The Lambertville record., 1926-04-15
SUCCESS IN AMERICA
AN OPEN HIGHWAY
How Four Boys of Humble Origin
Have Become Chiefs Of the
Greatest Financial 0rganiza-
ton in the World.

Broad highways of achievement are
wide open to all in America no mat
ter how humble their beginning. 1t is
brought out by a writer in Forbes
Magazine, telling of the successive
elevation Of poor boys TO the chieftain
;hip Of the most powerful association
Of financial power in the world
Nowhere is opportunity so demo
cratic as in caste-free America, no,
where Is recognition for faithful ser,
ice so little conditioned by inherited
osition and wealth" the article says
The bounty OF America in bestowins
er rewards of great success upon
nose of modest origin is again not
bly, manifest in the rise of Oscar
|ellS to the presidency of the Amerf
an Bankers Association
The sou OF a tanner, John II.
uelicher was elected to this emf
ence in 1922 Circumstances ended
Is public schooling in the seventh
ear and he went to work in carpet
tore in Milwaukee At sixteen he
ntered bank as clerk, rising step
step until he became president
recognition OF his abilities as a
anker and civic service through pub
education in sound economic un
erstandng brought him the highest
eward from his profession.
"A former country school teacher,
Walter w Head. born in a farm ham
ct in Western Illinois, was elected
president of the association in 1928
lie gave up teaching and salary Of
rs to enter banking at $40 month
n a small Missouri town He subse
luently became president of bank
n Omaha, the largest in Nebraska
aud a dozen neshboring states. The
position he occupied in advancing
agricultural welfare during the period
1f depression led to his being called
the Granger President OF the Ameri-
-AH lldHhtIs ASoONIdliohs
From Irish immigrant lad to su.
preme head of banking in America
epitomizes the career of William e
Knox, president of one of the largest
savings banks of the country In New
York His business career began as
IN office boy in a publishing house,
md he later entered the bank as
,lerk. Experience with humble peo-
pie in their problems OF personal
lnance and his inculcation of economy
n all matters attracted countrywide
ttention
oscar Wells. who rises in 1925 as
uecessor of these men, was born In
n old weather boarded log cabin
ouse in the Missouri River bottoms OF
latte County, Missouri. He became
n orphan when three years of age,
)sing his parents in an epidemic that
avaged the countryside. He passed
nder the care of an uncle, head OF
small country bank in Platte City,
town OF a few hundred inhabitants. |
IS eialTy 'GulnGuTot" mr. a" rd, sro -'r,isfiUr
Ie later entered Bethany College
Vest Virginia. but at the end of his
unlor year he had to quit college and
% to work in the bank"
His subsequent career was one OF
teady progress first to higher posi-
ions among small country banks,
hen to larger city banks in Texas,
where he rose to the top. In 1914
lie was chosen first governor OF the
Dallas Federal Reserve Bank and
,erved through the opening period OF
he establishment of that institution
lie resigned to become president of a
,ank in Birmingham. Alabama. which
las grown under his administration
% be one of the largest and most sue
,essful institutions in the South.