John R. Gehlbach honored by State Bank of Lincoln

[June 18, 2010]  John R. Gehlbach, a member of the board of directors of the State Bank of Lincoln for 37 years, was honored by the bank at its annual meeting on June 16. At that time Gehlbach was named a director emeritus, the first person in the bank's history to be given that distinction.

Steve Aughenbaugh, president of the bank, also displayed a plaque that will be given to Gehlbach. The plaque indicated in part that he was being honored "for his many years of service, his dedication, and his leadership to our bank and our community."

Gehlbach, a prominent Lincoln attorney and civic leader, was born at Beason and graduated from Beason High School. He then earned a bachelor's degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and his law degree from Northwestern University. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater as a lieutenant commander. While in the Navy he also studied at the Harvard School of Business.

In 1951 Gehlbach started his law practice in Lincoln. He also served as a special assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois for 20 years. As trustee of Lincoln College for 56 years, he became the longest-serving trustee in that institution's history. He has also served the Lincoln community as a member of numerous civic and charitable organizations as well.

Aughenbaugh said that Gehlbach was being honored not only for his outstanding community service, but for the dedication and wise counsel that he has provided the bank. "This has been reflected in the way the bank has grown over the years," said Aughenbaugh. "When John was elected to the board, the bank had assets of just under $20 million and operated just one office. Today the State Bank of Lincoln has seven facilities in Logan and DeWitt counties and has assets of $300 million."

Gehlbach lives in Elkhart with his wife, Joanne. He has a daughter, Greta Gehlbach Gribkoff, of Wallingford, Conn. A son, John R. Gehlbach II, is deceased.

[Text from file received from State Bank of Lincoln]