Otis A. Thompson
New Teller of Chenango National Bank in Norwich
Utica Saturday Globe, July 14, 1906
Otis A. Thompson
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]: The selection of Otis A. Thompson by the Board of Directors of the Chenango National Bank for the position of teller in that institution meets the approval of the patrons of the bank and is very pleasing to the many friends of the young man in this community.
Mr. Thompson is but 23 years of age and was born in Colorado. When he was a child the family came east and located on a farm in Preston [Chenango Co., NY]. Mr Thompson was educated in the district school and the Norwich High School. During the last year of his studies in the High School he was night operator for the Central New York Telephone and Telegraph Company. Five years ago he entered the employ of the Chenango National Bank as book-keeper. He has shown such aptness for the banking business that his advancement has been rapid. He is quick and accurate and has mastered the details of his work in a manner worthy of men of much older heads and wider experience.
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]: Otis A. Thompson, president of the National Bank & Trust co. of Norwich for the last 23 years, last night was named "Citizen of the year" at the annual dinner sponsored by three service clubs here. Some 300 persons attended the testimonial dinner at the Canasawacta Country Club sponsored by the rotary, Kiwanis and Service clubs of Norwich.
Among the congratulatory messages received by Mr. Thomspon were notes from Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, State Senator Janet Hill Gordon of Norwich, Chenango County assemblyman Guy L. Marvin of Greene and former U.S Senator Irving M. Ives of Norwich. The message from the governor reads in part: "Banquet in your honor is a high fitting tribute to your numerous activities for the benefit of you community and state, The support you give so unselfishly to charitable and religious causes, your warm-hearted help to young people of the community definitely merits this public designation of you as citizen of the year."
Mr. Thompson was a delegate last year to the national Republican presidential convention. The presentation of the "citizen" award to the banker came two days before he is to celebrate his 78th birthday. Mr. Thompson was born June 22, 1883, in Longmont, Colo. He was a graduate of Norwich High School and became a bookkeeper at the Chenango County National Bank & Trust co. of Norwich around the turn of the century. He joined the National Bank & Trust co. of Norwich in 1913. His civic affiliations include the 4-H Club, chairman of Chenango Memorial Hospital building fund, trustee of the local YMCA, director of the Community Chest, member of Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, member of the city's Planning Commission and former member of the Board of Education. In 1954, Colgate University awarded him a Civic Award at the founders Day Convocation and last year he received a Distinguished Citizenship Award from Hartwick College.
The presentation of a plaque to Mr. Thompson was made by David F. Lee, Sr., last year's recipient of the "citizen" award. Speaker was Dr. Lawrence Durgin, former pastor of Congregational Church of Norwich and presently pastor of Broadway Congregational Church of New York City. Master of ceremonies was Carl E. Fribley. Invocation and benediction were by the Rev. Frank W. Gardner, pastor of the Congregational Church of Norwich. Dr. Paul F. MacLeod was chairman of the committee in charge of the program. Members of the committee include Dr Thomas M. Flanagen, Harry L. Case, Thomas V. Sproul, Charles Gallagher, Joseph L. Armstrong, Norton L. Endries and Stanley K. Georgia.
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]: The Norwich area will pay its final respects to veteran banker Otis A. Thompson at 11 a.m. funeral services tomorrow in the United Church of Christ First Congregational.
Mr. Thompson, 85, died yesterday morning of an apparent heart attack at his 139 North Broad Street home in Norwich. He was preparing for work when he was stricken. Called by many of his colleagues "one of the sharpest bankers in the state," Mr. Thompson recently had stepped down as president of the National Bank & Trust co. of Norwich, but had retained the position of board chairman and chief executive officer. He daily put in eight hours at his desk, on the second floor of the bank's modern South Broad Street offices.
The Rev. Nelson S. Munson, interim pastor of the United Church of Christ First congregational of Norwich, will conduct the services. Burial will be in the family plot in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Norwich.
He was born June 22, 1883, in Longmont, Colo., the son of George and Sarah Schoolcraft Thompson and came to Norwich with his family while he was a boy. He received his early education in local schools and was graduated from Norwich High School in the Class of 1901. He began work as a clerk with the Chenango County National Bank & Trust Co. of Norwich and remained there until 1913, when he joined the National Bank & Trust Company of Norwich as a cashier and director. Mr. Thompson held the position of director and cashier until 1938, when he was named president. He relinquished that title two months ago at the bank's annual meeting. He had held the position for 30 years. He was named chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the bank.
He was a graduate of the Stoner Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. An active participant in church, community and civic affairs, at the time of his death he was a member of the YMCA of Norwich, the Bankers Club of New York City, Norwich Masonic Lodge 302, Harmony Chapter 1 51, Royal Arch Masons, and Norwich Elks Lodge 1222. He was serving as trustee of the Norwich YMCA, was a Community Chest of Norwich budget committee member, Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, Norwich City Planning Commission, and was president of the Norwich Cemetery Association. Mr. Thompson was a director of the Chenango & Unadilla Telephone Corp. of Norwich, the Dimock Hollow Telephone Corp. of Norwich, Gladding Co. of South Otselic, and the Preferred mutual Insurance Co., of South New Berlin. He was a director and chairman of Chenango & Undilla Communications Corp. Chenango Savings & Load Association and General Laboratory Associates, and was a director and member of the executive committee of the Norwich Pharmacal Co. He was also vice-president and director of Norwich Mills.
Mr. Thompson was director and chairman of the board of New York Business Development Corp of Albany, a director and member of the audit and executive committee of the Security Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Binghamton, president of the Chenango Savings & Loan Association of Norwich, Class A. director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a director of Craine Inc., of Norwich, the first National Bank of Sidney, B.F. Gladding & Company of South Otselic and the Oswego County Telephone Co. of Oswego.
Mr. Thompson had been building fund chairman of the Chenango Memorial Hospital, director of the Chenango Memorial Hospital, director and member of the industrial development Committee of the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, cochairman of the New Building Survey council of the Norwich YMCA, a member of the Board of Education of the Norwich City School System, and a trustee of Cazenovia College. Earlier this month, Mr.and Mrs. Thompson were honored when a private dining area at Hubbard Dining Hall at Cazenovia College was named in their honor.
He was involved for 39 years in Chenango County 4-H work. He was an organizer of the work in Chenango County in 1920 and was chairman of the executive committee of the Chenango County Extension 4-H Department. He was a member of the United Church of Christ First Congregational of Norwich and had been a director, president, moderator, chairman of the finance committee and chairman of the committee to choose a conference superintendent and administer of the New York Congregational Christian Conference, Inc., of New York City. He was a delegate to the constituting Synod on Union of Evangelical and Reformed Denomination with Congregational Christian Denomination at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1957, and a delegate to the second Synod of the united Church of Christ at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1959.
His past professional affiliations included being a member of the Council on Banking Education of the American Bankers Association, a member at large of the Council of Administration and of the Administrative Board of the New York State Bankers Association, director of the Empire State Group, chairman of the Agricultural Commission of the American Bankers Association representing the Second Federal Reserve District, and treasurer of the New York State Bankers Association.
Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife, C. Belle Gucker Thompson; two sisters, Mrs. Lewis Brown of Sun City, Ariz., and Mrs. Tipton Wood of Escondido, Cal.; a brother, Oren A. Thompson of Norwich; a niece, Mrs. Charles Henderson of Sun City, Ariz., and a nephew, Raymond Thompson of Norwich.
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Otis A. Thompson, Norwich Citizen of the year, 1961
Binghamton Press, June 21, 1961
Among the congratulatory messages received by Mr. Thomspon were notes from Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, State Senator Janet Hill Gordon of Norwich, Chenango County assemblyman Guy L. Marvin of Greene and former U.S Senator Irving M. Ives of Norwich. The message from the governor reads in part: "Banquet in your honor is a high fitting tribute to your numerous activities for the benefit of you community and state, The support you give so unselfishly to charitable and religious causes, your warm-hearted help to young people of the community definitely merits this public designation of you as citizen of the year."
Mr. Thompson was a delegate last year to the national Republican presidential convention. The presentation of the "citizen" award to the banker came two days before he is to celebrate his 78th birthday. Mr. Thompson was born June 22, 1883, in Longmont, Colo. He was a graduate of Norwich High School and became a bookkeeper at the Chenango County National Bank & Trust co. of Norwich around the turn of the century. He joined the National Bank & Trust co. of Norwich in 1913. His civic affiliations include the 4-H Club, chairman of Chenango Memorial Hospital building fund, trustee of the local YMCA, director of the Community Chest, member of Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, member of the city's Planning Commission and former member of the Board of Education. In 1954, Colgate University awarded him a Civic Award at the founders Day Convocation and last year he received a Distinguished Citizenship Award from Hartwick College.
The presentation of a plaque to Mr. Thompson was made by David F. Lee, Sr., last year's recipient of the "citizen" award. Speaker was Dr. Lawrence Durgin, former pastor of Congregational Church of Norwich and presently pastor of Broadway Congregational Church of New York City. Master of ceremonies was Carl E. Fribley. Invocation and benediction were by the Rev. Frank W. Gardner, pastor of the Congregational Church of Norwich. Dr. Paul F. MacLeod was chairman of the committee in charge of the program. Members of the committee include Dr Thomas M. Flanagen, Harry L. Case, Thomas V. Sproul, Charles Gallagher, Joseph L. Armstrong, Norton L. Endries and Stanley K. Georgia.
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Obituary
Binghamton Press, April 17, 1968
Otis A. Thompson
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]: The Norwich area will pay its final respects to veteran banker Otis A. Thompson at 11 a.m. funeral services tomorrow in the United Church of Christ First Congregational.
Mr. Thompson, 85, died yesterday morning of an apparent heart attack at his 139 North Broad Street home in Norwich. He was preparing for work when he was stricken. Called by many of his colleagues "one of the sharpest bankers in the state," Mr. Thompson recently had stepped down as president of the National Bank & Trust co. of Norwich, but had retained the position of board chairman and chief executive officer. He daily put in eight hours at his desk, on the second floor of the bank's modern South Broad Street offices.
The Rev. Nelson S. Munson, interim pastor of the United Church of Christ First congregational of Norwich, will conduct the services. Burial will be in the family plot in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Norwich.
He was born June 22, 1883, in Longmont, Colo., the son of George and Sarah Schoolcraft Thompson and came to Norwich with his family while he was a boy. He received his early education in local schools and was graduated from Norwich High School in the Class of 1901. He began work as a clerk with the Chenango County National Bank & Trust Co. of Norwich and remained there until 1913, when he joined the National Bank & Trust Company of Norwich as a cashier and director. Mr. Thompson held the position of director and cashier until 1938, when he was named president. He relinquished that title two months ago at the bank's annual meeting. He had held the position for 30 years. He was named chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the bank.
He was a graduate of the Stoner Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. An active participant in church, community and civic affairs, at the time of his death he was a member of the YMCA of Norwich, the Bankers Club of New York City, Norwich Masonic Lodge 302, Harmony Chapter 1 51, Royal Arch Masons, and Norwich Elks Lodge 1222. He was serving as trustee of the Norwich YMCA, was a Community Chest of Norwich budget committee member, Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, Norwich City Planning Commission, and was president of the Norwich Cemetery Association. Mr. Thompson was a director of the Chenango & Unadilla Telephone Corp. of Norwich, the Dimock Hollow Telephone Corp. of Norwich, Gladding Co. of South Otselic, and the Preferred mutual Insurance Co., of South New Berlin. He was a director and chairman of Chenango & Undilla Communications Corp. Chenango Savings & Load Association and General Laboratory Associates, and was a director and member of the executive committee of the Norwich Pharmacal Co. He was also vice-president and director of Norwich Mills.
Mr. Thompson was director and chairman of the board of New York Business Development Corp of Albany, a director and member of the audit and executive committee of the Security Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Binghamton, president of the Chenango Savings & Loan Association of Norwich, Class A. director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a director of Craine Inc., of Norwich, the first National Bank of Sidney, B.F. Gladding & Company of South Otselic and the Oswego County Telephone Co. of Oswego.
Mr. Thompson had been building fund chairman of the Chenango Memorial Hospital, director of the Chenango Memorial Hospital, director and member of the industrial development Committee of the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, cochairman of the New Building Survey council of the Norwich YMCA, a member of the Board of Education of the Norwich City School System, and a trustee of Cazenovia College. Earlier this month, Mr.and Mrs. Thompson were honored when a private dining area at Hubbard Dining Hall at Cazenovia College was named in their honor.
He was involved for 39 years in Chenango County 4-H work. He was an organizer of the work in Chenango County in 1920 and was chairman of the executive committee of the Chenango County Extension 4-H Department. He was a member of the United Church of Christ First Congregational of Norwich and had been a director, president, moderator, chairman of the finance committee and chairman of the committee to choose a conference superintendent and administer of the New York Congregational Christian Conference, Inc., of New York City. He was a delegate to the constituting Synod on Union of Evangelical and Reformed Denomination with Congregational Christian Denomination at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1957, and a delegate to the second Synod of the united Church of Christ at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1959.
His past professional affiliations included being a member of the Council on Banking Education of the American Bankers Association, a member at large of the Council of Administration and of the Administrative Board of the New York State Bankers Association, director of the Empire State Group, chairman of the Agricultural Commission of the American Bankers Association representing the Second Federal Reserve District, and treasurer of the New York State Bankers Association.
Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife, C. Belle Gucker Thompson; two sisters, Mrs. Lewis Brown of Sun City, Ariz., and Mrs. Tipton Wood of Escondido, Cal.; a brother, Oren A. Thompson of Norwich; a niece, Mrs. Charles Henderson of Sun City, Ariz., and a nephew, Raymond Thompson of Norwich.
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