Dick O’Connor’s Legacy Over his nearly 45-year term on Kennebec Savings Bank’s Board of Directors, Dick O’Connor has had a profound impact on the Bank’s success—and that of many other organizations throughout the Kennebec Valley region. His relationship with the Bank began when his father came into the Bank in the early 1970s and opened a CD with former Chairman of the Board Brooks Newbert. The funds came from the two-percent profit generated that year by the O’Connor family’s auto business. Dick joined the board at the age of 30 in 1975, filling a vacancy left by his uncle, Jim O’Connor. At that time, the Bank had $25 million in assets and had one location with 13 employees. He would go on to become one of the longest-serving board members in the Bank’s history, and held the board chair position from 1994 to 2016. At the time of his retirement from the Board of Directors in September 2019, the Bank had grown to $1.1 billion in assets and employed 138 employees over six locations. His leadership throughout these years is credited with supplying much of the impetus for the significant growth the Bank has experienced over his more than four decades on the Board.
Members of the Board of Directors are pictured here in 1993. From top left to bottom right: Peter Dawson, Donald “Peanut” Rodrigue, John Shostak, Dick O’Connor, Bill Pelletier, Ray Pepin and Harry Jose.
Kennebec Savings Bank was not the only organization in Kennebec Valley to benefit from his leadership and business savvy. As owner of O’Connor Motors for many years, the business grew to be among the top 10 Chevrolet dealers in the country. He and his wife, Joanne, have given generously in both volunteer time and charitable donations to a wide range of local causes. Cushnoc Crossing Bridge, referred to as “the Third Bridge,” connecting Augusta’s east and north ends and Route 3 to the coast, may very well have never been built were it not for Dick’s determination, leadership and tenacity. Special thanks goes out to Dick for his incredible contribution to the Bank and the communities that it serves!
66