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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Today, I salute a man whose career has spanned more than 60 years; whose work has resulted in the largest remaining independent bank holding company in the West; and whose contributions to Utah include an immeasurable amount of service to a lengthy list of organizations. That man is Roy Simmons.
Roy began his banking career in 1940, starting as a bookkeeper at the First National Bank of Layton. He worked for his father-in-law Laurence Ellison. Roy quickly discovered his talent for banking when he found opportunity in FHA lending amid the growth surrounding the construction of Hill Air Force Base. Before long The First National Bank of Layton was a leading home mortgage lender in Davis County.
Roy's lending success led to his serving as the Utah State Bank Commissioner. And a few years later, he helped establish the new Bank of Utah in Ogden.
Not long after that, Roy was offered the job as president of the Lockhart Company, an industrial loan company. He eventually acquired it and gradually turned it into a prominent regional consumer finance operation. With close friends Bill Harlin and Lou Callister, Sr., Roy then organized the Keystone Investment & Insurance Company. In 1960, Roy and a group of businessmen, including Leland Flint and Judson Sayer, purchased a majority ownership stake in Zions First National Bank from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
At the time, Zions was a relatively small bank with just a few branches in Salt Lake. But Roy planned to build it into a prominent regional bank. And he's done just that. Zions Bancorporation, headquartered in Salt Lake City, now operates six different banks with more than 400 branches in eight states.
Undoubtedly, Roy Simmons' career has been one of tremendous success--much of that he attributes to his wife Elizabeth, better known as Tibby. Together, they've served the community, contributing their time and interest to a number of organizations.
On Friday, Roy announced his retirement from serving as chairman of Zions Bancorporation. And we salute him today for his exemplary career.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
