Wichita National Bank, Wichita Falls, TX (Charter 13676)

The former Wichita National Bank building acquired in 1959 by the First National Bank of Wichita Falls during a $1,500,000 expansion and remodeling program. The building was renamed the First-Wichita National Bank building and was known for its time and temperature display as well as its blue color. Courtesy of Google Maps ca2022

Wichita National Bank, Wichita Falls, TX (Chartered 1933 - Open past 1935)

Town History

A 1928 advertisement for the Wichita State Bank & Trust Company showing a picture from 1884 of the first bank in Wichita Falls, the Exchange Bank

Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas. It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 102,316, making it the 43rd-most populous city in Texas.

American settlers arrived in the 1860s, mainly as cattle ranchers. The city was named Wichita Falls on September 27, 1876, as the Wichita River runs through the area and a waterfall was in the river's course in 1876. Just 10 years later in 1886, a flood destroyed the original waterfall on the Wichita River for which the city was named. After nearly 100 years of visitors wanting to visit the no longer existing falls, the city built an artificial waterfall beside the river in Lucy Park. The recreated falls are 54 ft high and recirculate at 3,500 gallons per minute.

A large petroleum reservoir was discovered just west of the city of Burkburnett, a small town in Wichita County in 1912. Burkburnett and its surrounding communities became boomtowns, experiencing explosive growth of their populations and economies. By 1918, an estimated 20,000 new settlers had taken up residence around the lucrative oil field and many Wichita County residents had become wealthy virtually overnight. As people streamed into the local communities in search of high-paying jobs, the nearby city of Wichita Falls began to grow in importance.

In 1941, Texas cattleman, oilman, and philanthropist, Joseph Sterling Bridwell, sold 300 acres of land to the United States Army for one dollar for Sheppard Field. It was officially opened as a United States Army Air Corps training center on 17 October 1941, following the arrival of the first military members on 14 June. As the Army Air Corps became the Army Air Forces, facilities were completed sufficiently to allow the first class of 22 aviation mechanics to enter training that October; the class graduated 23 February 1942. During World War II, then-Sheppard Field conducted basic training, and it also trained glider mechanics, technical and flying training instructors and B-29 Superfortress flight engineers. In addition to the basic flying training, the base also provided advanced pilot training. Sheppard Air Force Base is named in honor of Senator John Morris Sheppard of Texas (1875–1941), chairman of the Senate Military Affairs Committee from 1933 until his death on 9 April 1941. Senator Sheppard helped lead the fight for military preparedness before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Wichita Falls had eight National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and five of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

A 1931 advertisement for the Clearing House Association of Wichita Falls.

Sketch of the remodeled front of the Wichita State Bank and Trust Company. The work began in June 1931.

A 20 foot cottonwood tree was hoisted to the top of the Wichita National Bank building at Eighth Street and Scott Avenue and lashed to the highest beam in keeping with a centuries old tradition.

• Absorbed 11762 in part with (First NB (Charter 3200)) and (City National Bank (Charter 4248)), July 22, 1931 (Security National Bank, Wichita Falls, TX, (Charter 11762))
• Succeeded Wichita State Bank and Trust Company, Wichita Falls, TX
• Organized Apr 13, 1933
• Chartered Apr 14, 1933
• Bank was Open past 1935
• Merged with 3200 The First National Bank of Wichita Falls on February 22, 1960
• First-Wichita building at 719 Scott Ave now operated as Big Blue premier office space. Follow the link for a video tour of the building. Accessed November 27, 2024.

In June 1909, application was made by a number of prominent business men to establish a state bank in Wichita Falls to be known as the Wichita State Bank. The stock had been fully subscribed and the bank was expected to open for business by July 15th in the corner room of the new Vreeland Building, corner of Eighth Street and Indiana Avenue. The application for a charter was signed by J.C. Tandy, president of the First National Bank of Temple, Oklahoma; B.E. King, president of the Farmers' State Bank of Devol, Oklahoma; W.H. Francis, capitalist of Seymour, Texas; Joe W. Kemble of Dallas; and J.W. Hopper of Wichita Falls. The officers would be J.C. Tandy, president; B.E. King, cashier; J.W. Hopper, assistant cashier. The office of vice president would be filled later. Mr. J.W. Hopper recently came to Wichita Falls from Bardwell, Kentucky, where he had been identified prominently with the Bardwell Deposit Bank for the past eight years. He was employed by the firm of Anderson & Patterson, real estate and insurance agency since coming to Wichita Falls.

On Tuesday March 11, 1919, the capital stock was increased from $50,000 to $250,000 and the name was changed from the Wichita State Bank to that of the Wichita State Bank and Trust Company. The bank would soon move to its new home in the Clint Wood building then under construction at the corner of Eighth and Scott. The directors elected were W.R. Ferguson, M.J. Gardner, W.W. Gardner, G.C. Kood, T.J. Waggoner, J.E. Wolf, J.L. McConkey, P.B. Cox, M.L. Allday, W.S. Curlee, W.T. Willis, Will Daniels, Lester Jones, Thomas Morrisey, P.J. Lea, and J.W. Akin. The officers were W.R. Ferguson, president; M.J. Gardner, W.W. Gardner, vice presidents; Lester Jones, cashier; W.L. Stewart and I.W. Karrenbrock, assistant cashiers.

On January 1, 1921, John E. Gill and Miss Willa L. Stewart, both well-known members of the official family of the Wichita State Bank were married in Fort Worth at the First Christian Church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gill were assistant cashier of the bank. Mrs. Gill was educated in the local schools and business college. Her first position was as deputy county clerk from which she began at the bank as stenographer working her way up through various positions until her election as first assistant cashier of the bank two years ago. Mr. Gill returned from service in France in May 1919 resuming his work at City National Bank. In February last year, he was made assistant cashier of the Wichita State Bank.

On Tuesday, January 13, 1931, the directors elected were John Hirschi, W.B. Hamilton, N.H. Martin, E.M. Mann, T.J. Waggoner, Pat H. Simmons, and Lester jones. The directors met and elected all the old officers as follows: John Hirschi, president; Pat H. Simmons, active vice president and cashier; J.T. Waggoner, vice president; Lester Jones vice president and cashier; I.W. Karrenbrock, R.V. Fite, and W.L. Stewart Gill, assistant cashier. Remodeling of the front of the Wichita State Bank and Trust Company, located in the Waggoner building, started in June 1931 and would be rushed to completion. The front of the building was removed and large plate glass windows, two on each side of the present main entrance installed. Plate glass doors would be installed on each side of the double doors. The entire mezzanine floor was removed and the directors' room that was there was moved to the basement and made much larger. The plans were drawn by Voelcker & Dixon. Taylor Brothers & Co. were the contractors. The cost of the remodeling was $7,500. Customers of the bank were able to enter during construction using the Eighth Street main entrance or the lobby entrance from either Eighth Street or Scott Avenue.

On Wednesday, March 15, 1933, opening of the banks ended a financial moratorium which started March 2nd with a proclamation by Governor Ferguson and was continued by President Roosevelt. Authority to reopen was received Tuesday night and at 8:30 o'clock the doors of the three Wichita institutions--the First National Bank, the City National Bank and the Wichita State Bank and Trust Company--were opened. From grimy overalls pockets, sleek wallets, sacks, bags and suitcases, a great stream of money poured into the three banks. Not a single bank used an affidavit required by the federal government in the case of large withdrawals. Bank clerks who had completed two weeks of enforced idleness worked long overtime Wednesday night to clear up the day's business. On Monday, April 17, 1933, the Wichita National Bank opened for business, succeeding the Wichita State Bank and Trust Co.

On Tuesday, January 8, 1935, the officers for the Wichita National Bank were John Hirschi, president; Pat H. Simmons, active vice president; T.J. Waggoner, vice president; Lester Jones, vice president and cashier; I.W. Karrenbrock, R.V. Fite, and W.L. Stewart Gill, assistant cashiers. The directors were Mr. Hirschi, N.H. Martin, Mr. Waggoner, W.B. Hamilton, E.M. Mann, Mr. Simmons, and Mr. Jones.

On Tuesday, January 14, 1941, the directors re-elected were: John Hirschi, E.M. Mann, Jack H. Martin, H.S. Ford, C.H. Parker, and Pat H. Simmons. John Hirschi, pioneer landowner and financier, was named chairman of the board; Pat H. Simmons, president; R.V. Fite, active vice president; I.W. Karrenbrock, cashier; W.D. Lacy, A.W. Simmons, and W.L. Steward, assistant cashiers; and Ed Fizer, auditor.

On Thursday, November 19, 1959, a 20 foot cottonwood tree was hoisted to the top of the Wichita National Bank building and lashed to the highest beam. This was done by workmen in keeping with a tradition said to be centuries old, started in an effort to placate the "gods" of nature, including wind and lightning. The highest beam at 164 feet above the busy intersection of Eighth and Scott was placed by the O'Rourke Construction Company, general contractor with the $1,500,000 expansion and remodeling program of the Wichita National Bank. Since August 27 when pouring of additional floors began, 1,562 yards of concrete had been poured with about eight tons of reinforcing steel to complete the building's skeleton. The bank project was scheduled for completion in late summer of 1960 and would feature an exterior covering of sparkling blue porcelain steel, bringing a dramatic change in the skyline of downtown Wichita Falls.

On Monday, December 21, 1959, the First National Bank of Wichita Falls and the Wichita National Bank announced plans to merge, the new bank to be called the First-Wichita National Bank. The joint announcement said the bank would have capital of $9 million, total resources of $100 million and a loan limit up to $500,000. The bank would be the largest in the area from Wichita Falls to Denver and would be surpassed in size in Texas only by some of the larger banks in Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso. Offices of the new bank would be in those occupied by Wichita National Bank. Carter McGregor, president of First National Bank would become chairman of the board and Joe B. Wolverton, president of Wichita National, president. Stockholders' meetings were planned for around February 1st.

On Monday, February 22, 1960, the newly consolidated institution opened for business. Joe B. Wolverton who began his banking career in Vernon in 1939 assumed the presidency of the new First-Wichita National Bank. He joined Waggoner National Bank following his graduation from the University of Texas in 1939, serving in various capacities, finally becoming president in 1950. He was elected president of the Wichita National Bank in November 1956. According to reports on deposits as of December 31, 1959, the First-Wichita National Bank would be the 14th largest bank in Texas and 273rd largest bank in the United States. The stockholders of First-Wichita elected the following directors and advisory directors: Carter McGregor, chairman; Homer Lee and W. Erle White, vice chairmen; Carl T. Anderson, John Biggs, Merrill W. Blair, J.S. Bridwell, Bobby M. Burns, C.B. Christie, Jr., James A. Cullum, W. Daniel, E.A. Denney, A.R. Dillard, Linton H. Estes, H. Steve Ford, George W. Graham, Ralph O. Harvey, Jr., William E. Huff, G.D. Ireland, Edward G. Kadane, R.A. King, Jack H. Martin, Marvin L. McCullough, A.M. Miller, R.J. Moran, D.L. (Dick) Naylor, John F. O'Donohoe, C.H. Parker, Kindel Paulk, Floyd L. Randel, C.D. Shamburger, Jr., Howell E. Smith, Ikard Smith, J.E. Taubert, T.J. Waggoner, Jr., Wayne O. Watts, John H. Wilson, Joe B. Wolverton and Frank M. Wood. The board elected the following officers: Joe B. Wolverton, president; Grady D. Atchley, R.V. Fite, Dick Harris, W.D. Lacy, Hary C. Lane, Carey T. Mayfield, Hudson Meador, Cleo A. Nipper (and trust officer), J.C. Poerter, Lloyd M. Smith, W.R. Terry, and Ray L. Winstead, vice presidents; Forrest Collins, cashier; Malcolm Mills, comptroller; Al C. Flack, Jr., E.J. Goodlett, J. Howard Morgan, Oral Staples, T.S. Thomson, assistant vice presidents; W.F. Boling, Robert Brooks, T.J. Campbell, Claude Draper, Pete E. Graham, Harles Hanson, L.F. Kubecka, William Price Lowry, Jr., R.E. Medlinger, Carl Neel, B.R. Orr, Elton E. Welchel, assistant cashiers; John P. League, assistant trust officer; and Lee Arthur, auditor. Upon completion of remodeling, First-Wichita would be located on the corner of Eighth and Scott in the former Wichita National Building. The Wichita National Bank was opened in 1909 as the Wichita State Bank and Trust Company. In 1920 the bank moved to the corner of Eighth and Scott. The Wichita National received its name and national charter in 1934.

Official Bank Title

1: Wichita National Bank of Wichita Falls, TX

Bank Note Types Issued

1929 Type 2 $100 bank note with printed signatures of Lester Jones, Cashier and John Hirschi, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $375,100 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1933 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 38,548 notes (No large size and 38,548 small size notes).

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

Series/Type	Sheet/Denoms	Serial#s	Sheet Comments
1929 Type 2	5	1 - 22728
1929 Type 2	10	1 - 10663
1929 Type 2	20	1 - 4074
1929 Type 2	50	1 - 699
1929 Type 2	100	1 - 384

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1933 - 1935):

Presidents:

• John Rudolf Hirschi, 1933-1935

Cashiers:

• Lester Scott Jones, 1933-1935

Other Known Bank Note Signers

• No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

• Wichita National Bank, Wichita Falls, TX History (NB Lookup)
• Texas Bank Note History (BNH Wiki)

Sources

• Wichita Falls, TX, on 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