Cover Story Story and photos by Lori Bruce, Director of Communications
Banking on Experience
Bill Owen and Terry Thompson banked on their experience in their election campaigns, and now they are taking their expertise to the house … the Missouri House of Representatives.
Owen and Thompson, retired bankers, won their respective races for their House districts in the November 2020 general election. When the 101st regular session of the Missouri General Assembly convenes Jan. 6, they will be among the 61 new lawmakers beginning their terms.
With 80 years of combined banking experience, Owen and Thompson hope to use their industry knowledge in the state house. They recently shared with The Missouri Banker their thoughts on the upcoming session and what they hope to accomplish.
BILL OWEN
Aſter a 40-year banking career at three different banks, Owen was “not ready to sit on the back porch and do nothing” when he retired as senior vice president from the Bank of Bolivar in Springfield in February 2020. House District 131 was an open seat because of term limits, creating an opportunity for Owen to run for office … again.
Owen, a Republican, first ran for the Missouri House of Representatives in 1980 when he was 27. He recalled that during that time, Republicans “from a campaign support standpoint were almost an island unto ourselves” because Democrats were the majority party.
“Tere was a night and day difference in support now versus then,” he said.
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