The Canyon News from Canyon, Texas • Page 47

Paffe 10 'July 30, 1964 75th Anniversary Edition First BankGave Town Stability THf- FIRST NATIONAL BA NX was located in this building in 1004, This was the first brick building built in Canyon. It now houses City Hall. The First National Bank was first known as the Stockman's Nationalandrhenas the Canyon National. It had the most modern building and the most modern facilities. Club Active In Civic Programs Milton Morris was the first Lion's Club president selected for the Canyon Lion's Club which was chartered in 1940.

Other officers assisting with the first year governing of the club were Ray Cole, first vice president: Robert Hibbetts. second vice president; Bob Clark, third vice president; Nash O. Thompson, secretary; Leslie Van.Meter, lion tamer; Jack Jouett, tail twister; and directors were A. L. Walsh, Milton 'Chick' Neilson.

and lack Taylor. The first luncheon meetings were held at the irst Christian Church of Canyon, lacer being transferred to the American Legion Hall where regular luncheon meetings are now held. A swimming instruction course for boys and girls was one of the club's first major projects. Other assistance has been received from the Club by the Little Leaeue and Clean-Up Canyon campaigns when the club placed street collection cans throughout the city The Lions annually support the sight conservation for the blind and the crippled children's hospital at k'errville. Thev assist the Opportunity Plan for collece students at In association with six other Clubs of the area.

Canyon Lions Club assisted with the original scout building which was placed at Camp Don Har- THE FAMILY CHARIOT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT SINCE PIONEER DAYS rinrton. They also sponsored the first junior livestock show, which later developed into an association of own, Kenneth Waugh is current Lions president. His officers include fames fXinn, first vice president; Oscar vice president; George Dowlen, third vice president; Ore Dorough, secreta Floyd Lassiter, tail twister; Glenn Aplin, lion tamer; and directors are Joe Gibson, J. ooten, Burnie Slack, Ora Id Hemphill. Gene McGlasson is the immediate past president of Lion's Club.

Other presidents have been Milton Morris who served three terms; W. Mitchell Rural Schools Busy In 1926 Rural schools, which numbered 20 in RandallCounty back in 1911, had decreased to nine by 1926, but facilities of the remaining schools were considerably improved, including residences for teachers at five of the schools. In 1911, the country schools had an average attendance of 17, an average school term of 160 days, and average monthly salary of $56.25 for teachers. Remaining rural schools in 1926 were the Connelly, or Park school, Burch school and schools at Stone, Palo Duro, Tierra Blanca, Sunny Hill, Garrison, Zita and Umberger. Jones, Bob Clark, John A.

111- is, William C. Cow, Dr. rad Freed (resumed his post, Joe Findley completed the term in 1946-47), A. Kirk Knott, A. L.

Walsh, Aubrey Crossland, B. Hickman, Fmmitt Smith, R. Cleavinper, VV.T, McGregor. illiam M. Sternenberg.

farniran, C. I Thompson. Rex Reeves, Clay Cooper, Wilson. Arthur M. Brewer, Dr.

W. J. Wooten, Arthur M. Roberts, McGlasson, and Waugh, current president. BY JACK WALKER On any frontier people first build churches and schools They may move on in a short time and again they will build churches and schools wherever they stop.

But when people build hanks you know they are going to stay! So it was in the Panhandle back in 1900. It was on January 5 of that year that the Stockmans National Banh opened in Canyon, Texas. It was then that the town of Canyon took on the permanence that only a bank can give to a community. L. Lester was President of that first bank and it had twenty stockholders.

One of the original stockholders, Oscar lunt, still held stock in tlte any on bank forty years later. Since thar January day almost ifty nine years ago, Canyon las had the service of a dependable hank. First it was the Stockmans National then the Canyon National. In 1912 the bank was changed to the First National. In 1916 there was the Citizens Bank and also the First State Bank.

Two years later these banks merged and they kept the name of the First State Bank. Again in 1933 there were two banks, the First State and the irst National. W. Reid was President of the First National and R.H.W right president of the First State. In 1934 these two banks merged with Reid as President and Wright as Vice President.

A few years later Wright became President. It was during these early Cole brothers as to who tlv JUDGE LYCURGUS C. LAIR moved to Canyon City in 1891 and was elected county judge in 1896. He was re-elected for three consecutive terms. Judge lair was the father of Mrs.

John Davis, one of first school teachers. There was a small wreck on the Santa Fe yesterday, caused by No. 113 running into a couple of stock cars which had gotten loose and run down the track )ust as the passengerwas pulling in. The cow-catcher on 113 was smashed to pieces but no damage was done to the stock cars. The train was four hours later and was coming in at a good rate and rounding the curve was unable to see the loose stock cars until nearly up to them.

RANDALL COUNTY NEWS, Jan. 19, 1912 Classified ads in The Canyon News get fast results. years that two of the best known brothers in Canyon became associated with banking. In 1923 L. W.

(Levi) Cole started working at the Today, forty one years Later, Levi is still with the bank as its President. Four years later, in 1927, L. (James) Cole started work there. Today, thirty seven years later, James is Cashier of the bank and, according to Levi, no one has made a greater contribution to Canyon banking than his brother, James. In the early days, as now, the banking men were among the civic and economic leaders of the town.

The directors of the bank headed many civic enterprises. At one time they made gargantuan efforts to get the Railroad shops located in Canyon. After a long and strenuous fight they lost to A marillo. It would have been a boon to the small, striving town of Canyon and it was not through lack of effort that they failed. In fact the Canyon bank was so highly regarded that it was in the early 1900's, during the height of L.

T. Lester's career, the clearing house for the Southwest and served the territory from here to El Paso. The Canyon hank has always been associated with civic growth and development and had its hand in the procurement of roads, agricultural development and West Texas State University. Generally speaking the bank has enjoyed steady growth in coordination with the territory it serves. It has weathered economic storms, drought, wars---and even one robbery! That took place back in 1931 but both Levi and James remember it quite well.

The went to Levi's house and took him captive and went to the bank. There they held Levi, James, the Sheriff and three of four other people captive for several hours. Finally the robbers made off with approximately fifteen thousand dollars. Even now it is hard for to work up a bit of a grin about that experience for the alleged robbers, after capture, were never convicted. They had been masked and their captives could, of course, present only circumstantial evidence.

There is, to this day, however, not the least bit of doubt in the minds of the 18 Organize Club Lou Lester Club for past matrons of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized on June 10, 1948 at the Lorenzo Wirt home. Eighteen past matrons were in attendance for the meeting and Mrs. Katherine oster was elected first president of the past club which was named for Mrs. Lou Lester, the first past matron for the Canyon OES. An outstanding accomplishment of the club is the collection of past matrons pictures for a portfolio and assistance with some Rainbow Girl Activities, The sole purpose is to maintain a close fellowship between past matrons with social gatherings monthly.

Mrs.Faye Cannedy is the current president of the club. WE CAN MAKE YOUR CAR LOOK LIKE NEW INSIDE AND OUT BE SURE TO ATTEND THE robbers were. The accused did eventually come to a "bid Banking, as everything else, has changed appreciably over the years in Canyon. Where the first big business was primarily farming and ranching, It is now commercial. Forty years ago the hank had more than a thousand farm and ranch customers--now it has about 200.

Forty years ago there were about 1000 depositors--now there are approximately 5000. Forty years ago the bank was housed in a false-front frame building with a hitching rgck in it is housed in a modern Masonry building with a drive-up window and a color television set (during world series) in the lobby. Forty years ago there was less than half a million dollars on there is almost nine million I Some hanks advertise The First National of Canyon doesn't. It have to! Friendliness is a feeling. And that feeling is prevalent the minute you walk into the First National.

The reasons, to those who have been here any length time is obvious. The bank just Canyon, it is a part of Canyon. Every director of the bank, with one exception, lives in Canyon and Is known by his first name all the way around the square! It would he difficult Indeed to find a single group of people in Canyon more widely known or highly regarded than the twenty- one who work atthe bank. Chlor Ann Black, Chuck Allen, Don Stand ley, Levi and lames are probably called by their first names by as many as any other five people in Canyon. The hank is more than just a place to do financial business.

The people who work have a vital interest in community' projects, church work, civic clubs and anything else that adds to their community. Business at the First National is as varied as the people it serves. A cowman may call Levi from Montana to tell him that he has just bought a usand head of cattle. A married couple may, at the same time, be discussing time payments on their new car. A recent conversation among a group of young University professors probably exemplifies, as well as anything could, the place of the Canyon bank in this community.

"Are you going on vacation this summer1?" one askedano- ther. "Sure am," the other replied enthusiastically. "Going tosee Don tomorrow No one asked who "Don" was, nor why the prof was going to see him. Everyone knew that he was going to see Don Starv- dley and that he was going to get money for his vacation. That's hanking in Mrs.

Matthis 1st Sponsor Of WFG Group The World Friendship of Girls, a non-denominational study group for high school girls, was organized in 1955 by the Woman's Society' of Christian Service of the First Methodist Church. Mrs. Ffcvid Matthis was first sponsor for the group and Miss Janet Taylor, daughter of the Jack Taylors, was the first president. Mrs. J.

C. Bellah is current spores or for the study eroup. Other sponsors have been Mrs. Robert Bellah, Mrs. M.

I Sherrod, and Mrs. Jeff Gunter. Miss Diane Itovis is current president of the World Friendship. Her cabinet of officers includes Mary Starnes, vice president: Linda Markham, secretary-treasurer; Linda Bagwell, devotions; and Lynn Stevens and Kathy Ifcvis, publicity and food chairmen. Horses, Cows Bad Parkers There's always been a parking problem, but 50 years ago the offenders were livestock, not cars.

On April 26,1915, the board ordered the superintendent of Canyon schools to publish a notice requesting citizens not to tie horses or cattle on the school grounds. iff Pi'S. Ship and Travel Santa Fe always on the move toward a better way! BILL POND WAYNK PORTER 1889 TO 1964 YEARS OF PROGRESS RANDALL COUNTY haf PY BIRTHDAY JULY 30-31 AUG. 1 For information about passenger or freight service or industrial development just call: C. A.

HUFF, Agent, SANTA FE RAILWAY, Phone Olive 5-2255, 911 Second Avenue. CANYON, TEXAS 79015 CANYON GLASS TRIM RANDALL COUNT BARBER CANYON TIXAS CANYON SHOP TEXAS Santa Fa salutes Randall County on Its Diamond Jubilee.