen County Bank.
Bank employees demonstrate the latest equipment in the
banking business in 1951 -a new Burroughs posting machine.
right
The "Front Office" in 1972. Galen Holsinger helps a customer
while her young daughter looks on with thumb in mouth.
(sitting at the machine), Holsinger, and
sentative Jim McDonald.
The "Back Office" in 1972. Delbert Butler at
his familiar typewriter behind him that he
out with.
