President’s Column

Albert Rusher Retires after 53 Years of Service

Albert Rusher retired in February after 53 years of dedicated service to the Bank of Brinkley, now known as Signature Bank. We at the ABA offer our congratulations to Mr. Rusher and wish him well during his much deserved retirement! In January 1924, John Gazzola, who had been the largest stockholder in the Bank of Brinkley, sold out his entire holdings to Gus Roescher, a German immigrant, who was in the hotel business in Brinkley. The spelling of the name had been changed to Rusher in 1918. After his father’s death on February 7, 1925, Albert Louis Rusher joined the Board of Directors at the bank and served as president from 1955 until 1969. His son Albert Holly Rusher began working in the bank in 1964, and was elected to the Board of Directors in1965. On October 14, 1969, A.L Rusher was elevated to a newly-created position by becoming the first Chairman of the Board of Directors where he served for 61 years. On June 1, 1972, Gus Rusher, the great-grandson of the original Gus Rusher, began work in the bank and became the fourth generation of the Rusher family to be associated with the bank. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1975. Fred Rusher was born on August 4, 1891. He was the son of Gus Rusher and served as the cashier of the Bank of Brinkley at the time he founded the Fred Rusher Agency in 1920. Fred Rusher died on October 17, 1922, as a young man at the age of 31. The business continued to operate as an independent insurance agency in the old Bank of Brinkley building at the corner of Cypress and New Orleans Street, until 1970 when it relocated to 124 S. Main Street. On July 1, 1985, the bank of Brinkley purchased the agency from the four partners and assumed the ownership and operation of the Fred Rusher Agency, Inc., as a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary. In 2006, White River Bancshares, holding company of Signature Bank, purchased the Bank of Brinkley, which is now known as Signature Bank. The Bank of Brinkley served Brinkley for 103 years since 1903 until its purchase by White River Bancshares in 2006. The Fred Rusher Agency, Inc. served Brinkley for 96 years, since 1920. Both have a long established history and reputation of customer service, community involvement, and fair and honest dealings.

PRESIDENT & CEO BILL HOLMES

Former ABA Chairman Larry Wilson (left), former ABA Chairman Gus Rusher (middle left) and Chairman and CEO of Signature Bank Gary Head pose with Albert Rusher at his retirement party.

4 The Arkansas Banker | March 2017 Bently Manatt, president of the Bank of Brinkley, presents chairman Albert Rusher with his retirement plaque.

Albert Rusher (center) celebrates his retirement with his family and friends.

Will Rusher and Albert Rusher pose at the retirement party on February 16, 2017.

BILL HOLMES PRESIDENT/CEO 501.978.3602 | bill.holmes@arkbankers.org ABA STAFF

CARLA BRINKLEY VP/CONTROLLER 501.978.3608 | carla.brinkley@arkbankers.org

AVA F. ROBERTS VP/DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 501.978.3606 | ava.roberts@arkbankers.org

JESSICA SAHENE MARKETING COORDINATOR 501.978.3609 | jessica.sahene@arkbankers.org

HEATHER HAILE COMMUNICATIONS INTERN 501.978.3603 | marketing@arkbankers.org

BARRY JACKSON SVP/COO 501.978.3613 | barry.jackson@arkbankers.org

KAMI T. COLEMAN VP/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 501.978.3614 | kami.coleman@arkbankers.org

TRACI LOGSDON DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS 501.978.3603 | traci.logsdon@arkbankers.org

BRENDA SCARBROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR 501.978.3607 | brenda.scarbrough@arkbankers.org

CAPRECIA HARRIS OFFICE COORDINATOR 501.376.3741 | caprecia.harris@arkbankers.org