Menard retires after 42 years at Kaplan State Bank

By: Judy T.Mire
KAPLAN - On March 28, 1969, Ronald Menard became an employee of Kaplan State Bank (KSB), working in the bookkeeping department.

Last week, Menard said goodbye to the bank after deciding to retire. He had been there for 42 years.

“His hire date pre-dates man’s first walk on the moon, and Woodstock,” laughed Vernon Johnson, CEO of Kaplan State Bank, when he spoke at Menard’s retirement party last week.

“To give you a general idea of how long ago it was, in 1969, you could purchase a new Toyota for $1,900 and an estimated cost for a new home was $15,000,” continued Johnson drawing more laughter from the crowd.

“Ronald has been an extremely dedicated member of Kaplan State Bank’s team for the past 42 years.

“His willingness to help people with their financial needs has gained him the respect of this Kaplan community.

“I am thankful for his commitment and service and wish him well in his retirement years!”

The retiree did not immediately work for the bank upon his graduation from Kaplan High School in 1965.

His first job was working at Meaux Lumber Yard as a delivery man. From there, he became a manager for the Southern Pacific Transport Company in Kaplan, while also being a member of the National Guard Reserves for nine years.

When he began his bookkeeping job at KSB, Menard became interested in furthering his education in the banking industry. He immediately enrolled in night school at UL of Lafayette, (then USL), and completed the banking courses at the college.

In 1970, he joined the American Institute of Banking and became president of the organization in 1970.

Throughout the years, he continued to keep abreast of all the changes in the banking industry’s rules and regulations by attending schools and seminars provided by the Louisiana Banking Association.

His promotions continued from bookeeping to teller, assistant vice-president and loan officer.

By 1975, his title of vice-president enabled him to become the manager of the newly opened branch of KSB in Forked Island.

Two years later, with no customers in the bank, the branch was robbed at gunpoint.

As one gun was pointed to his head and other in his stomach, the gunmen ordered Menard and another employee to open the cash drawers and lay down on the floor.

“A million things were going through my mind when that gun was touching the back of my head,” Ronald said. “But, we did what we were told to do.”

Before the gunmen left, a customer walked in and he was immediately ordered to lay on the floor with the other two.

All turned out well when no one was hurt with a minimal amount of money was stolen.

The incident, however, alerted bank officials that security procedures needed upgrading, which Menard took full charge of.

The retiree is also past president and a current member of the board of directors for the Meaux-Nunez Volunteer Fire Department; past president and member of the Kaplan Rotary Club and Kaplan American Legion.

An avid supporter of the Vermilion Parish 4-H program, he attended the annual 4-H Livestock Show and purchased show animals from the students on behalf of the bank.

Throughout his years of employment, Menard said the best part of his job was saying “yes” to his customers when they applied for loans. The hardest part - having to say “no” to someone because they didn’t qualify for the loan.

When asked what his intentions after retirment, he laughed saying, “I going to do the three W’s...what I want, when I want and whatever I want.”

While no definite plans have been put into motion, he has already received calls for other employment.

“Right now the only thing I want to do is to catch up with things around the house,” he said. “Whatever comes up in the future, then I’ll think about it, but not now.”

Ronald is married to the former Glenda Petry for 43 years.

He is the son of the late Junius and Myrtis Menard.