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tional, found himself, instead, re duced to the post of an assistant Vice-president in the giant Commerce Trust. Such a job was a set'back in title and responsibility for Joe — but a twist of Fate which he accepted with good grace and firm determination to continue his upward climb in bank' ing circles.
The Kansas City trade territory, at this period, was in a financial depression following the post-war crisis of 1920. Farms bought at fantastic prices during the War boom were being liquidated and there was much distress, particularly in agriculture. Many small country banks were having their troubles. In such an era, Joe Williams was assigned the task of helping the country banks and adding correspondent banks to the list of Commerce Trust customers. Now the things he had learned in Springfield, the experience he had gained with the Landers, and Joe's native friendliness and winning personality began really to count! Two years of har.d work, constant travel and persistent solicitation of prospective correspondent banks brought their reward: Joe was made a vice-president and a director.
Any man in charge of correspondent bank solicitation is also an unof' ficial business ambassador for his city. Everywhere he goes (and he must travel much of the time) he "sells" his city, praises its virtues, points out opportunities . which exist there — or opportunities which can be made to exist! Joe Williams was not (and is not) the back-slapping type. No party wag is he! His ways are quiet ways. His friendliness is truly sincere, softly modest, scrupulously helpful. But
October, 1951
when the going requires short, swift, sure strokes, he can land a terrific punch!
FOR the next fifteen years at the Commerce Joe Williams headed the correspondent bank division. The years of 1933 to 1938 were years of great growth for the Commerce, headed by W. T. Kemper as Chairman and James M. Kemper as President. In 1938, W. T. Kemper died. Meanwhile Joe Williams had built the correspondent bank accounts in numbers to upwards of 1,300 — the largest number in any bank west of Chicago.
To build such volume is a sure test of a banker's abihty. Small wonder that in 1948, when James M. Kemper recommended to the Commerce Board of Directors that key members of the staff be given further rank and recognition, George W. Dillon was made Vice-Chairman of the Board, Joseph C. Williams was made President, and Arthur B. Eisenhower, Executive Vice-President. James M. Kemper moved upstairs (figuratively and literally) to the comparatively calm and