History
The Bank
Leadership
1913 – Members of the inaugural Board of Directors included G.H. Thorley, President; D.H. Troxel, Vice President; Walter H. Williams, Cashier; J.E. Enders; and Charles S. Pettit.
1913–1941 – As the bank’s first President, G.H. Thorley laid the foundation for future success and grew the bank’s customer base during some of the nation’s most stressful economic times.
1941–1954 – After his father’s passing, Harry G. Thorley succeeded G.H. Thorley as President of the bank. During these years the bank saw an influx of prosperity and its first expansion.
1954–1961 – Roger S. Thorley was the bank’s successor in the wake of his father’s death. During this time Roger worked to solidify the bank as a financial cornerstone of the Ainsworth community.
1961–1962 – Ted E. Ritter was appointed bank President to fill the vacancy left by Roger Thorley’s death.
July 1962 – S. Dean Evans Sr. purchased the majority of the stock in the bank, and Dale Sorensen moved to Ainsworth from the Gering National Bank to assume the position of President.
August 1967 – S. Dean Evans Sr. sold his interest in The Commercial National Bank to the Commercial Investment Company.
July 1974 – Glenn Forgey, Lyle Forgey, Elbert Mundhenke, Fred W. Rose, Sidney Salzman, and Roger L. Weiss purchased the remaining market shares from the other stockholders in the Commercial Investment Company.
July 1975 – Roger L. Weiss began to serve as the President of the bank.
December 1977 – Dale Sorensen retired as the bank’s Chairman of the Board.
April 1982 – Elbert Mundhenke, Fred W. Rose, and Sidney Salzman sold their stock in the Commercial Investment Company—which left Glenn Forgey, Lyle Forgey, and Roger L. Weiss as the remaining shareholders.
December 1987 – Glenn and Lyle Forgey purchased Roger Weiss’s stock in the Commercial Investment Company. Glenn Forgey passed away in October of 1993, and his son, Lyle Forgey, continued the family interest in the bank.
March 1997 – Roger Weiss retired from Commercial National Bank, and John Halbersleben was promoted to the position of bank President.
2010 – The late Harold Theis served with the current board of directors from 1991 until 2010.
January 2013 – John Halbersleben retired from West Plains Bank and his position as Chairman of the Board. Michael D. Kreycik was promoted to the position of President and Board Chairman.
December 2019 – Michael D. Kreycik retired from West Plains Bank and his position as Chairman of the Board. Douglas L. Weiss was promoted to the position of President and Board Chairman.
January 2025 – Douglas L. Weiss retired from West Plains Bank and his position as Chairman of the Board. James F. Arens was promoted to the position of President and Board Chairman.
Members of our current Board of Directors include Lyle Forgey, Robert Miles, John Halbersleben, Douglas L. Weiss, James F. Arens and Marcus J. Fairhead. The current stockholder of the Commercial Investment Company is Lyle Forgey.
