[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22074]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING EARL McVICKER

 Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, today I congratulate a Kansan, and 
a friend, Earl McVicker, whose hard work, perseverance, and dedication 
has earned him recognition by those in his profession. Last month, 
Earl, who started his banking career at a bank in a town of 400, was 
elected chairman of the American Bankers Association. I join his 
friends, family, and colleagues in extending my congratulations and 
best wishes to him during the upcoming year.
  Earl's career in the banking industry began shortly after his 
graduation from Kansas State University, home of the always optimistic 
and fighting Wildcats. Although Earl earned an engineering degree from 
K-State, he had taken a few business classes and a course on rural 
banking, which captured his interest. His first job was at the Bazine 
State Bank. Earl worked hard, learning the banking business from the 
ground up. His strong work ethic paid off, and he rose steadily in the 
banking industry, moving on to banks in Colorado and Kansas before 
becoming CEO of Central Bank and Trust, in Hutchinson, KS. By this 
time, Earl was looking for more than just another job at another bank. 
He was looking for the opportunity to make policy decisions, and he 
knew the only way to achieve that was to buy a bank.
  Well, Earl succeeded in this goal, in part, by doing something we 
should all take a lesson from. When he became CEO at CB&T, he made the 
decision that he would continue to live off the amount of his previous 
salary and save and invest the difference in order to buy CB&T stock. 
This self-discipline, along with some help from his parents and a loan 
from another bank, allowed Earl to continue buying stock in CB&T, 
eventually gaining majority ownership. Further, the loan that he took 
out, that he hoped to pay off in 10 years? He paid it off in 5. Earl 
acknowledges that he risked everything on this one venture, but it is 
certainly a risk that has paid off.
  Perhaps the quote that Earl has framed and hanging in his office best 
sums up what guides him. The quote, by President Calvin Coolidge, 
reads: ``Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. 
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with 
talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. 
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. 
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan `press 
on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.''
  Earl's own hard work, persistence, and willingness to take risks 
gives him an understanding and an empathy for people who are looking to 
start and own their own business. His commitment to promoting 
entrepreneurship, his willingness to help individuals start a business, 
and his ability to recognize the potential of these individuals, even 
those who may not have business experience, makes him unique and 
reminds us all of the important role hometown banks play in a 
community. They understand the needs of the customers, their community, 
and know that their role in helping individuals and businesses succeed 
is vital to economic health.
  Now, I don't want to leave you with the impression that Earl is just 
another skilled businessman, although over the past 14 years, his 
private investment company, Central Financial Corp., has grown to 
include banks in a dozen States and has outperformed Warren Buffet's 
Berkshire Hathaway, as well as the Dow and the S&P 500. In fact, Earl 
wears several hats, including a Stetson when he is out horseback riding 
with his wife Molly or helping out on his parent's farm near Ness City. 
And he's particularly fond of the motorcycle helmet that he wears when 
he takes his Harley for a ride up to Sturgis, SD. Maybe not what you 
expected from the incoming ABA chairman.
  Earl has reached a milestone in his career, but in this success, he 
has also helped others succeed in starting and growing their businesses 
and has taken an active role in helping communities like Hutchinson 
thrive. I am proud to call Earl a friend. I know he will approach his 
year as chairman of the ABA by expanding his ``commitment to 
community'' philosophy throughout the country. It is this commitment, 
working as a partner with his community, that has made him a leader in 
the banking profession.

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