Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Tony Bullocks Kent Carruthers, president of The Citizens Bank of Clovis, accepts the Citizen of The Year Award at Friday’s night Clovis/Curry County Annual Banquet.
Editor
It’s hosted two major motion picture productions and been the site of real-life drama in two downtown locations.
Staff photo: Tony Bullocks
Kent Carruthers, president of The Citizens Bank of Clovis, accepts the Citizen of The Year Award at Friday’s night Clovis/Curry County Annual Banquet.
And now, the century-old financial institution that promotes itself as “the best bank around” — in part because of its circular design — has made history again.
Citizens Bank is the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce’s citizen of the year.
“We just thought we were real clever for giving our citizen of the year, of the century, to Citizens Bank,” said Chamber Executive Director Ernie Kos.
It’s the first time in at least 21 years a business has received the honor usually reserved for individuals, Kos said.
Chamber members gathered Friday night for their annual banquet and awards dinner.
Citizens Bank, which turned 100 in January, has been in the spotlight before.
Susan Ogilvie, vice president and cashier at the bank for 37 years, said movies “Believe in Me” and Comancheria” both shot scenes at the bank’s current location on Pile Street.
Neither involved a bank robbery, she said.
“Believe in Me” used the bank to shoot a meeting with a fictional basketball coach in 2005. Last summer, the yet-to-be-released “Comancheria” shot a scene in which a banker was approached for a loan.
Ogilvie said actor Chris Pine “walked right up to me and started talking just like a normal person,” she laughed.
“He loved the architecture of the bank and he loved the furniture,” she said.
“Everything is as it was in 1967. He said if we ever have any of the furniture for sale, to call him up and let him know.”
Before the bank moved to Pile Street in 1967, it was located where Bank of Clovis is now on Main Street.
The Main Street location was where Clovis’ most famous family feud — the Tate-Bohannan feud — saw its deadly confrontations.
Vernon Tate, George Bohannan and Carl Bohannan all died in shootouts after accidental encounters outside the Citizens Bank in the 1930s.
While the bank has undergone multiple changes in its century of serving Clovis and eastern New Mexico, one thing has not changed: It’s still owned by the Skarda family.
A.W. Skarda helped organize it in 1916, two Skardas are on the board of directors today and the bank is owned by its shareholders, all Skarda family members.
Kos said the Chamber’s executive committee selected the bank as its citizen of the year. A Chamber news release said it was because, “it reflects the values of everyone who lives and works here.
“Their owners and employees have long been servants, volunteers, and generous donors in our community ...
“It started with $25,000 and has since grown to assets in excess of $325 million.”
Other winners announced at Friday’s gathering, with information provided by the Chamber news release:
Young Professionals of Clovis Member of the Year
Jessica Banister was selected by YPC members due to her “direction, time and energy toward marketing and supporting the YPC organization throughout 2015” and for coordinating the first Rocktoberfest fund-raiser.
YPC Treasurer Jennale Liston said Banister is “unstoppable, a team player and gets (things) done … a beautiful person inside and out.”
Chamber Member of the Year
Clovis Community College “has invested heavily in our area, spending more than $33 million on capital investments and building projects, thriving even more so due to the intensely loyal support of many of our most notable community members, with heavy support for our local healthcare providers and systems.”
CCC has awarded more than 6,400 degrees and boasts a 70 percent job placement for all of its graduates.
CCC “has added significantly to our local quality of life and culture,” providing specialized training for local businesses and employees.”
Heart Award
Hank Baskett II received the award given to “a special individual who dedicates extraordinary time, resources, and heart to serving the underprivileged, the youth, elderly or local charitable causes in our community.”
Baskett recently retired as a certified child abuse forensic investigative interviewer, who has “demonstrated selfless dedication to the countless children and families in our area, working tirelessly for their benefit since 1994 as a light in their darkest hour.”
He has served on the New Mexico Youth Provider Alliance, as a member of the American Professional Society of the Abuse of Children, National Children’s Alliance, New Mexico Children’s Safehouse Network, Curry County Maternal Child Healthcare Council, and is part of the 9th Judicial District Sexual Assault Response Team and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Don and Gustenia Bonner “have invested significant energy, money and resources” into Clovis and have made a “lifetime impact that still affects our community and its members today.”
They’ve been here since 1955 following four years of service in the Air Force.
Don graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1962, earning the Wall Street Journal Award and the CPA Award, along with having the highest scholastic achievement in the field of finance, all while working in his in-laws’ family business.
Gustenia “was an extraordinary mother to their two daughters, helping with homework, shuttling the girls to and from piano lessons and dance lessons, and was a Brownie troop leader to boot.”
The couple bought and operated several successful and well-known franchises in Clovis, as well as two cattle ranches.
Ken Huey Patriot Award
Esther Steinle was selected for the award that recognizes individuals who demonstrate unwavering patriotism and dedication to the military.
After reading an article in “Guidepost” magazine about a program that helps young military men and women get home to see their families during the holidays, Steinle decided to bring a similar service to single service personnel at Cannon Air Force Base.
Her program got started in 2011. Since then, it’s been responsible for helping 60 airmen get home for a holiday.
Chamber Volunteer of the Year
Gene Porter was recognized for the time and energy he brought to the Chamber as a volunteer.
Each of the past two years, he’s spearheaded efforts behind Clovis’ Draggin’ Main event.
“Hot rods burned out, crowds gathered all up and down Main Street, checking out the cars, trucks, bikes and other vehicles that were bumper to bumper in both lanes the entire length of Main Street.”
Porter also donated many hours to last year’s Clovis Music Festival.
Chamber Ambassador of the Year
Patricia Bazar was honored for going “above and beyond the call of duty to represent the Chamber and the Chamber ambassadors.”
She has been an active member of the ambassadors for more than five years, and has volunteered for several organizations including the El Desayuno Kiwanis Club and Lighthouse Mission.
The mother of three and grandmother of four also works for the United Way of Eastern New Mexico and
Business of the Year
Paradise Market received the award for service and dedication to community that “enhances the economic climate.”
Paradise Market “has supplied cops with delicious made-from-scratch donuts during their blood drive against the fire department, donated sunscreen to participants at Cannon Air Force Base’s air show and open house and has organized events for the Cannon Spouses Club. This business has also generously given not only resources like food and money, but also their time.”
