Edward Fletcher Swinney (August 1, 1857 - October 24, 1946) was a prominent businessman and banker in the early twentieth century. Swinney served as president of the

American Bankers Association The American Bankers Association (ABA) is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association for the U.S. banking industry, founded in 1875. They lobby for banks of all sizes and charters, including community banks, regional and money center banks, savi ...

and later as president of the First National Bank of

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...

(now a part of the

Bank of America The Bank of America Corporation (often abbreviated BofA or BoA) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered at the Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank ...

). Swinney served on the Kansas City School Board from 1894 until 1918. Swinney was also a philanthropist who created, in 1944, the Edward F. Swinney Trust whose mission is "to be used for the furtherance and development of such public charitable and public educational purposes in the State of Missouri". The Swinney Recreation Center bears his name.

Early life

Swinney was born in Marysville, Virginia on August 1, 1857. He attended Blackburg University from 1872-1875.

Career

Swinney moved to

Fayette, Missouri Fayette is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 2,803 at the 2020 census. History Fayette was laid out in 1823. Th ...

shortly after graduating university to pursue a career in banking. In Fayette, Swinney was hired as a grocery delivery boy, which consisted of long hours and pay of $20 a week. Despite these strenuous working conditions, he kept a positive attitude and developed a work ethic that would attribute to his future successes. After working for the grocery store for about five years, he got a job working for a dry goods store, which gave him a $5 pay raise. On August 15, 1878, Swinney was given the opportunity to work at a bank in Fayette, which launched his career as a successful banker. Swinney worked at the Fayette Bank for four years before he accepted a higher position in Rich Hill, Missouri. Eventually, he was offered the position to become a cashier at their new location in

Colorado City, Texas Colorado City ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Mitchell County, Texas, United States. Its population was 3,991 at the 2020 census. History Colorado City originated as a ranger camp in 1877. It grew into a cattlemen's center and has ...

. Swinney returned to Missouri on March 1, 1887, where he became a cashier at the First National Bank in Kansas City, Missouri. He was elected president of the First National Bank in 1890. Swnney quickly built a reputable and respected name for himself within the financial community.

Philanthropy

Swinney was a

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

and was involved in many local organizations. He was particularly interested in public education, and he sat on the Kansas City Board of Education from 1894 until 1918. He also funded the Edward F. Swinney Trust, which helps develop public charitable and educational projects in Missouri.

Personal life

Swinney married his wife, Ida Lee, in

Howard County, Missouri Howard County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri, with its southern border formed by the Missouri River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,151. Its county seat is Fayette. The county was organized January 23, 1816, and named ...

on November 14, 1882. The couple had two children, Edna S and Lee Thomson, who were both adopted. Swinney died in his apartment at 8:45am following weeks of health complications.

References

1857 births 1946 deaths Businesspeople from Kansas City, Missouri American bankers American Bankers Association American philanthropists Philanthropists from the Kansas City metropolitan area {{US-business-bio-1850s-stub