Bill Nease, right, will be retiring as president of Home National Bank later this winter. Nease is pictured with current Vice President Roma Sayre who will replace Nease as president.

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RACINE — Long-time banker A.W. “Bill” Nease, Jr. will be retiring later this winter after more than 35 years in banking.

Nease, who has served as the president of Home National Bank since 2001, began his career in banking at Pomeroy National Bank in 1976. Nease then worked for Bank One until 1989 when he began working for Home National Bank.

“All people have different personalization and ambitions. Bill was working for Bank One, and I was in need of a loan officer with the same philosophy that Home National Bank always had. Bill seemed to be that person,” said former Home National Bank President and current Board of Directors member Tom Wolfe. “He fit that position very well.”

Nease served as a loan officer until 2001 when he became president of the bank.

“We needed a bank president with ideas and a future,” said Wolfe. “Bill accomplished this with many new bank products. His major contributions were the construction of a new facility and converting to Sub-chapter S bank.”

Despite retiring in a few weeks, Nease will remain active with the board of directors.

During his tenure as president, Home National Bank has opened its new Racine office and continued to establish a well-qualified staff.

“When computer banking became evident, he also played a major part in the transition from mechanical to computer banking,” Wolfe added.

Nease said that he is confident that he is leaving a very qualified, knowledgeable staff in place which will continue to serve the bank’s customers.

“It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the community,” Nease said of his time as bank president.

Roma Sayre, current vice president of Home National Bank, will replace Nease as president. Sayre has over 30 years of banking experience, having previously worked as a teller, loan officer and branch manager.

Sayre said that Nease had served as a mentor to her during his time as president of the bank.

Nease has also held several positions in the community, including serving more than 20 years in the Tuppers Plains Water Board and the Meigs Elderly Housing Authority. Nease previously severed as Meigs County Chamber of Commerce president in the 1980s.

Nease’s plans for retirement include traveling, golfing and visiting family, including his son and grandsons in Seattle.

“He will be missed by the many customers,” said Wolfe. “We are fortunate to have him remain as a board member, his contributions to community banking will continue.”

A reception will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 13 at the Racine office of Home National Bank to honor Nease as he begins his retirement.