Managing editor
“It’s been a good run,” Carl Long said about his impending retirement from the banking business.
The longtime Hillsboro State Bank president is counting the days until he can spend more time doing the other activities he enjoys — golfing and fishing.
The last day for him on the job is Aug. 3, which is Long’s 70th birthday.
Long began his successful career 45 years ago at Bank of Whitewater, located in his hometown.
“I started by filing checks and running the proof machine,” Long said.
He headed west to Dodge City in 1968, and remained there until he came to Hillsboro in 1988.
“I worked my way up,” he said, which gave him an opportunity to know the banking business, inside and out.
The banking business has changed during the years, particularly regulations and electronic services.
“There’s online banking, debit card growth — it’s all changing,” Long said. “We’ve gone from handling paper to electronic imaging.”
One thing hasn’t changed and that is the lending practice of a community bank.
Working in a community bank also means doing a little bit of everything.
“I wear a lot of hats,” Long said.
But the only hat he wants to wear in the coming months is a golf or fishing hat.
Long and wife Jane plan to relocate to Bella Vista, Ark., sometime in the next year.
Jane is employed by USD 410 and plans to retire in the coming months.
Why Bella Vista?
“It has eight golf courses and seven fishing lakes,” Long said with a laugh.
There also is a retirement village there where friends of the couple live.
The couple has five children — Randy and wife Tina of Fort Worth, Tracey and husband Ross Pasatino of Olathe, Leslie and husband Doug Lust of Belton, Mo., Robin and husband Paul King of Panama City, Fla., and Ron and wife Terri of Eudora — and 14 grandchildren.
“I’ve enjoyed my banking career,” Long said. “It has a lot of rewards.”
His fondest memories of his career are being able to help people.
“I’ve helped them meet their dreams or contributed to their dreams,” Long said. “I’ll miss that part.”
Long also is appreciative of the community.
“Hillsboro has been good to us,” he said. “We’ve enjoyed living here. We’ve made a lot of good friends.”
Long said he was looking forward to retiring.
“I’ll find something to do,” Long said. “I’ll stay busy doing something — besides golfing and fishing.”