Allen Parker Stults

Allen Parker Stults died peacefully at his home in Tucson Saturday December 29, 2012. Born June 13, 1913, in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of Elmer E. Stults and Minnie Parker Stults. He grew up in Winnetka, Illinois, where he graduated from New Trier High School. He attended the University of Illinois, and he received degrees from Northwestern University School of Commerce and the Rutgers Graduate School of Banking. On August 19, 1939, Allen married Elizabeth "Betty" Van Horne in the First Congregational Church in Winnetka, Illinois. They were devoted to each other for 64 years. They lived in Wilmette, Illinois, raising four children, Laurence Allen, Shirley Elizabeth, John Edwin and Van James. After 35 years in Wilmette, Allen and Betty built their retirement home in Tucson in 1973 at Tucson National. Allen Stults was one of the nation's leading bankers. He began his banking career in 1933 in the mailroom of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He was hired to fill the need to respond to the national bank closure order issued by President Roosevelt to halt runs on the banks in the Great Depression. Very soon after that, he took a similar job at the new American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago where he worked his entire banking career of 45 years, retiring as President and Chairman of the Board in 1978. Allen served as Treasurer of the Association of Reserve City Bankers; President of The Bankers Club of Chicago; President of the Illinois Bankers Association in 1968 and 1969; and, President of the American Bankers Association in 1971 and 1972. He also served on the Advisory Board of the Federal Reserve Bank during the Chairmanship of Arthur Burns. He was a board member of the Chicago Association of Commerce & Industry; the Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce; Treasurer of The Commercial Club of Chicago; Vice President of The Economic Club of Chicago; the Executive's Club; and, President of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Council of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Allen served on the Board of Directors of Hyland Electric Co.; Hotel Sherman Corp.; Motor Products Corp.; Walter E. Heller International, Inc.; Walter E. Heller & Co.; Verson Allsteel Press Co.; and, Health-mor, Inc. Allen was a member of the Board of Directors of the McDonalds Corporation from its initial formation in 1965 and served on the McDonalds board for over two decades. Throughout his life Allen was committed to charitable and community works. While living in Wilmette, Allen was active in the First Congregational Church of Wilmette of which he was a trustee; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Lyric Opera; Chicago Urban League; Boy Scouts' Chicago Council; National Conference of Christians and Jews; YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago; Chicago Red Cross; National Jewish Hospital of Denver; University of Illinois Foundation; Junior Association of Commerce; and, Junior Achievement Association. He was elected to the New Trier Township School Board. He was a trustee of Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. Allen was often an officer in the organizations he served. In Tucson, Allen was active in the Casas Adobes Congregational Church, of which he was a trustee; the Oro Valley United Church of Christ; and a trustee with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Allen and Betty were members of Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield, Illinois, where Allen served a term as president; Tucson National Country Club; and, The Mountain Oyster Club in Tucson. Allen is survived by his sons, Larry Stults (and wife Takako) of Honolulu, HI, Jack Stults (and wife Daphne Crosbie) of Helena, MT, Van Stults (and wife Sharon) of London, England; daughter, Shirley Stults Martin (and husband Bill Allen) of Yarmouth, ME; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, plus numerous nieces and nephews and their children. Allen Stults was a stellar example of the power of positive thinking. To everyone, he was a truly remarkable man. He got the most pleasure and satisfaction from helping people. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at Oro Valley United Church of Christ, 1401 East El Conquistador Way, Oro Valley, AZ. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memoriam to Habitat for Humanity Tucson, 621 W. Lester Street, Tucson, AZ 85705, Interfaith Community Services, 2820 W. Ina Road, Tucson Arizona 85741-2502, or the charity of your choice. Funeral Services conducted by: FUNERARIA DEL ANGEL, 7 E. University Blvd.