123 bank while three or four customers were in the lobby, got a drink and went to a teller window. Mr. Dallas Cousins observed the fleeing suspect and gave the description to the authorities which hastened the capture. Mrs. Pam Papp, a customer, was briefly held at gunpoint in the lobby. Preparations began in January of 1981 for the Bank’s 100th anniversary. New wallpaper replaced the old and brownish-green carpet was laid in the lobby. The celebration was held on April 1st and over 700 guests attended. Two $100 savings bonds were given away and were won by Mrs. Katie Rhoden and Mrs. Dorothy Cash (Blackburn Moore’s daughter). The comment of “I don’t expect to be here in 2081 for the 200th anniversary, but I am sure the Bank of Clarke County will be” was heard from many people. At the April 16, 1981 stockholders’ meeting (held at the Berryville Ruritan Fairgrounds) Mr. McWilliams, Jr. announced that 33 employees were currently at the bank and recognized the deaths of Mr. Moore, Dr. Iden and Mr. Burch and announced the addition of Mr. Emmart. Mr. A. Douglas McIntire was elected to the Board on June 4, 1981. On July 9, 1981, Mr. McGehee resigned as Board Chairman, Vice President and Board member. The Clarke Courier asked him for a statement, to which he concluded, “My wife, daughter and I have at the present time no thought of selling our stock. I have the responsibility of handling several large accounts on deposit and have no idea at the present time of advising any change. When I was last in the bank with access to the records, I was discussing the operations for the first half of the year with the officers, and without audit at that time, it was thought that the bank had had a successful earnings record for the first half of the year.” In September of 1981, the Bank instituted a search for a Chief Executive Officer outside of the existing personnel structure. Mr. Wayne Smith of Winter Haven, Florida was named as Bank of Clarke County’s new CEO. A native of the Shenandoah Valley, he had expressed the desire to return to this area. He was employed by a bank in Harrisonburg and Bridgewater before moving to Florida. Mr. Smith withdrew his application before he ever started. Space needs precipitated a discussion on expanding the Berryville and Boyce offices. The Bank entered into a contract with Bank Building and Equipment Corporation to assess both locations. A lot was purchased in Boyce for $13,000 for a totally new branch (to cost $335,207) and a 14,000 square foot expansion was announced for Berryville (to cost $1,530,317). It was noted that the Berryville expansion would be adequate for up to 10 years. A 100% stock dividend was declared on June 30, 1982, with outstanding shares growing from 33,000 to 66,000 shares. Boyce experienced another robbery on October 18, 1982 at 1:45 P.M. Preston Birkett, 57, was arrested and charged with armed robbery and displaying a firearm in the commission of a felony. On his way out of the lobby, Birkett showed Mr. Phil Grim, security guard, the money and said “God knows I need this.” He stole $2,650 from Mrs. Hudson by throwing a bag across her window and saying “put some money in it.” $2,530 was recovered. The 1982 robbery caused yet another editorial from the Clarke Courier: “By now would-be robbers of the Boyce Branch of Bank of Clarke County should