William E. Ulmer, 99, former bank president
Submitted by N.O.V.A. September 2006
Times Picayune 08-31-2006


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William E. Ulmer, a banker who rose from entry-level clerk to
preside over a regional federal bank, died Monday at Touro
Infirmary after a brief illness. He was 99. 

In 1923, Mr. Ulmer, then 16, got a clerk's job at the Federal
Intermediate Credit Bank. He retired as its president 46 years
later, in 1969. The bank specialized in agricultural loans in
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and over time Mr. Ulmer
became recognized as an expert in agricultural financing and
farm credit operations. 

Mr. Ulmer graduated from Warren Easton High School and took a
few classes at Tulane University. He learned banking on the job
and through the American Institute of Banking, an industry
organization that sponsored continuing education for members. 

"I always felt so sorry he didn't get to graduate from college.
He was the most brilliant man I ever met," said his daughter,
Ruth "Candy" Kirby of New Orleans. 

Besides banking, Mr. Ulmer devoted himself to service in Rotary
International. That organization named him a Paul Harris Fellow
"in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given
for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly
relations between peoples of the world." 

For more than 70 years, Mr. Ulmer was a member of St. Charles
Avenue Presbyterian Church, where he served for many years on
the investment committee. He also was a member of the Sons of
the Revolution and was active in the Salvation Army. 

Mr. Ulmer was born in Hazlehurst, Miss., and moved to New
Orleans in 1921. 

In addition to Kirby, Mr. Ulmer is survived by daughters Jane
Brown of Alameda, Calif., and Elisabeth Wagner of Frederick,
Md.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. 

A funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Charles
Avenue Presbyterian Church chapel, 1545 State St. Visitation
begins at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories. 

Leitz-Egan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd., is in
charge of arrangements.