A tale of two centennials

A century ago, a small bank in a town that no longer exists was given a 50-year charter. A few months later in neighboring Cape Girardeau, two brothers from St. Louis with printing experience bought an ailing daily newspaper. A century later, both celebrate their centennials with a Parade magazine exhibit.

Fast forward to the present. The bank and the newspaper are now next door to each other, each flourishing and making community impacts. As part of the businesses' centennial celebrations, Security Bank & Trust will host a display of historic Parade magazine covers for the Southeast Missourian, which inserts the magazine for its readers each Sunday.

"Parade, which was founded in 1941, is the most widely read magazine in the nation with more than 36 million readers each week," said Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian. "For decades, its pages have featured some of the most incisive images of the history of America. We're thrilled to have this special exhibit in Cape Girardeau, and we appreciate Security Bank for hosting it. That's the type of community partner they are."

The display, called "Conversations with America, Parade Through the Decades," will feature the magazine's covers from 1941 to the present, and is one of several traveling displays Parade has organized across the country, said Terry Foley, who is coordinating the newspaper's centennial celebration. Normally, these displays go to larger cities, but this one is coming to Cape Girardeau from Oct. 1 through Oct. 6 to commemorate the Missourian's 100th anniversary.

"Looking at the covers is like taking a wonderful trip back in time," said Rust. "There are famous faces, famous events. I can't wait to hear parents tell their kids about some of the people featured."

Foley said that the original plan was to have the 850-square-foot Parade display in the Missourian building, but with renovations going on and deadlines to be met, the space was not available. So the bank stepped in and agreed to host it in the lobby, starting Oct. 1, when the Missourian will be hosting a public downtown celebration. Many SB&T employees will be in period costumes for the Saturday event with special amenities provided to visitors.

SB&T vice president Richard W. Allgood said the exhibit will be open throughout the following week during normal bank hours.

The bank's own celebration, he said, will probably be more low-key and will most likely happen next year.

"We'll have it when we have had 100 years under our belt," Allgood said.

Because SB&T is a community bank, it is happy to share the Missourian's celebration, he said. SB&T started small -- with a capital stock of $15,000. It has grown over the last 100 years, but has never forgotten who made it successful.

"We are not a big bank," Allgood said. "We are a well-run bank not trying to act like a big bank."

Before it became SB&T, the bank first opened as the First State Bank of Edna, Mo., a small town that later joined other small communities in becoming Scott City. The bank had a five-man board of directors: Henry Schuette, Charles Hamm, Louis Dohogne, Henry Uelsman and A. Baudendistel.

It eventually became the First State Bank of Fornfelt in 1911. In 1955, the original charter was extended and five years later it became Scott City Bank. In 1965, the name was changed to Scott City Bank and Trust Co.

In 1992, the Commissioner of Finance of the State of Missouri approved the merger of Scott City Bank and Trust with the Security Bank of Bollinger County, Marble Hill. The name changed again to Security Bank of Bollinger County, and the bank increased its locations with branches in Marble Hill and Patton. In 2003, the bank received authorization for a branch in Cape Girardeau.

Its board of directors now consists of Don Crader, Stan Crader, Larry Uelsmann (president), Joe Diebold, David Crader, Dwight Crader, Dr. John Hall, Dale Davault, Dr. Kee Park and Dale Ferguson.

"It is a community bank, which is unique and rare," Allgood said. "The owners and directors are people who live and work in this community. They have varied backgrounds and are sympathetic to the needs of businesses an individuals. All have had to borrow and all have been depositors. They have all had to ask the old hard-hearted banker for money."