Longtime Quitman banker and community icon Clyde Brady passed away last week .

Brady was a war hero who served in the Army for his country during World War II and came home after his discharge to begin a lifetime of service to his family and community.

Brady originally went to work at First National Bank of Quitman in 1948 on what was supposed to be a “temporary" job.  Some 40 years and seven months later he retired in 1989 after years of service to the bank and the community.

Brady was born in Winnsboro April 18, 1920, to the late Joe and Mattie Rushing Brady and was raised 10 miles north of Quitman.  He attended elementary school s at Coke and Rock Hill, then graduated from Quitman High School in 1940..

Brady joined the Army and served in the Third Army 90th Infantry Division which made the D-Day Invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944.  Brady was wounded November 11, 1944, while serving 17 miles inside German lines.  In the two years Brady served overseas he received the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.

After being discharged on November 11, 1945, Brady returned home and married Susan Stanberry January 11, 1946.  The Brady’s had three children, Shirley, Debra and Tom.

After joining the bank in 1948, he went from that “temporary job” to being promoted to vice-president and cashier in 1963, followed by being appointed to the Board of Directors in January, 1967.  He was named president of the bank in 1979 where he served until his retirement.

Brady got involved in several community organizations.  He served on the board of directors for the following: Myrtle Springs Cemetery Association, Quitman; Federal Land Bank Association, Sulphur Springs; Texas Baptist Children’s Home, Waxahachie; Jacksonville Baptist College, Jacksonville; and Wood County Electric Cooperative, Quitman.

While at First National Bank of Quitman, Brady started in bookkeeping, but went on to serve in most every position at the bank.

At the time of his retirement, Brady credited his mentor for his success at the bank.

“A great guy, Granville Benton, asked me to work that summer in the bank.  I hesitated for some time because I had other plans.  I finally decided to give it a try,” Brady said in a 1989 interview for the Wood County Democrat.  “I give much credit to the best teacher (Benton) a person could have.”

Brady left an impression on all who knew him and those who worked for him.  One of those was Billy Weems.  “Mr. Brady was a low-key person who never wanted any credit for the things he did.  Some loans may have been too big, but there was never one too small.  He was one of the best friends I ever had: he was like a second dad to me!” Weems explained.  “If any of his employees were ever short or needed something, he would make sure they were taken care of.  He was very compassionate about his job and the people he served.”

Weems said Brady was always for the little guy, the small business people.

“Once there was a lady who got turned down for a loan for a used stove,” Weems said.  “He made sure she got that stove.  Out of all the people I worked with, and most of his employees too, Clyde Brady was the best person that I ever worked for in the business.’

Brady was preceded in death by his wife Susan, in 2003 and son Tom, in 2010.  He was laid to rest Friday, November 7, at Myrtle Springs Baptist Church with burial at Myrtle Springs Cemetery.  Memorials can be made to Myrtle Springs Cemetery Association.

Clyde Brady was 94 years old.