HR1409 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1409 LRB094 21369 HSS 59721 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Mr. Donald K. Gnuse on receiving the Illinois Bankers Association 50 Year Club Award; and

WHEREAS, Hailing from Lewistown, Missouri, banking runs in Mr. Gnuse's family; his parents owned a bank in his hometown and were actively involved in the day to day operation of the bank; he often went to work with them and learned about banking at a very early age; and

WHEREAS, He graduated from Culver-Stockton College in 1956 and began his career with First Bankers Trust Company (formerly known as Broadway National Bank), serving as a Customer Service Representative; he was subsequently named Marketing Director, and in 1970, he was named President of First Bankers Trust Company, a position he retained until 2002; he is currently the Chairman of the Board of First Bankers Trust Company and First Bankers TrustShares Inc. as well as First Bankers Trust Services; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure as bank president, three new branches were built; he was the driving force behind the founding of First Bankers TrustShares Inc. in 1988 and the founding of the affiliate Trust Company in 2003; when the bank was organized in 1946, there were 8 staff members; under Mr. Gnuse's leadership, the bank has grown to over 190 staff members in 2006; with his leadership and guidance, the First Bankers Trust Company's current assets have grown to over $400 million, while First Bankers Trust Services has over $2 billion in assets under management; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gnuse has been extremely active in his church and the Quincy community as well as the surrounding communities during his 50 year banking career and has served on various boards and in many different capacities; he is a past United Way Chairman as well as a member of many different service clubs and is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Culver-Stockton College; and

WHEREAS, In honor of his many years of service, Mr. Gnuse recently became one of the elite few to receive the Illinois Bankers Association's "50 Years in Banking Award"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Don Gnuse on receiving the Illinois Bankers Association 50 Year Club Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Gnuse as an expression of our respect and esteem.