Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-06-13
In Memory OF R. H. Stokes.

The following tribute was paid the
memory of the late Richard H. Stokes by
the Board of Directors of the Montgomery
County National Bank of Rockville, Md, at
regular meeting on June 8:
When this bank was organized in 1884,
Richard H. Stokes, then little more than
boy came to Rockville stranger to the
directors and known to few, if any, people
in the county. The venture was a new
one, the directors inexperienced and uncer-
tain, so that heavy load of responsibility
was laid upon the shoulders of this young
man. He was to be the executive head of
the enterprise, and upon him very largely
the success or failure of the plan depended
he soon gained the confidence and esteem
of his associates for his answering devo-
ton to his duty, his absolute fidelity to his
employers. his uniform courtesy to all
who approached him. and the almost uner-
ring judgment of people and schemes pre-
sented to him. In little while he found
place not only in the business life of the
community, but also in the hearts of the
people.
Today, of all the first board of directors
and Mr.. Stokes fellow-employes and asso-
ciates at his first entry into the business
concerns Of this county. only remain Mr..
Joseph D. Baker, the first president of the
bank, and Mr.. William B. Mobley, its pres
ent vice president. The bank has grown,
developed and increased not only in re-
sources, but in usefulness and power in the
community. From being the only bank
doing general banking business in the
county, it has become the leader and, in
many respects, the most potent of num-
Der of other banking concerns following
along the trail blazed by our institution
The present members of the board, with
the single exception of the vice president
have been elected from time to time to
take the places of those who served their
day and generation and then fell in the
ranks. We found Mr.. Stokes in command
calm, resourceful, energetic. ready, DELHI
crate and wise. Much of the success Of
the bank is due to his faithfulness and
unusual capacity to grasp business propo-
sitions. To all he was polite, courteous
and patient, but his vision of business
plans was clear and undimmed by any
other consideration than the protection OF
the interests committed to him. To legiti-
mate and promising business enterprises
he was always ready to lend sympathetic
and untiring assistance and council and to
recommend financial backing. but the Wis.
ionary and dishonest found within the
velvet glove the hand of steel grasping
and protecting the treasures they were
seeking. Few men in the county have
been more useful than Richard H. Stokes
few, if any, have been so integral and i'm
portant part Of the business growth and
financial development of the entire CON-
munity.
AS his friends. we mourn his loss as his
business associates. we miss his council
and help.
We direct this slight memorial to be
spread upon our records. copy sent to
the family of Mr.. Stokes. and request its
publication in the county papers, not as
the mere perfunctory. performance of an
expected task or the doing of the usual
formal thing, but as heartfelt expression
of our love for very lovabIe man, our
admiration for very efficient and useful
man, and our abiding sorrow at the loss
of valued and trustworthy associate.