Southwest National Bank, Dallas, TX (Charter 11996)

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Magnolia Hotel at Main and Akard Streets, Dallas, Texas, ca2022. View is from Commerce and Akard. This 29-story building opened in 1922 for Magnolia Petroleum Corporation.  A large revolving neon Pegasus was added in 1934, and the flying red horse became a Dallas Landmark. During its brief existence, the Southwest National Bank was located here.
Magnolia Hotel at Main and Akard Streets, Dallas, Texas, ca2022. View is from Commerce and Akard. This 29-story building opened in 1922 for Magnolia Petroleum Corporation.  A large revolving neon Pegasus was added in 1934, and the flying red horse became a Dallas Landmark. During its brief existence, the Southwest National Bank was located here. Courtesy of Google Maps

Southwest National Bank, Dallas, TX (Chartered 1921 - Liquidated 1925)

Town History

Downtown Dallas skyline
Downtown Dallas skyline ca1920-30s. Courtesy of DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

Dallas is the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County in the U.S. state of Texas with portions extending into Collin, Denton, Kaufman and Rockwall counties. With a 2020 census population of 1,304,379, it is the ninth most-populous city in the U.S. and the third-largest in Texas after Houston and San Antonio. In 1880 the population was 10,358, increasing to 269,475 by 1930.

Located in the North Texas region, the city of Dallas is the main core of the largest metropolitan area in the southern United States and the largest inland metropolitan area in the U.S. that lacks any navigable link to the sea. The cities of Dallas and nearby Fort Worth were initially developed due to the construction of major railroad lines through the area allowing access to cotton, cattle and later oil in North and East Texas. The construction of the Interstate Highway System reinforced Dallas's prominence as a transportation hub, with four major interstate highways converging in the city and a fifth interstate loop around it. Dallas then developed as a strong industrial and financial center and a major inland port, due to the convergence of major railroad lines, interstate highways and the construction of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, one of the largest and busiest airports in the world.

Dallas had 28 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 27 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

The Security National Bank of Dallas would become the Southwest National Bank. A charter for the bank with the new name had been approved on July 18, 1921. The capital stock was $2,000,000. R.W. Higginbotham was president and Sam R. Lawder, cashier. The bank would occupy quarters in the Magnolia building in 1922 (See the Magnolia Hotel for a history of the building).[1]

The board of directors of Texas Christian University announced the appointment of L.C. (Pete) Wright to the position of director of athletics and business agent for athletic teams effective August 20, 1922. Pete Wright as he was universally known, had been officially connected with the Southwest National Bank of Dallas and its predecessor, more recently involved in new business development as an assistant cashier. Mr. Wright was one of the best athletes ever turned out by TCU. For five years he played right tackle on the football team and during his time was regarded as one of the best linemen in Texas. He entered TCU in 1904 and graduated in 1910, the year the administration building burned in Waco. Wiley Blair, president of the Southwest National and chairman of the athletic committee of the State Fair of Texas stated "The bank regrets exceedingly to lose Mr. Wright from its official family, but knowing his personality and his business acumen, I predict for him great success in his new line of work at Texas Christion University." Dan D. Rogers, vice president of the Southwest National Bank of Dallas and president of the alumni and ex-students association had materially assisted in persuading Mr. Wright to accept a position in the bank and was enthusiastic over future success of Horned Frog athletics at TCU.

In April 1924, the officers were Mike H. Thomas, chairman of the board; Warren P. Andrews, president; Dan D. Rogers, W.F. Skillman, J.W. Royall, and Fred Mercer, vice presidents; and Gus Ayres, cashier. The bank was located in the Magnolia Building, Dallas, Texas.

On Thursday, May 22, 1924, Sam R. Lawder assumed the chairmanship of the First District, Texas Bankers' Association, making him a member of the state association. Mr. Lawder started his banking career as a runner for the National Exchange Bank of Dallas. In 1914 he became assistant cashier and credit manager of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas when the institution was organized. Later he organized the El Paso branch and the Houston branch, respectively, as manager. Prior to his connection with the Federal Reserve Bank he was assistant cashier of the Trinity National Bank from 1909 to 1914. In 1923 he accepted the vice presidency of the First National Bank of Houston while cashier of the Southwest National Bank of Dallas.

Official Bank Title

1: The Southwest National Bank of Dallas, TX

Bank Note Types Issued

1902 Plain Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of Sam R. Lawder, Cashier and R.W. Higginbotham, President.
1902 Plain Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of Sam R. Lawder, Cashier and R.W. Higginbotham, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of Dan D. Rogers, Cashier and Wiley Blair, President.
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of Dan D. Rogers, Cashier and Wiley Blair, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $2,218,200 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1921 and 1925. This consisted of a total of 241,092 notes (241,092 large size and No small size notes).

This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
1902 Plain Back 4x5 1 - 21370
1902 Plain Back 4x10 1 - 15435
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1 - 23468

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1921 - 1925):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

  • There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.

Wiki Links

Sources

  • Dallas, TX, Wikipedia
  • Don C. Kelly, National Bank Notes, A Guide with Prices. 6th Edition (Oxford, OH: The Paper Money Institute, 2008).
  • Dean Oakes and John Hickman, Standard Catalog of National Bank Notes. 2nd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1990).
  • Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
  • Downtown Dallas Skyline, Courtesy of DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University, accessed November 14, 2024.
  • Fort Worth Record-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Sun., Aug. 20, 1922.
  • Fort Worth Record-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Tue., Apr. 15, 1924.
  • The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Fri., May 23, 1924.
  1. ↑ Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Tue., July 19, 1921.
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