LIMBAUGH LEAVES BANK TO JOIN MERRILL LYNCH

James P. Limbaugh, regional executive director of Nationsbank's Southeast Missouri-Southern Illinois region, has resigned a month after Boatmen's became NationsBank.

Limbaugh, who was president of Boatmen's Bank of Cape Girardeau for a decade before it became NationsBank this year, said he was resigning effective Wednesday to pursue other interests. Limbaugh will join the local Merrill Lynch firm, a financial planning service and stockbroker.

Limbaugh's name has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Southeast Missouri State University athletic director. No search is officially under way to replace Richard McDuffie, who left earlier this year to become athletic director at Eastern Illinois University. Interim athletic director Carroll Williams has a one-year contract through the 1997-98 school term.

"I have not been approached about the university position, and I have not applied for it," said Limbaugh.

Limbaugh is familiar with the university and its athletic program. He played football at Southeast and served three years as an assistant football coach there before joining Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau in 1981.

"Limbaugh played a key role in the successful transition of Boatmen's Bank to NationsBank," said Curtis Graff, president of Illinois-Missouri NationsBank Division. "We'll certainly miss him."

Kelly Polonus, a spokesperson for NationsBank in Springfield, said she hated to see Limbaugh leave.

Graff will serve in Limbaugh's position until a successor is named.

"John Thompson, commercial market manager of Cape Girardeau and Jackson operations, will provide local leadership," said Polonus.

"NationsBank is a good company," said Limbaugh. "But I have accomplished many things during my career in banking and am looking to a new direction."

The latest accomplishment for Limbaugh was his part in the transition from Boatmen's to NationsBank.

"I felt very comfortable with the transition," said Limbaugh.

"Change is the key," said Limbaugh. "Change is constant ... transition will end, and NationsBank is now on the back side of the transition involving Boatmen's Bank. I feel comfortable with that."

Limbaugh joined Boatmen's Bank of Cape Girardeau in June 1983, as a vice president of commercial lending and business development.

Limbaugh's banking experience dates to the late 1970s. He worked a year at United Missouri Bank of Kansas City and more than two years at Cape Mercantile Bank and Trust Co. He was assistant vice president at Mercantile when he left in 1983.

Limbaugh, a graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School, attended the University of Missouri one year and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a major in marketing.

Limbaugh also attended graduate classes at UM-Kansas City and Southeast Missouri State University, where he received a master's degree.