Frank Parker Spruill

Frank Parker Spruill was born on a farm in Halifax County. His early education came from what was then called “the free school”, a one-room school about a 3-mile walk from his home. He attended a private school in Littleton for the 5th, 6th and 7th grade of school. On August 15, 1898, when Frank was just shy of 17, he came to visit his aunt, who lived near Rocky Mount; he never left. He found seasonal work with American Tobacco, then a summer job driving an ice wagon, followed by various jobs with Thorpe and Ricks Tobacco, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad and then as a soda fountain boy for Griffin’s Drug Store. In 1901 with encouragement and assistance from Mr. A. P. Thorpe, he went to Poughkeepsie, NY for a four month business course at the Eastman Business College. Returning to Rocky Mount he worked in clerk positions for Thorpe and Ricks and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. During 1903 a group of businessmen organized Rocky Mount Savings & Trust Company. One of its directors, Mr. A.P. Thorpe, suggested Mr. Spruill be appointed cashier of the new bank. He was also named Secretary and Treasurer of the Home State Loan Association. He was paid @ month by the bank and @ month by the Loan Association. He was the bank�s only employee. In 1918 North Carolina National Bank was formed from a combination of banks across the state and Rocky Mount Savings was acquired with Mr. Spruill serving as the managing Vice President of the Rocky Mount office. The late 1920s were becoming an increasingly difficult time in the banking field. There was talk of a new bank being formed and on April 1st, April Fools Day, 1931, during the great Depression, Peoples Bank opened with ,000 in deposits and Mr. Spruill as an officer. Upon his death, following a very successful banking career, the Board of Directors of Planters bank, his bank’s close competitor, passed a resolution honoring Mr. Spruill and acknowledged his role in banking as the first banker to enter branch banking. At that time Peoples had 16 offices including 11 out-of-town branches. Outside the bank Mr. Spruill served as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, President and Lt. Governor of the Kiwanis Club, and a Director of Homes Savings and Loan, Rocky Mount Mills and Daniels, Inc. He was also a Vestryman and Warden at the Church of the Good Shepherd. He served on the Board of County Commissioners for 6 terms and with 2 terms as Chairman. He was President of the North Carolina Bankers Association and three North Carolina Governors tapped him for special service. Mr. Spruill was the News and Observer Tarheel of the week in November 1953.

Inducted into Hall of Fame 2014
Deceased