Montezuma State Bank is a unique family-owned bank in the heart of Southwest Kansas. Chartered on December 31, 1912, the bank was operated from a small room in a general mercantile store owned by Linn Frazier.
Mr. Frazier recognized the need for a bank in the community and took it upon himself to begin the legacy of Montezuma State Bank. A true pioneer of the times, his business experience began at a young age when he opened a dug-out, dirt-floor mercantile shop. Throughout his life he is responsible for starting several successful mercantile shops and banks in surrounding communities, including Ensign, Ulysses and Fowler. He also built several of the buildings in the area, many of which are still in use today.
Mr. Frazier was elected to be the President of Montezuma State Bank during the first meeting of the Board of Directors in January of 1913. Three months later, on March 13, 1913 the first building was complete and open for business.
Six years after the first building was established, J. W. McReynolds took over as President. Prior to his presidency, Mr. McReynolds was involved in the organization of the Farmers Cooperative Grain Company. He served to represent Gray County for two terms in the Kansas legislature, and also was chairman of the committee which first organized the school system for Montezuma.
A 1963 Montezuma Press article says of him, "Having fought the battle of the pioneer farmer in our territory, he could see the advantage that science would one day bring to the farmer and he was a pioneer in the development of power farming in this area." The legacy of Montezuma State Bank was begun with this man, and continues on through his family still today. Two of his great-grandsons currently serve the bank as President and Executive Vice President, respectively.
As Western Kansas grew with an influx of people searching for land to settle, the bank grew and began servicing more customers every year. The 1930's brought a hard change. The Great Depression and Dust Bowl Days were upon them. With heavy winds, over-worked land and a national financial crisis, the community took a hard blow. Banks began to go under, farmers were going broke, and pay was scarce. E. E. McReynolds, Managing officer of the bank for nearly 30 years, and son of J.W. McReynolds, is largely credited with keeping Montezuma State Bank afloat during this dark period of time. While E.E. McReynolds was still serving as Managing Officer, M. L. Fry took over the Presidency.
M.L. Fry (known to most as Mart) came to Gray County as a teenager in the late 1800's, along with his father and brother. It was during this time that the settlement boom began to fade. Those seeking a home in the Great Plains either sold their homesteads or abandoned them altogether. The original town of Montezuma was dissolved by the legislature in 1895 after the railroad from Dodge City stopped running and the rails were removed altogether. The Fry's used the wide open plains and rich buffalo grass for cattle grazing. Through hard work and youthful spirits they eventually established one of the largest cattle operations in western Kansas. Later, in 1912, the Santa Fe Railroad was established and Montezuma was re-built in its current location. Restrictions on open grazing land became tighter as once again, people migrated west. Because of these restrictions, the ranch was converted to a farm, and Mart began exploring his interest in investments and finance. Thus began his career at the bank.
In the early 1920's, after several failed crops, farmers in the area were facing financial ruin. Mart and J. W. McReynolds pledged their assets and line of credit to have several car-loads of wheat delivered from Eastern Kansas to be planted in the fall. The next year farmers were blessed with plenty of rain and successful crops, and every seed loan was paid in full. Mart held the office of President for 19 years until his death in 1945.
E. E. (Ellis) McReynolds always had a natural talent for business and finance. His first position in banking was at Kismet, where he was manager. He was able to prove himself qualified for the job and considered his experience there invaluable. When his father was elected President of Montezuma State Bank, he moved back to Montezuma with his wife, Zoa, and their son, Clifton. Ellis also paired up with Linn Frazier to start another successful bank in Wyoming, but after a few years, missed the Kansas life. He sold his stock and moved his family, including his new daughter, Zoa, back home to Montezuma. He managed the bank during the dark days of the thirties, but saw it through with faith in this country, and the people he served.
Ellis' son, Clifton McReynolds, followed in his father's footsteps. He graduated from Montezuma Rural High School in 1935 and after college, served in the US Army Air Corps as a finance officer during the war. He and his wife, Dorothy had a daughter, Gayle, who lives in Montezuma at present.
Clifton McReynolds was a man of many talents. He was a musician, an outdoorsman, and a man of great confidence and logic. He was always willing to listen. His friendly advice as recorded by his successor, Hal Hedlund, was "Plow a straight furrow; trade at home; get up early; see your banker any time you smell a way to make a nickel; and use your check stubs!" And, it is still good advice today.
Hal Hedlund moved to Montezuma at the age of 5. He lived here all his life except for a few years spent in Fort Dodge just a short distance away. He attended college at the Kansas State Teachers School in Emporia where he deemed himself a "miserable failure." He served for 3 years in the U S Army Air Force following his time there. He was fortunate to be stationed in the local town of Dodge City. During this time he courted and married "herownself," Zoa McReynolds, daughter of E. E. McReynolds.
Together they moved to Evanston, Illinois where he received a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University and realized his "insatiable desire to sing and entertain." Hal learned of opportunities to break in to the radio business and after finishing school in Evanston, he and Zoa moved to Chicago. He worked with a variety of big-name artists, amongst them: George Beverly Shea, Bing Crosby, David Niven, David Garroway, Don DeFore, Hugh Downs, and many more. At the heart of Hal's interest was his male quartet known as the Songsmiths. He wrote of them, "The people who counted with me were those fellows I sang with in the quartet and I wouldn't trade just one of our wide-spread b-flat chords for the whole kit and caboodle of show business."
When television came on the scene Hal was featured in the early Oldsmobile commercials. He also can be found in the back-ground music of hundreds of records and commercials, and in the heart of Montezuma State Bank. He returned to Montezuma at the request of Zoa's father and began work in the bank. Hal and Zoa had 4 sons, Christopher, Kyle, Ty and Derk, who were raised in Montezuma.
A man of great conviction and integrity, Hal took over the position of President after the passing of his brother-in-law, Clif, in 1961. One of his many accomplishments was the design of the current bank building in Montezuma. The exterior is made of Arkansas River rock, and was constructed in 1967 on the site of the original Montezuma State Bank. A major addition was completed in the late 1980's, which added several thousand square feet, including a basement.
In the 1963 Anniversary supplement to the Montezuma Press, Hal says of his position as President, "My title impresses me not one bit. My responsibilities do. I figure I have learned about six percent of the knowledge necessary to qualify as a good banker…Hampered somewhat by lack of talent I'm a fool for work, and the Lord willing, I'll make the grade. And I do sing a dang good song."
Hal and Zoa's youngest son, Derk Hedlund, began his employment at Montezuma State Bank in 1983. He has seen many changes in the banking industry since he first began work here. He has worked in nearly every department of this institution, with experience ranging from teller to loan officer. Derk currently serves on the board of directors, and as Executive Vice President.
Chris Hedlund, Hal and Zoa's oldest son, took over the responsibilities as President when Hal stepped down from that position in 1981. Chris was a progressive thinker and was instrumental in purchasing the bank's first computer and its first ATM. Chris was known for his sense of humor and practical jokes. Whether an employee of the bank or a customer of the bank, no one was safe from his pranks. As remembered by his brother Ty, "If he had a twinkle in his eye, you'd better watch out." In 1987, Chris stepped down as President of Montezuma State Bank to form the Hedlund Rodeo Company, and Ty then took over as President.
Ty Hedlund, current President, Chairman, and CEO, comes from a long line of bankers dedicated to exceptional customer service. In speaking with him you'll find the same characteristics of the presidents that preceded him: faith in our country, desire to support his community, and an understanding of agriculture, which is so necessary in Kansas. His banking philosophy is simple: "Take care of your communities and give back in a way that benefits both parties." He is inspired to carry on the legacy and tradition of his family.
In 1997, with Ty's direction, another facility of the Montezuma State Bank was erected in Copeland, KS. Exactly ten years later, an open house was held in honor of the 10th anniversary. A hamburger feed was held for the nearly 300 attendees, and children and adults alike played games to win prizes of money and even a steer!
Montezuma State Bank is successful largely due to the fact that we have a loyal and dedicated staff and the best customers in the world. Because of our unique products and services, we can meet the needs of our customers and contribute to our thriving local economy. Montezuma State Bank provides personalized service for every customer, and we're proud to say that we're Bankers to the Young at Heart!
Montezuma and Copeland are located in the heart of southwest Kansas. The city of Montezuma was established in 1912, the same year Montezuma State Bank was chartered. Copeland is located approximately 10 miles west of Montezuma on highway 56 and is named after E.L. Copeland, Secretary/Treasurer of the Santa Fe Railroad-the same railroad that saved Montezuma from complete dissolution.
Montezuma and Copeland schools entered into a sharing agreement in 1991, which continues to thrive today. Each community has its own elementary school. South Gray junior high is located in Copeland, and South Gray High School is located in Montezuma. In addition to our public schools, there are five private parochial schools in the Montezuma and Copeland area.
We have an exceptional number of successful businesses for communities of this size. Montezuma's population was last estimated at around 966, while Copeland's is 339.
Montezuma also boasts a museum. The Stauth Memorial Museum hosts exhibits from the Smithsonian Institute, as well as artifacts obtained during the Stauth's travels and Ralph Fry's wild game expeditions. The museum is a non-profit organization and offers a variety of exhibits and tours free of charge.
We are proud to serve the communities of southwest Kansas.
