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Transcribed by Jaylyn Thacher

Wellsville Daily Reporter, Thursday, June 24, 1968

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CITIZENS BANK Announce Change

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In announcing Mr. Bloss’ retirement after a half-century of service, Citizens National Bank officals revealed the election of Theodore M. McClure to the bank’s presidency, effective July 1, 1968.

Mr. McClure is a veteran of 33 years service with the bank, and is currently serving as Executive Vice President and Director.

A graduate of the American Bankers Association Institute of Banking and Stonier Graduate School at Rutgers University, and the New York State Bankers Association Executive Management Course, Mr. McClure also serves many local and area civic organizations.

He is a Director and Chairman of the Board of Managers of Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville; a Director of the Rochester Regional Health and Hospital Council, Inc., and its Review and Planning Council; Council member, State University of New York, Agricultural and Technical College, Alfred, N.Y., and a Director of the Educational Foundation Inc. of Alfred; a Director of the Buffalo Eye Bank and Reseach Society, Inc. of Buffalo, and of the Better Business Bureau of Western New York, Inc.

Mr. McClure is a charter member and Past President of the Wellsville Lions Club, a Past President of the Wellsville United Fund, and a Past President of the Allegany County Bankers Association.

He is a member of Wellsville Lodge No. 230 F. and A. M., and Past District Deputy Grand Master, Allegany County District, and a member of the Corning Consistory.

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Named Executive Vice President effective July 1 is James E. Searle, who has served the local banking institution for 28 years, and currently Senior Vice President and Director.

Mr. Searle is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, Rochester Business Institute, and the New York Bankers School of Agriculture, Cornell University.

He is a member of the Group Government Legislative Committee of the New York State Bankers Association; the Executive Committee of the State Bankers Association Installment Credit Division; Vice President of a Regional Independent Bankers Association, and Assistant Treasurer of the United Fund of Wellsville.

Mr. Searle has rendered past services in numerous professional and civic organizations, including service as President of the Allegany County Bankers Association; Chairman, Installment Credit Key-Bankers Committee of the State Bankers Association; President, Wellsville Chamber of Commerce; President, Wellsville Rotary Club; Fire Chief, Wellsville Fire Department; Member, Board of Trustees, Town of Wellsville; and Chairman, Crippled Children’s Association of Allegany County.

He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks Club, the Wellsville Rotary Club, and the Emerald Hook and Ladder Company.

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Also announced is the promotion of Paul E. Kilbane from Vice Trust Officer and Cashier to Senior Vice President and Trust Officer for the bank. He has been employed by Citizens National Bank since September 1947.

A native and resident of Andover, Mr. Kilbane is a graduate of the New York State Bankers School of Agriculture at Cornell University, and attended Alfred University and completed various American Institute of Banking courses in specialized areas.

Mr. Kilbane was named Assistant Cashire in 1955, an Assistant Vice President in 1959, Trust Officer in 1961, and became Vice President, Trust Officer and Cashier in 1965.

He currently is serving as Mayor of the Village of Andover.

Among professional and civil activities, Mr. Kilbane has served as a former President of the New York State Municipal Electric Utilities Association; Secretary-Treasurer of the New York State Bankers Association Trust Division; member and former Grand Knight, Wellsville Council 919, Knights of Columbus, as a member independent President of the Andover Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army.

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Also Announced was the promotion of Ralph Stockman from Assistant Cashier to Cashier. Mr. Stockman has been an employee of the bank since 1961 and was appointed Assistant Operations Officer in 1966, primarily responsible for the coordination of bookkeeping and accounting systems.

He holds an Associates Degree in Business Management from State University of New York, Alfred.

Mr. Stockman has been very active in Allegany County Civil Defense work, and has served on numerous charitable funds raising efforts. He has completed management and training courses under the American Institute of Banking Program.

In a new appointment, Citizens National Bank officials has named DeForest F. Smith Jr., to the post of Assistant Cashier. Mr. Smith has 20 years of banking experience and served as Cashier of the First National Bank of Genesee prior to its consolidation with a Ulysses bank.