Community State Bank of Missouri has celebrated over 120 years
of filling the financial service needs of Pike County neighbors.
The bank was founded in 1887 as the Bank of Curryville. According
to a centennial history of the bank published in the Bowling Green
Times in 1987, the Bank of Curryville was established January
26, 1887 with $10,000 from its original stockholders. One share
was worth $100.
W. K.
Biggs was the first director and his family owned the controlling
shares. He served as president of the bank from 1887 to 1895.
Other directors were D. D. Rose, William H. Tinker, H. G. McCune,
and William Reading. Mr. Biggs’ son-in-law, W.J. Hawkins
was the chief executive officer from 1895 to 1915. At that time,
two persons operated the bank. The CEO was the cashier and took
deposits at the window as well as making big loans. His son, Oley
Hawkins, succeeded Mr. Hawkins in 1915 as cashier. The other employee
of the bank at that time was Lucille Warren.
The Bank of Curryville was founded on solid business principles.
Good management was proven when the bank survived the Depression
of the 1930’s under the leadership of Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Hawkins died in 1937 and a former bank examiner, G. B. Weber,
became cashier, a position he held until 1943 when Kennedy Bucks
became cashier. The bank operated in Curryville until 1945 when
John McIlroy and Sen. Edward Long bought it and moved it to Bowling
Green.
In May 1945, the guard changed from directors J. D. Gates, B.
Brown, J. Henry Sisson, W. Caldwell, and L.D. Harris to Sen. Long,
Mr. McIlroy, Mr. Harris, Leslie D. Long (father of Sen. Long),
and W.T. McIlroy (the father of Mr. McIlroy). Leslie T. McCulley
was the managing officer, followed by Lowell Pasley.
In 1957, Carl E. Murray was appointed CEO and served in that position
until August 1, 1987. During Mr. Murray’s term, the Bank
moved to its present location on Church Street in 1968.
Tapley McCune succeeded Mr. Murray. Mr. McCune had both professional
and family roots in the banking business. An employee of Community
Bank since 1960, when he started as teller, Mr. McCune is the
great great nephew of H.G. McCune, one of the founding directors
of the Bank of Curryville.
Under McCune’s management the Bowling Green facility expanded
in 1989 and he pointed out that the recent growth in Bowling Green
is greater than any he has seen. In fact, Community State has
grown to include a branch office in Troy, Missouri, which employs
ten full-time and five part-time workers.
After many years of operating with two or a handful of employees,
by the time the bank celebrated a century of service in 1987,
it had 18 employees. The Bank currently employs 30 full-time and
five part-time workers at the Bowling Green facility.
An increase in assets has accompanied the bank’s history
of strong growth. In 1946, capital accounts totaled about $60
thousand. Most recent figures put capital accounts for the bank
at over $25 million.
In 1993, Mr. John M. McIlroy retired as President & Chairman
of the Board. He remains as a board member. William C. McIlroy
became President and John M. McIlroy Jr. is Chairman of the Board.
In 2005 the bank name changed from Community State Bank of Bowling
Green to Community State Bank of Missouri.
Effective May 1, 2006 Tapley McCune retired his position of Executive
Vice President and CEO.
Succeeding him are Executive Vice-Presidents Paul Hill and Mark
Goodin. Mr. Hill and Mr. Goodin each have over 25 years of banking
experience with Community State Bank of Missouri. They have worked
in all areas of the bank and look forward to continuing the tradition
of excellent service to the customers of Community State Bank
of Missouri.
