The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
A board of directors ruling at Raritan State Bank, which states that board members cannot be elected to served on the board after their 70th birthday, has forced the retirement of the bank's beloved Art Kane, "the icon of Raritan State Bank."
Kane, born in 1945, turned 70 on his June 10th birthday last year.
"I have appreciated working with the board," Kane stated after an emotional presentation was made by Chairman of the Board Jan Van Arsdale, tax practitioner, farmer, and friend. Kane retired earlier from the bank as its President after 45 years of service.
"I have always enjoyed history," Kane said as he mentioned many historic events happening or are upcoming as he retires. The museum is 40 years old in Raritan. The USA is 240 years old. Raritan is 160 years old. The Raritan State Bank will be 100 in 2020, and Illinois will be 200 in 2018, and he had magnets for each person present saying he hopes the state will find money to plan a celebration.
He said, "I like the Opera House, and attending celebrations of Raritan, Media, Smithshire, and Stronghurst."
Kane said he was very happy that his brothers, sisters-in-laws and most of his nieces and nephews live in Henderson and Warren Counties. "It's the most who ever came to a bank meeting and I appreciate it."
"I am also pleased and proud that at the bank, I have gotten to know 5 generations of several families."
Kane concluded by saying, "I have enjoyed working with the present and past employees and directors of the bank and thanks for your support and friendship over the years."
He then reminded everyone of some of the upcoming events he hoped people would support by attending. Many of Kanes family members attended this special annual meeting of his retirementk.
The Raritan State Bank that Kane served is also historic, surviving the depression years and many bank closings due to its strong customer loyalty.
Art's 47 years at Raritan State Bank came after those uncertain years of the thirties. It began after he had given three years of service to his country. He had graduated from Media Weaver High School in 1963 and went into the service, following his two older brothers, Dan and John.
In 1967, Art came home after his three years of service in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam era.
After a visit to the Veterans Hospital, Art began working as a teller in June of 1968 at the bank.
Waldo Erickson was President and had met with Art and asked him to start the first of June after Eldon Duncan Cashier of the Bank had talked with Art about coming to work at the bank.
He was officially put in charge of helping people when they came in as a teller, and was given the weekly job of winding the grandfather clock that still hangs on the bank wall.
The big beautiful pre-civil war clock, as the story goes, was purchased in an auction after the bank closings of the depression, by Waldo Erickson after it had been in two previous banks.
Art last wound the clock December 31, 2013, on his last official day as an employee at the bank.
Art continued to serve as a director on the Raritan State Bank two more years, until election of a new officer Saturday, March 12th, that would replace him. Marc Coursey, senior loan officer, was nominated by Art's brother John Kane and it was seconded and approved by the shareholders.
Fellow board member and Chair Jan Van Arsdale, presented a commerative plaque to Art Kane on behalf of the board along with their great appreciated for Kane's contributions and exceptional service to Raritan State Bank.
Art Kane (right) receives an emotional handshake from Chairman of the Board Jan Van Arsdale
CEO Robert Schleich amuses how Art resembles Elvis Presley in this photo when he began working at The Raritan State Bank in 1968.