Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 9

LOCALFROM PAGE ONE MID-ILLINOIS NEWSPAPERS A9 SATURDAY, WU 1999 Marvin continued from Al Ceiling fan falls at Lincoln School gym $89 million in 1979, with $32 million in trust assets to $625 million with the latest acquisitions, and another $340 million in trust assests. The foundation for that growth was then as it is now, Marvin said, a matter of simply sharing the bank's story and keeping eyes open for opportunties. The three elements of the plan were growth through acquiring community banks, decentralized operating philosophy and local ownership with headquarters in Mattoon. "The story we had then is not unlike the story we have now," Marvin said. "We are first and foremost a community banking institution.

Critical decisions between the customer and the bank have to be made at the community level, and we empower them (local bank officers) to act. We want to bring as much efficien FIRST IS GROWING; NOT FOR SALE MATTOON No plans are in place to put a "for sale" sign in front of First Mid-Illinois Bank Trust, its retiring chief executive says. Without question, stockholders would realize a substantial one-time gain if they agreed to sell, said Dan Marvin, who is leaving as chief executive officer but retaining a seat on the board of directors. Marvin looks at the list of First Mid directors, and sees people who have other business interests in east-central Illinois. He said those people understand that a profitable, regional banking company enhances those businesses and communities.

Marvin notes that First Mid made more than $5 million profit in 1998, and projections show future growth. "If we can continue to produce results like that, and I believe we can, the community benefit so far outweighs any combination with anybody." "We have a great board," Marvin said. "They understand the value of a community bank's ability to stabilize and enhance growth of the economy. Why would they want to sell for a one-time bump in stock?" MATTOON A ceiling fan fell in the Lincoln- School gym Wednesday as a physical educa-. tion class was ending.

Assistant Superintendent Tom David said on Friday that between 40fand 50 students were lining up at the end of a P.E. class when the fan suddenly fell withih eight feet of students. i The fan is one of the large fans that has a cage around it, not a smaller version like would be in a home. David said he doesn't know the fan's weight. No injuries were reported.

tl "We've never had anything like -this before," David said. He said it was potentially a very serious situation. School officials responded immediately, he said, and maintenance staff inspected the fans and fixtures in Lincoln and other buildingsr David said he thinks an 8-inch bolt caught the edge of the wooden over time worked on that and other bolts. He said the area could have been wet at one time when there were problems with the roof. The fan that fell has not been reinstalled.

Once the problem was addressed, the gym reopened. Hall continued from Al cy as we can conceivably brmg that is gamable. through size." First Mid facilities now cover most of Coles, Moultrie, Cumberland, Douglas and Effingham counties, and the company has at least one account with 53 percent of the residents in those counties. "We haven't made many mistakes as far as acquisitions," Marvin said. He said the bank tried to make purchases in other communities, such as Shelbyville and Mount Zion, and continues to look for places to expand.

In some cases, such as Sullivan, there were surprises that set back the growth targets a couple years. Charleston is perhaps the best success story. There First Mid bought the third or fourth biggest bank in the market, the Eagle Bank, which Marvin said had problems. Now he said First Mid is No. 1 in the Charleston market "It wasn't just getting things acquired," Marvin said.

"You have to turn them." Perhaps the most intriguing "deal" was -the acquisition of the Mattoon-based former Heartland Federal Savings land Loan. New regulations at the time in 1992 required Heartland to partner with someone that could provide $6.5 million in capital. When a Heartland deal fell active with the YMCA, United Way, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and Coles County Humane Association. Saunders, 65, is a native of Paris. He is a retired reporter, edi 1 tor and information specialist at SIU.

else. "I really look forward to coming in," he said. "I'm really blessed to "be able to say that after all these years. I plan to continue doing this as long as I can." Named 1999 "Citizen of the Year" by the Mattoon Association of Commerce, Hamel has been through with a Champaign bank, Marvin and his team raised $3.2 million in a week. That was enough to buy some more time.

At that time, First Mid-Illinois' Bancshares was the parent company to several banks that had different names, different charters, etc. With the deal to buy Heartland, those half dozen or so banks came under the name First Mid-' TJlinois Bank Trust, which combined the capital from its various holdings to complete the Heartland purchase. "That was a fun deal," Marvin said. And a deal that was a bit risky, but has worked out. With growth came needs for more people to play key roles, and Marvin cited two in particular who have been partners for many years.

"I feel especially proud of the quality of people we brought to the organization," he said. Marvin said Stan Gilliland was hie first hire as a senior staff person and continues today as someone who. "understands what it means to be a reliable partner irf a community. He gave us professional expertise and commitment to help businesses do well." Gilliland, who joined the bank in 1984, oversees a loan portfolio that was $60 million and now is about $350 million, with a product line expanding along the way. Bill Rowland, who joined First Mid in 1989 as the chief financial officer, "was just right for the company as we became larger and more complex," Marvin said.

Rowland is the bank's financial strategist and is completing a deal with three Bank One facilities that totals 116 Marvin anticipates his successor will be named in the next 60 to 90 days, perhaps sooner. He plans to remain on the bank board and the board- of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Systems. Other than that, he plans to relax and fish for six months, then work on how to fill in his schedule, perhaps with teaching, travel, or a combination of the two. "We've had a good time and we've been honest about what we're doing," Marvin said. "I believe the strategy we have works." "I absolutely have enjoyed what we've done," Marvin said.

"I also believe we've protected a valuable resource here, protected it and kept it in Mattoon. But it is time for me to step back from the day-to-day operations of the company. We've had a great run at it'! Pre-registration for kindergarten set next week for Areola schools ARCOLA Pre-registration for children entering kindergarten in Areola this fall will be held on May 5, 6 and 7 at the Areola grade school office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

If a child in the Areola district attended pre-school screening in April, it's not necessary to bring him or her in again. New computers help Jinked irst Mid stay Thone freedom" Mothers Day Sale. So mom is free io be mom. 1 fen? pl ti I in Mattoon to a regional banking group. Technology that enhances customer service and convenience is vital for future growth, Marvin said.

But all that technology doesn't change the fundamentals of the business, Marvin said. "This is still a business of taking in deposits at one rate and finding a way to deploy those deposits as assets at another rate," he said. One employee, Marvin said, now is responsible for managing $150 million every day, a figure not possible in 1979 when the total bank assets were $89 million. "We didn't have those capabilities when I came," Marvin said. First Mid now has 275 employees and a $9 million annual payroll, and remains headquartered in Mattoon.

MATTOON When Dan Marvin became president of what now is First Mid-Illinois Bank Trust, he said Gary Boske and Peter Clarkson were the only employees with computers. That was 1983. "Now even I've got one," Marvin said. "And they're all linked together." This means that a customer may deposit $200 at one end of a community, and by the time they drive to another branch or another community, the money's in the account. In the last five years, Marvin said First Mid invested $3 million in technology upgrades.

"We have four people who do nothing but networking." Those technology enhancements played a key role in First Mid's growth from a single bank Messages Cordless Cordless for freedom around the house t- Handsfree 900MHz cordless for freedom around the yard i Cordless with answerer for freedom away from home Lake Land's summer felass schedule mailed ift 79w 99 99 59 34 50 OFF 25-channel cordless with digital security Give mom the freedom to talk on 1 the phone anywhere in the house, reg. 69.95, 43-1049 Cordless phone with digital answerer Let rnom be free to get away with this cordless phonedigital answerer that never needs tapes. teg. 119 99, 43-774 40oOFF 900MHz long-range cordless phone Just because mom's outside doesn't mean she has to miss your call. reg.

99.99, 43-1089 Hands-free headset 43-195, 19.99 IT 1 tSSl SPECIAL PURCHASE! WHILE THEY LAST! Compaq Presario 5070 Internet PC AMDS Internet access, e-mail and a color monitor capable of showing graphics. Internet courses allow students to work at their own pace allowing more freedom with scheduling. Non-credit courses will be offered in Effingham and Mattoon. Some of the courses offered include Beginning and Intermediate Conversational Spanish, Dog Obedience, Practical Guide to Surfing the Net, Computing Without Fear and Summer Floral Arrangement. Lake Land's 19th Annual Summer College for Kids will begin in June.

Nearly 50 one and two-week enrichment classes will be offered for children ages 4 to 17 in Effingham, Marshall, Mattoon, Stewardson-Strasburg and Sullivan. This year's featured course is "Around the World in a Week." The course, offered in Mattoon, will students to travel to exotic lands where they will explore foreign languages, experience ethnic foods and learn new customs. For more information, contact Emily Hartke, special projects coordinator, at 234-5219. Additional information and registration details are listed in the schedule. Individuals who did not receive a schedule may.

request one by calling 234-5233. Numbers for various departments as Lake Land include: College information 234-LAKE; AccountingTuition and fees payment 234-5214; Admissions office and' registration 234-5434; Adult Education-GED, literacy, alternative education 235-2222; Bookstoretextbooks 234-5275; Continuing Educationevening -pnd off-campus classes 234-5227; non-credit classes 234-5219; Counseling Services 234-5232; Special Needs Counselor 234-5259; TDD (hearing impaired) 234-5371; Financial Aid and Veteran Services 234-5231; Effingham Kluthe Center 342-3464; Paris Center, 2-4 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 463-2743. MATTOON Schedules for the. summer term at Lake Land College have been mailed to all district residents. The schedule lists both credit and non-credit, Internet and day and evening courses offered for summer term which begins June 8.

Classes are offered on campus and off campus sites: Effingham, Mattoon, Pana, two Paris loca-' tions, Shelbyville and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. "We hope the courses being offered will accommodate everyone's interests whether their interests are pursuing a degree, certificate or self improvement," Cheryl Yount, associate dean for continuing education, said. This year's summer schedule includes a course survey that will try to identify the needs of adult district residents. The survey asks preferences about credit and non-Credit courses, preferred times for classes andeducational goals. The college will hold a drawing and a three-hour tuition waiver, tuition for a non-credit course or a $25 gift certificate to the LLC Bookstore for those who return the survey by May 7.

i Several day and evening credit Courses will be offered through distance learning on- campus as well as at the Effingham Kluthe Center for higher Education and Technology, Pana, Paris, Shelbyville and the Sarah Bush tincoin Health Center. Lake Land will continue to cooperate with Eastern Illinois University to bring degree completion coursework to the area. Credit from these courses can be applied to Eastern Illinois University's Board of Governors degree. Lake Land will be offering several Internet courses to accommodate students who need more flexibility with their schedule, or for people who would enjoy taking a ijlass over the Internet. Requirements for students interested in these courses include Monitor wspeakers 'vaf v- not mciuS'-d Mfmomt.

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