Brenda Vineyard Runyon (1868–1929), founder and director of the First Woman's Bank of Tennessee in

Clarksville, Tennessee Clarksville is a city in Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 166,722 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tennessee, fifth-most populo ...

in 1919. The bank was the first in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

to be managed and directed entirely by women. Ms Runyon resigned from her position in 1926 due to failing health and could not secure a successor. The First Trust and Savings Bank of Clarksville absorbed the bank in 1926. Ms. Runyon was the wife of a Clarksville physician, Dr. Frank Runyon. Both doctor and Ms Runyon were born in Trenton,

Todd County, Kentucky Todd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,243. Its county seat is Elkton. The county is named for Colonel John Todd, who was killed at the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782 durin ...

. They had two sons, and both pursued professional careers. Ms. Runyon was active in the civic affairs of Clarksville and was director of the Clarksville branch of the

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during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Following the war, Ms Runyon organized the First Woman's Bank of Tennessee after being challenged to do so by a local business. A fall in 1926 led to declining health and her resignation as bank director, eventually dying as a result on February 3, 1929.

References

* The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
EntryID F017
* Clarksville-Montgomery County Website
About Clarksville
{{DEFAULTSORT:Runyon, Brenda Vineyard 1868 births 1929 deaths American bankers American women bankers