Bankers Association Pays Honor To E. Cooke Smith (From P. G. Tide 5R3/41) E. Cooke Smith, President of the Security State Bank, Pacifte Grove, -- will be honored by the members of the California Bankers Associa- tlon, now meeang in Pasadena for their 50th anniversary convention, Friday morning, (May 23), when they present him with a gold medal- lion in recognition of his 53 years of distinguished service to Callfor- nia Banking. This presentation will be part of an impressive ceremony in which 30 banking pioneers who have given 50 years or more active service to California banking will participate. 1 I „U 6.- 1.-/ * 4*ABIT, fi I I'lri Ii-4-*fffrf#h -r-16-4 *-TiMbmmi;7£7111' 1-14£ Mr. Smith has been president of the Security State Bank in Pacific Grove for 53 years. He organized the Bank of E. Cooke Smith in 1889. The name of this institution was later changed to Security State Bank. Among other posioons, he was Pacific Grove's first city clerk. In addiUon to his banking activioes, Mr. Smith has been liquidator of Western Pacific Mortgage & Guarantee Company and Western Group SecuriUes Company for 17 years. He has played an important part in civic affairs in Pacific Grove, having been a member of the city council for 29 years, during part of which time he served as Chair- man of The Board. He is president of the Pacific Grove Museum. *6 1 11 "' 231 - _ --t 1 1.-11/ More on E. Cooke Smith When Mr. Smith founded his bank in 1889, he ran it from his real es- tate office in a small building at 569 Lighthouse. As the bank be- came more successful, he sold his real estate business to A. E. Bunker in 1897. In 1905, he demolished his small wooden bank and built his new bank, still standing on the corner of Lighthouse & Forest (see photo on next page). He rented out space to Mr. Bunker for his real estate office. His mother, Mrs. Celia Dickinson Smith, lived upstairs until her death at age 83 in 1918. Probably because of her son's real estate and banking connecuons, Mrs. Smith built and owned many homes in early Pacific Grove. You will notice her name, Mrs. C.D. Smith, on some of our plaques in town. Mr. Smith was president of the Chamber of Commerce until he was elected to the City's Board of Trustees in 1913. He married Patricia Hardwick (known as Polly) of Olympia, Washington in 1917 and they made their home at 609 Gibson. In 1922, his bank became the Security State Bank and his building now houses the First Interstate Bank. He died in early 1946 at age 84. His granddaughter now lives in Olynipia. Bank of'E. Cooke Smith at 569-571 Lighthouse built in 1905. Photo circa 1915. Now home ofFirst Interstate Bank. i,i.6:Zi 4 di L FromthePatHathawayCollection , OCR Text: Bankers Association Pays Honor To E. Cooke Smith (From P. G. Tide 5R3/41) E. Cooke Smith, President of the Security State Bank, Pacifte Grove, -- will be honored by the members of the California Bankers Associa- tlon, now meeang in Pasadena for their 50th anniversary convention, Friday morning, (May 23), when they present him with a gold medal- lion in recognition of his 53 years of distinguished service to Callfor- nia Banking. This presentation will be part of an impressive ceremony in which 30 banking pioneers who have given 50 years or more active service to California banking will participate. 1 I „U 6.- 1.-/ * 4*ABIT, fi I I'lri Ii-4-*fffrf#h -r-16-4 *-TiMbmmi;7£7111' 1-14£ Mr. Smith has been president of the Security State Bank in Pacific Grove for 53 years. He organized the Bank of E. Cooke Smith in 1889. The name of this institution was later changed to Security State Bank. Among other posioons, he was Pacific Grove's first city clerk. In addiUon to his banking activioes, Mr. Smith has been liquidator of Western Pacific Mortgage & Guarantee Company and Western Group SecuriUes Company for 17 years. He has played an important part in civic affairs in Pacific Grove, having been a member of the city council for 29 years, during part of which time he served as Chair- man of The Board. He is president of the Pacific Grove Museum. *6 1 11 "' 231 - _ --t 1 1.-11/ More on E. Cooke Smith When Mr. Smith founded his bank in 1889, he ran it from his real es- tate office in a small building at 569 Lighthouse. As the bank be- came more successful, he sold his real estate business to A. E. Bunker in 1897. In 1905, he demolished his small wooden bank and built his new bank, still standing on the corner of Lighthouse & Forest (see photo on next page). He rented out space to Mr. Bunker for his real estate office. His mother, Mrs. Celia Dickinson Smith, lived upstairs until her death at age 83 in 1918. Probably because of her son's real estate and banking connecuons, Mrs. Smith built and owned many homes in early Pacific Grove. You will notice her name, Mrs. C.D. Smith, on some of our plaques in town. Mr. Smith was president of the Chamber of Commerce until he was elected to the City's Board of Trustees in 1913. He married Patricia Hardwick (known as Polly) of Olympia, Washington in 1917 and they made their home at 609 Gibson. In 1922, his bank became the Security State Bank and his building now houses the First Interstate Bank. He died in early 1946 at age 84. His granddaughter now lives in Olynipia. Bank of'E. Cooke Smith at 569-571 Lighthouse built in 1905. Photo circa 1915. Now home ofFirst Interstate Bank. i,i.6:Zi 4 di L FromthePatHathawayCollection , Heritage Society of Pacific Grove,Historical Collections,Names of People about town,S through T File names,SMith, E. Cook,SMITH, E. COOKE_006.pdf,SMITH, E. COOKE_006.pdf 1 Page 1, Tags: E. COOKE_006.PDF,SMITH, SMITH, E. COOKE_006.pdf 1 Page 1