4/2/09
Blanchette walks to work for retirement/Relay
By Cathy Gilbert
CATHY GILBERT/Manning Times
Ray Blanchette, financial advisor for the Bank of Clarendon, will walk to work on his last day before retirement. That’s 22.5 miles from his home in Sumter to the downtown bank. He’s doing it to raise funds for Clarendon Relay for Life.
For some retirement means a gold watch, a lovely reception and lots of well wishes from envious co-workers.
For Ray Blanchette of the Bank of Clarendon, well, he might be a little late on his last day, April 14.
On that day, Blanchette will walk to work – 22.5 miles – from his home in Sumter to the Brooks Street bank.
And it’s all for a purpose, according to Blanchette.
An eight-year veteran of the Bank of Clarendon Financial Services division, Blanchette is walking to raise money for Relay for Life, and in memory of two Bank of Clarendon family members – Vice President Ron Wall’s wife, Linda and Blanchette’s assistant’s late husband, Artie Johnson.
This won’t be the first time Blanchette has made the epic walk. He did a practice run on Feb. 22 of this year.
“It took me 7.5 hours and it was 46 degrees with 30 knot gusts,” Blanchette said. “I was cold and didn’t think I was going to make it.”
The 65-year-old said he really started to feel it around Alcolu.
“I was really starting to hurt by the time I got to Alcolu and knew I had three miles to go,” he said. “I stopped at the Exxon station but there was no where to sit down. I rested for a few minutes and headed for that new dialysis center, praying they had a bench or two.”
Blessedly, Blanchette found two park benches at the dialysis center and was able to sit for a bit and take off his shoes.
“You know I learned in Boy Scouts that you should wear two pair of socks on a hike,” he said. He had formed baseball-sized blisters on the soles of his feet.
“You don’t realize how sloped the road bed is,” he noted. “It is undoubtedly the hardest thing I have ever done outside of basic training and Air Force survival training.”
Blanchette said he would be better prepared this time.
He has logged over 1,000 miles on his treadmill.
He carries a wooden flagpole/walking stick that he refers to as his “coyote knocker.”
He has a vest loaned to him by his soon-to-be replacement Badge Baker.
“It’s got room for water bottles and has lots of hazard orange on it,” Blanchette said with a grin.
Blanchette is not one of those retirees looking for a hammock to while away his golden years.
He is currently working with the AARP as a volunteer tax preparer and volunteers in Tuomey’s Day Surgery unit as a transporter. He is active with his church, St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Sumter.
Hiking Ray has already raised nearly $2,000 of his $2,250 goal for Relay for Life. He picked the $2,250 figure for the 22.5 miles he will walk.
Donations for Blanchette’s “Artie Johnson and Linda Wall Memorial Walk” may be made out to the American Cancer Society and taken to the Bank of Clarendon. For more information, call Blanchette or Kim Johnson at 433-4451.
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Arpil 2, 2009
Blanchette walks to work for retirement/Relay
By Cathy Gilbert
Pardon their dust! The Bank of Clarendon’s downtown Manning headquarters is getting a complete facelift. All new shrub borders and walkways will soon grace the South Brooks Street establishment. While in construction, visitors should use the back entrance adjacent to the rear parking lot.
The Bank of Clarendon has implemented a landscaping renovation plan for its main office located on South Brooks Street in Manning. This facility serves as the Manning banking office and headquarters to three other banking offices in surrounding communities.
Bank officials said the landscaping project, which will include all new shrub borders and walkways, should take approximately 90 days to complete.
“We are proud to be a part of the Manning downtown business district and our current landscaping project will nicely compliment other coordinated beautification efforts in the city,” said Bank President Barry Ham. “It will not only enhance the appearance of the main office, it will also support local contractors in a weak economy.”
The contract was awarded to Herbert Venning, owner of Venning’s Nursery and Landscaping, a local contractor who is from Summerton.
“Bank of Clarendon is truly committed to our community,” Ham added. “As one of the oldest and best established businesses in Manning’s downtown district, we will continually upgrade and maintain our banking facility as needed.”
The walkways from the back parking area to the bank are a major part of the renovation project.
“Over the years, the walkways have settled and become uneven in certain areas,” said Senior Vice President and project manager Ron Wall. “For safety reasons, we made a decision to demolish the existing walkways and completely replace them with a firmer foundation. We also have come up with an exciting new design in place of the center planter that currently exists.”
In addition, the bank has also added new remote drive up banking equipment to better serve the customers. The Bank of Clarendon encourages everyone to come into the bank and view the plans and improvements that are in progress.
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August 28, 2008
Ham Named President 2009-2010 Independent Banks of South Carolina (IBSC)
J. Barry Ham, President of The Bank of Clarendon, Manning, SC was elected President of the Independent Banks of South Carolina (IBSC) during the IBSC Annual Convention at Wild Dunes in the Isle of Palms, SC. A native of Clarendon County, Ham attended Manning High School and later graduated from Clemson University in 1987 where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Financial Management. He is also a 1993 graduate of the South Carolina Bankers School at the University of South Carolina and has completed many other banking and economic development programs.
Ham began his career in 1984 with The Bank of Clarendon as a part-time teller. Upon graduating from Clemson, Ham excelled in the bank’s management training program and during his 25-year career with The Bank of Clarendon, has served in a number of capacities and balanced many responsibilities. He has served as Branch Manager, Credit Analyst/Administrator, Compliance Officer, Commercial Lender and Chief Credit Officer. He also serves on the bank’s Board of Directors. In 2002 he received the Independent Banks of South Carolina Leadership Award along with the designation of South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development from Governor Jim Hodges. In 2003, Ham was recognized by the South Carolina Bankers Association as the 2003 Outstanding Young Banker of the Year. In addition to these accomplishments, Ham devotes much time to community and civic activities. He is a member and multi-term Chairman of the Clarendon County Development Board, Director and Treasurer of Clarendon School District Two Education Foundation, member of Certified Development
Corporation of South Carolina and Director of Santee Lynches Regional Development Corporation. Ham is a lifelong member of Manning First Baptist Church and is married to the former Arlene Hancock of Hartsville, South Carolina. They have one son, Lane, who is currently a sophomore at Clemson University. The Independent Banks of South Carolina (IBSC) is an association of 53 locally owned and operated banks in South Carolina, which promotes the interests and general welfare of the independent community
banks within the state.
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December 28 2008
Bank of Clarendon Shows Community Spirit
We are proud to announce two special donations during the month of December. The bank made a $1,000.00 donation to the Manning High School Marching Band to help cover expenses to perform at the Presidential Inauguration, and a $6,500.00 donation to the "Get Weldon Going" project for its renovation of the Old Weldon Auditorium.
August 1, 2008
Dickey Williamson joins Bank of Clarendon as Vice President/Commercial Loan
Officer
July 6, 2008
Badge Baker joins Bank of Clarendon as BOC Financial Services, Inc Investment Representative.
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