SYLACAUGA, Ala. – When a person lives in a community like Sylacauga and they are hit with financial burdens, they usually have someone that they can count on to understand their problems and truly try and help them. For 42 years around here, that person has been Keith Weldon.
I met Keith Weldon when I was a young teenager, living in the Fairmont community. We would play tennis with his father and attended church together while playing softball with each other as well.
I knew that I had a great friend, and it is important when you have a friend that will listen to your problems with money needs later on as we move through life.
Keith has been in the banking business for 42 years, first with City National Bank which was a longtime lending institution in town. The last 20 years he has served our communities at Heritage South Credit Union.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, his fellow employees welcomed all family and friends to come by and celebrate his retirement as Friday is his last day behind the desk.
Keith and his wife Sharon have been married for 41 years and have two sons, Corey and Reed. Corey and his wife Haley have two children, Bentley and Olivia. Keith will probably be “Papa K” to his grandchildren a lot in his retirement.
I asked Keith if he had a mentor in his banking career and he said, “Harold Dickson really helped me when I first started.”
Keith graduated and worked a few jobs before going to Herzing College to advance in the world of computers which is where he started at City National Bank. He then moved into the loan department, where he has resided for 38 of the 42 years.
Keith stated, “City National Bank was that hometown place and after it was bought out, I moved over to Heritage South Credit Union where I have worked for 20 years. It has been the best for me and my family. Jamie Payton is incredible and has been fabulous to work for.”
Keith has dished out personal loans, business transactions, automobile loans, and also real estate closings.
At his reception for his retirement, many friends, family members, and community leaders came by to wish him the very best. After all, that is what he has given the Coosa Valley, his very best.
Myself personally, I can not imagine how many people that Keith has helped over 42 years of giving his life to the banking business.
He has been called everything from “Milborne Drysdale” to “Theodore Mooney.” Those of us with age will know who those two people are.
When asked what retirement is going to bring, Keith said, “Probably being a babysitter as well as trying to play a little golf and [take care of] honey do’s. There is no telling what else it will be.”
No matter what it is, Keith’s retirement is well deserved! We all wish Keith and his family all the best in his retirement. He will certainly will be missed behind that desk, helping everyone that he can.
