FSB Blog

Phyllis Orr, Vice President of First State Bank, is retiring after 62 years in banking.  61 of those years were in Tahlequah and with the Squyres-Wells family.

Andrew Wells, President of First State Bank, had the following to say about Phyllis:

"We are sure going to miss Phyllis.  I have known her my whole life.  She has always been here and was with the bank and the family long before I was born.  I have enjoyed working with her these many years and I have learned a lot from her.  Dependability, loyalty, punctuality, and accountability are the traits that I think best describe Phyllis.  She has always been serious-minded with her career and always wanted the best for her customers and co-workers."

Phyllis' retirement party will be at First State Bank's main office at 1111 S. Muskogee Ave. on March 24th throughout the day during banking hours and is open to the public.

Phyllis was born in Gerard, Kansas, a little town 14 miles northwest of Pittsburg, Kansas.

"I graduated from high school in 1960, and went to work for the County Attorney, and then went to the School Superintendent's office.  My dad was making a deposit at the First National Bank and the president there said they had an opening and to tell me to apply and I went to work there in 1961.  It was a small bank and it only had four people, including me.  I was a teller an bookkeeper and performed duties such as posting checks and deposits to ledger sheets, checking every check for endorsement, and filing checks.  Back then we had to figure everything by hand."

Phyllis moved to Tahlequah after getting married in 1962.  A few days later, Phyllis was told by a relative to go talk to Earl Squyres at Liberty State Bank about a job.  "I went to the bank that day and talked to Mr. Squyres and he said to come to work on April 21st and that is when my banking career started in Oklahoma."

While at Liberty State Bank, Phyllis held positions as a bookkeeper, a phone operator, a teller, a New Accounts Rep, as a Loan Secretary, and as Administrative Assistant to Earl Squyres and to Max squyres.  "During those days we only had typewriters, posting machines, and adding machines.  Loans and Certificates were posted to a large ledger book, as were cashier checks and money orders.

"I remember when walk-up and drive-thru windows and proof machines came into being.  We did not even start using account numbers until the late 1960s.

"I worked at Liberty State Bank for 27 years until the bank was sold to Bancfirst.  Max Squyres purchased First State Bank in 1989 and he hired me at the bank.

"At First State Bank, I started out in New Accounts for a while, then went on to processing loans, payroll, board reports, and investments.  I was Administrative Assistant to President Max Squyres for many years and was promoted to Assistant Vice President in 1991 and later to Vice President in 1993, Consumer Loan officer in 2004, and as Consumer Real Estate Loan Officer in 2006.  I have been Secretary to the Board of Directors throughout that time.

"I have worked for several presidents and at present, I am working with the fourth generation, Andrew Wells, President & CEO.  I have worked for the Squyres-Wells family 61 years in all.

"Eleven years ago, I was invited to join the Oklahoma Bankers Association's 50-year Club in Tulsa.  That was quite an honor.  I attribute my longevity in the banking industry to the challenges that you have to be able to meet.  I like performing in all the different positions I have had.  I enjoy meeting and helping people.  I have had some excellent leaders and co-workers that helped me get to where I am today.

"My favorite part of working in the banking industry for 62 years has been to be able to accomplish my goals with only 12 years of education and with the rest being on the job training.  I also had encouragement from my peers who always said, you can do it, no matter what the job was.  You have to believe in yourself, too.

"My advice to a young professional is to get all the education you can.  Listen to your leaders and try to do and be the best you can.  College wasn't a must when I started out in banking, but it is in today's world.  I am just lucky to be where I am today, I just stayed with it.  There will be tasks that you don't like, that is with any job, so do the best you know how and you will be rewarded.  Remember you don't start out at the top, but with hard work and determination, success will come.

"I can't remember not getting up and going to work, but it is time I start my new journey in life."