Vaclav F. Houda Biography


	This biography appears on page 353 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				VACLAV F. HOUDA. 

	Bohemia has given many excellent citizens to South Dakota, among 
them being Vaclav F. Houda, cashier of the Kimball Commercial & Savings 
Bank, who was born in that country on the 24th of January, 1884, a son 
of Joseph and Barbara Houda. The father has passed to his reward, but 
the mother is still living. 

	Vaclav F. Houda attended school in his native land, but when 
twenty years of age emigrated to the United States and settled in 
Chicago. Two years later, or in 1905, he came to South Dakota. He 
realized the advantage that would accrue to him from continuing his 
education in this country, and after settling in Springfield took 
advantage of the opportunities afforded by the State Normal School. He 
paid his own way while attending school and upon leaving the 
institution had a balance of six hundred dollars, although he had but 
twenty-eight dollars when he came to this state. He entered the 
National Bank of Springfield, with which he remained for four years. He 
then went to Prague, Bohemia, in the capacity of secretary to the 
American consul, and upon his return to South Dakota he entered the 
Kimball Commercial & Savings Bank as cashier, which position he still 
holds, and is also a stockholder and director. He has fully 
demonstrated his ability to discharge the responsible duties devolving 
upon him and his policy in regard to the extension of credit is a 
prudent yet liberal one which both protects the interests of the bank 
and further legitimate business expansion. 

	In November, 1911, Mr. Houda married Miss Marie Marek, a daughter 
of Vaclav Marek, and to their union has been born a son, Vaclav, Jr. 

	Mr. Houda is independent in politics, believing that the 
interests of the party may be best served by considering the 
qualifications of the candidate rather than the party to which he 
belongs. He is numbered among the substantial men of Kimball. Anything 
that affects the welfare of the state is of interest to him, and if 
need be he is willing to subordinate his private interests to the good 
of his community.