Salina Journal Nov 3 1984
LURAY - John A. O'Leary Sr., 83, the poor boy from western Kansas who overcame prejudice and hardship to become one of the state's most successful and respected bankers, died Friday at Salina's Presbyterian Manor.
Mr. O'Leary, a founder of the People's State Bank of Luray, served as state banking commissioner under both Gov. Dockings — George and Robert — and made sure all Kansas banks became insured with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. He resigned from the state job in 1968 to become a director of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. O'Leary, the eldest of 10 children, was born June 22, 1901, in Russell County. His family also lived in Trego County and Vesper, where he got his first bank job — mopping the floors for 40 cents a week. At 15, he applied for his first loan, which he used to attend business college in Salina.
Mr. O'Leary arrived in Luray in 1917 to work for the bank. Those first years were not easy ones because of the young banker's Democratic-Irish background. "I was the only Catholic not just in Luray, but in this area," he recalled in a 1982 interview in The Salina Journal. He helped found the People's Bank in 1934 and served as its president and board chairman after it's predecessor, the First National Bank, closed during the Depression. "There wasn't a better fellow who put on a suit when it came to banking," said Salinan Jack Beverly, who knew John O'Leary for more than 60 years. "He was a good, honest banker and he was sincere "He was always by my side if I needed him."
Mr. O'Leary was a member of the Kansas Bankers Association for 50 years and held many KBA offices. He also was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Elks Club at Russell and a 4th degree Knights of Columbus member.
He is survived by a son, John Jr., Luray; a brother, Carl, Spokane, Wash.; two sisters, Lucille Eyer, Kansas City, Mo., and Ella Mae Crites, Golden, Colo.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Agnes L., died in 1974.
LURAY - John A. O'Leary Sr., 83, the poor boy from western Kansas who overcame prejudice and hardship to become one of the state's most successful and respected bankers, died Friday at Salina's Presbyterian Manor.
Mr. O'Leary, a founder of the People's State Bank of Luray, served as state banking commissioner under both Gov. Dockings — George and Robert — and made sure all Kansas banks became insured with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. He resigned from the state job in 1968 to become a director of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. O'Leary, the eldest of 10 children, was born June 22, 1901, in Russell County. His family also lived in Trego County and Vesper, where he got his first bank job — mopping the floors for 40 cents a week. At 15, he applied for his first loan, which he used to attend business college in Salina.
Mr. O'Leary arrived in Luray in 1917 to work for the bank. Those first years were not easy ones because of the young banker's Democratic-Irish background. "I was the only Catholic not just in Luray, but in this area," he recalled in a 1982 interview in The Salina Journal. He helped found the People's Bank in 1934 and served as its president and board chairman after it's predecessor, the First National Bank, closed during the Depression. "There wasn't a better fellow who put on a suit when it came to banking," said Salinan Jack Beverly, who knew John O'Leary for more than 60 years. "He was a good, honest banker and he was sincere "He was always by my side if I needed him."
Mr. O'Leary was a member of the Kansas Bankers Association for 50 years and held many KBA offices. He also was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Elks Club at Russell and a 4th degree Knights of Columbus member.
He is survived by a son, John Jr., Luray; a brother, Carl, Spokane, Wash.; two sisters, Lucille Eyer, Kansas City, Mo., and Ella Mae Crites, Golden, Colo.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Agnes L., died in 1974.
Salina Journal Nov 3 1984
LURAY - John A. O'Leary Sr., 83, the poor boy from western Kansas who overcame prejudice and hardship to become one of the state's most successful and respected bankers, died Friday at Salina's Presbyterian Manor.
Mr. O'Leary, a founder of the People's State Bank of Luray, served as state banking commissioner under both Gov. Dockings — George and Robert — and made sure all Kansas banks became insured with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. He resigned from the state job in 1968 to become a director of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. O'Leary, the eldest of 10 children, was born June 22, 1901, in Russell County. His family also lived in Trego County and Vesper, where he got his first bank job — mopping the floors for 40 cents a week. At 15, he applied for his first loan, which he used to attend business college in Salina.
Mr. O'Leary arrived in Luray in 1917 to work for the bank. Those first years were not easy ones because of the young banker's Democratic-Irish background. "I was the only Catholic not just in Luray, but in this area," he recalled in a 1982 interview in The Salina Journal. He helped found the People's Bank in 1934 and served as its president and board chairman after it's predecessor, the First National Bank, closed during the Depression. "There wasn't a better fellow who put on a suit when it came to banking," said Salinan Jack Beverly, who knew John O'Leary for more than 60 years. "He was a good, honest banker and he was sincere "He was always by my side if I needed him."
Mr. O'Leary was a member of the Kansas Bankers Association for 50 years and held many KBA offices. He also was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Elks Club at Russell and a 4th degree Knights of Columbus member.
He is survived by a son, John Jr., Luray; a brother, Carl, Spokane, Wash.; two sisters, Lucille Eyer, Kansas City, Mo., and Ella Mae Crites, Golden, Colo.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Agnes L., died in 1974.
LURAY - John A. O'Leary Sr., 83, the poor boy from western Kansas who overcame prejudice and hardship to become one of the state's most successful and respected bankers, died Friday at Salina's Presbyterian Manor.
Mr. O'Leary, a founder of the People's State Bank of Luray, served as state banking commissioner under both Gov. Dockings — George and Robert — and made sure all Kansas banks became insured with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. He resigned from the state job in 1968 to become a director of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. O'Leary, the eldest of 10 children, was born June 22, 1901, in Russell County. His family also lived in Trego County and Vesper, where he got his first bank job — mopping the floors for 40 cents a week. At 15, he applied for his first loan, which he used to attend business college in Salina.
Mr. O'Leary arrived in Luray in 1917 to work for the bank. Those first years were not easy ones because of the young banker's Democratic-Irish background. "I was the only Catholic not just in Luray, but in this area," he recalled in a 1982 interview in The Salina Journal. He helped found the People's Bank in 1934 and served as its president and board chairman after it's predecessor, the First National Bank, closed during the Depression. "There wasn't a better fellow who put on a suit when it came to banking," said Salinan Jack Beverly, who knew John O'Leary for more than 60 years. "He was a good, honest banker and he was sincere "He was always by my side if I needed him."
Mr. O'Leary was a member of the Kansas Bankers Association for 50 years and held many KBA offices. He also was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Elks Club at Russell and a 4th degree Knights of Columbus member.
He is survived by a son, John Jr., Luray; a brother, Carl, Spokane, Wash.; two sisters, Lucille Eyer, Kansas City, Mo., and Ella Mae Crites, Golden, Colo.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Agnes L., died in 1974.
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