4th Quarter, 2021
LOS S AND BLES SINGS
by
T O D D S . A DA M S chief executive officer
2
021 has been a year of challenges, opportunities, and loss, which has been heavily influenced by the COVID-19 virus. We have lost work time, family time, interaction with customers, friends and others that we care about. Our bank and our family have certainly felt the effects of this pandemic. In early fall, we lost our dad, Mel Adams, Jr., to COVID-19. Dad was the third generation of our family to have his hand on the helm in running our bank. When he came home in 1960, the only bank in our family was the Bank of Brule. Under his leadership, Keith County Bank in Ogallala was chartered in 1962, followed by the acquisition of existing banks and new locations. At the time of his death, there were 20 branch locations in three states with over $1 billion in assets under management. Dad was both visionary and professionally astute and was adept at utilizing new technology to better serve our customers. He was adamant in his belief that since our bank’s founding in 1916, some things have never changed, such as acting with integrity and having a
strong focus on excellent customer service. This is the legacy he left behind. As we approach a new year, we are reminded that the COVID-19 virus is still with us, and the ways we do business and interact with our customers are still evolving. The new year is an opportune time to take stock of where we are at professionally, personally and financially. First, we have many blessings to be grateful for, and I am reminded of the old hymn that tells us to “count our many blessings, count them one by one.” An attitude of gratitude is a great tonic to get through difficult times. Our blessings take many forms, including healthy bodies and relationships with loved ones and friends. Don’t forget the many freedoms we enjoy as Americans, especially the freedom to worship God, and the bountiful financial blessings we enjoy both individually and collectively in our communities. With these blessings comes the responsibility of being good stewards and using our time, talents and resources wisely. I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous year to come.
MEL ADAMS, JR. | 1935 ~ 2021 Mel Adams, Jr. was born on January 31, 1935 at Ogallala, Nebraska, the son of Melvin and Lucille Adams. In his early years, Mel lived in Lemoyne, Nebraska where the family bank was established. The family and bank moved to Brule, Nebraska due to the construction of Lake McConaughy. Mel graduated from Brule High School in 1952. He then enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard, and was commissioned as an Armor Officer in the United States Army, following the tradition established by his father. During his 13 plus years of service, he rose to the rank of Captain. Mel attended the University of Nebraska, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1956. He graduated from the Independent Bankers Seminar, Harvard University in 1966 and the Colorado School of Banking in Boulder, Colorado in 1968. On January 14, 1956, he married Huberta Beal, his high school sweetheart. They had four children together, with 17 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. In 1962, Mel chartered the Keith County Bank & Trust in Ogallala. Additional banks were purchased and eventually merged and rebranded into Adams Bank & Trust, where Mel was the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board. He was President and owner of the insurance agency that became Adams Insurance Advisors. Mel was elected Chairman of the Nebraska Bankers Association in 1984 and served on the Board and as Chairman of the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colorado. Mel passed away August 1, 2021 in Ogallala, leaving an enduring legacy of leadership and service.
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