85 Church of your Choice next Sunday” since President Truman gave a proclamation setting that Sunday as a day of special Thanksgiving in observance to the end of the war in Europe. With Mr. Barnett’s leave of absence in 1945 from his duties as teller (having been inducted into the U.S. Navy in April) there was a temporary re-shuffling of employees and interesting titles assigned: Miss Webb - Grade A Teller and Secretary Miss Wisecarver - Grade B teller Mrs. McDonald - Grade B clerk Mrs. Rodgers - Grade A bookkeeper Miss Barthel - Grade B bookkeeper. Mr. Arthur H. Edmunds was hired in December of 1945 as a staff member through the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, which allowed on-the-job training for former servicemen. President Bradford was too ill to give the annual stockholders’ meeting report in 1946 and passed away on May 23rd at the age of 84. He was first elected Treasurer of Clarke County in 1895 and served 40 years. He never formally ran as a candidate for treasurer – it was just taken for granted by the voters. The Clarke Courier stated that he was perhaps the most respected and beloved man in the county. Out of respect for his death, Judge Burr P. Harrison adjourned the Clarke County Circuit Court for the day. The Board paid their official respects by passing the following resolution: Whereas the Bank of Clarke County has sustained a great loss in the recent death of its beloved and highly esteemed President, Mr. W. A. Bradford, who served the bank with steadfast loyalty as a director over forty years and as its President over twenty years; And whereas, we desire to make some formal expression of our testimony to his character and usefulness not only to this bank but as a county official and a private citizen; Now therefore, be it resolved; that in the death of Mr. Bradford not only his home County of Clarke which he loved and faithfully served for so many years, but also nearby sections of our State have suffered a severe and irreparable loss. Gracious, modest and unassuming in his dealings with his fellowmen aggressive for the things he deemed right and proper, he was a friend of all. A true gentleman under all circumstances, he never lost an opportunity to assist the more unfortunate and to do the good deed. We who knew him intimately shall always remember that his guiding principle in life was to heed the Biblical admonition to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”. We share with his widow, family and friends the sorrow that come from his death and offer them our deep sympathy in the hour of their bereavement. Another resolution was passed by the Regional Clearing House Association: