Where Are They Now?
Fred Keener
Then: Fred graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1989 with a BBA in Finance and began working with the OSBC in August of 1989 in the Chanute Field Office. He transferred to the Hays Field Office in February of 1990 and worked there until February of 1998, when he accepted a position at the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Hill City.
Now: Fred is currently a Vice President and Director at Farmers & Merchants Bank, serving as a loan officer and also performing various administrative duties. He is involved in the community as President of Graham County Economic Development, Inc., as well as President of the Hill City Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Fred has served on the Graham County Economic Development Board since 1998 and has been active in promoting economic development in Graham County. In this regard, he played a key role in creating a wholly owned bank subsidiary to own and develop a 36 acre industrial park on the north edge of Hill City. The Industrial Park was recently sold to the City of Hill City and Graham County and the first business, Cougar Custom Boats, LLC, is currently constructing a manufacturing facility for their new line of bass boats. Fred is an active member in the Knights of Columbus, serving the Kansas State Council as Council Activities Director, Athletic Events Chairman and Health Services Chairman.
When asked about his experience at the OSBC, Fred replied "I really enjoyed the people I worked with at the OSBC and made a lot of good friends there. Working for the OSBC was a tremendous learning experience and I had the opportunity to meet a lot of bankers throughout the State, including my wife Julie, who worked for the Farmers State Bank (now Commerce Bank) in Hays." Fred and Julie have two children, Devin who is a fourth grader, and Ellie who just started kindergarten this year. However, his career at the OSBC didn't meet all of his expectations-"I am a little disappointed; I really thought that my experience as an examiner would help me to be able to hide a few things as a banker, but the current examiners are a very sharp bunch!"
