Bill King, Former IBA President, Passes Away William “Bill” Houston King, president of the Indiana Bankers Association from 1988-2000, passed away Monday, Jan. 20. He was 87 years old. King’s career in banking started in 1957 as a messenger at Terre Haute First National Bank, which would go on to become First Financial Bank NA, Terre Haute. He stayed with the bank after finishing his bachelor’s degree at Indiana State University in 1960. In 1965, he joined Second National Bank of Richmond, which would eventually become part of U.S. Bank NA, Minneapolis. He started as an assistant trust officer but was soon promoted multiple times until being named president less than 10 years later in 1974, and then chairman and CEO in 1982. During his time as a banker, he served the IBA as treasurer, vice president and volunteer president (the position now called chairman), and chaired several IBA committees. He was also instrumental in the development of the 1985 Indiana Bank Legislation. In 1987, he made the move from banker to state bankers association, joining the IBA as executive vice president. He was promoted to president the next year – only the fourth person to lead the Association as full-time professional staff. His position as a banker leading a bankers’ trade association made King, as a couple of his colleagues described him, “a banker’s banker.” In an open letter to members upon his retirement, he reflected, “The feelings I want to express come with some difficulty. They are not difficult because there is a lack of things to say, people to thank, experiences Three “generations” of IBA presidents come together at Bill King’s retirement reception. Pictured are (left to right): Bill King, IBA president from 1988-2000; Bob Nelson, King’s predecessor from 1967-88; and Jim Cousins, his successor from 2000-06. 30 HOOSIERBANKER
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