Howard K. Loomis

1927 - 2021

Howard K. Loomis
April 9, 1927 - September 24, 2021
Pratt, Kansas - Howard K. Loomis, president of The Peoples Bank for 35 years and its board chairman for 18, died Friday, September 24th, 2021 in Pratt, Kansas.
Loomis was born April 9, 1927, the son of Arthur L. and Genevieve Krey Loomis, educated in Omaha Public Schools, graduating from Omaha Central High School in 1945, having served as editor-in-chief of The Central High Register, a captain in the Junior ROTC program, and manager of the student variety show.
He followed his parents' footsteps in attending Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949 and a Master of Business Administration in 1950. Loomis was involved with campus life as editor-in-chief of The Cornell Daily Sun, vice-president of the Interfraternity Council, and member of the Student Council.
During the Korean War, he was a member of the Army of the United States stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, auditing payroll records of the Tenth Infantry Division.
Loomis then entered the management training program of Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. While there he had an arranged date with Florence Porter. They were married ten months later in the Second Presbyterian Church of Kansas City on April 24, 1954.
Loomis became controller of Mine Service Co. Inc., Fort Smith, Arkansas, a management company for coal mines in eastern Oklahoma, and then assumed the same role at Electra Manufacturing Company, a producer of electronic components and automotive electrical parts located at Independence, Kansas. As the electronics industry developed integrated circuitry, the Loomises decided that they would like to remain in rural Kansas and raise their sons in that environment.
Howard and Florence were blessed with four sons: Arthur L. II, Frederick "Ted," Howard Jr., and J. Porter. Howard Sr. is survived by his wife, Florence; sister Jeanne (Bill) Rayne of Middleton, WI; sons Arthur L. II (Patricia) of Niskayuna, NY; Howard Jr. (Karen) of Los Gatos, CA; and J. Porter (Anne) of Pratt; daughter-in-law Linda Loomis of Iuka; nine grandchildren and their partners; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Nancy Backus, and son Frederick "Ted."
Since his education and work experience were in finance, Loomis looked for opportunity in Kansas banking. A resident of Pratt since July 1963, he arranged to become involved in the management of The Peoples Bank over a period of years.
Loomis became very active in Pratt community affairs being a member of Pratt Rotary Club for over half a century, president of the Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce, Park Hills Country Club, Cannonball Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross, US Highway 54 Association, and a trustee of Pratt Presbyterian Church.
Because of his sons, Loomis served for ten years as cubmaster for Pack 227, two years as scoutmaster for Troop 201, and three years as Kanza Council president. He was a Silver Beaver recipient and a member of the Order of the Arrow.
At the state level, Loomis was vice-president and director of the Kansas Bankers Association and the Kansas Association of Commerce, and a board member (and commanding general for two years) of the Kansas Cavalry, Economic Lifelines, Kansas, Inc., and Kansas Wildscape Foundation.
Loomis served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (during the Paul Volcker era as Fed Chairman) from 1979 to 1986.
When allowed by Kansas law, The Peoples Bank established an office in Medicine Lodge, and acquired the Sharon Valley State Bank and the Farmers State Bank of Hardtner and Kiowa. More recently it added offices in Greensburg and Kingman in south central Kansas, and Smith Center, Lebanon, Luray, and Osborne in north central Kansas.
Loomis took up running at age 50, and initiated the plan to build Blythe Family Fitness in Pratt in honor of his faithful colleague and father figure, Roy Blythe. He loved eating ice cream and fresh lake perch, reading the Wall Street Journal, doing crossword and Sudoku puzzles, and the companionship of dogs.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Aaron Zook as well as Ms. Loyce Covey and staff of South Wind Home and Kindred Hospice for their excellent care. Military honor was given to Loomis by South Wind Home staff and residents during an unfolding of the American flag ceremony and the playing of "Taps."
In accordance with his wishes, Loomis's body has been donated to science, and there will be no memorial service. Memorials to The Roy and Elsie Blythe Foundation or The Peoples Heartland Foundation may be sent to The Peoples Bank.