Roger D. Knight Jr.
Roger D. Knight Jr. went from baking to banking and became one of the founders of United Banks of Colorado. Roger Knight Jr., worked in a family flour-milling business, rising to president of Campbell-Sell Baking Co. In 1949, he joined the board of U.S. National Bank. Five years later, he left the flour company and became bank president.
At a time when Colorado banks were stunted by restrictive laws that prohibited branching, Roger Knight Jr. and his colleagues found a way to create what would become the state's dominant bank. In 1964, what was then the Denver-U.S. National Bank formed a holding company that ultimately became United Banks of Colorado.
"From the '60s to the early '90s, United really reigned in Colorado," said Wells Fargo regional President Tom Honig, who worked for Roger Knight Jr. early in his career. "It was because of the vision of Roger, Bernie Hart, Neil Roberts and John Hershner."
Former Wells Fargo regional President David Bailey started at Denver-U.S. National Bank in 1964 as a teller, watching Roger Knight Jr., then CEO. At a time when the bank had one of the largest drive-through banks in the country at East 17th Avenue and Lincoln Street, cars would get snarled, but Roger Knight Jr. chipped in to help.
"Friday afternoon, here's a wealthy guy, the CEO of the bank, out in the street directing traffic," Bailey said. On other occasions, he "would go around picking up paper clips because he was afraid someone would slip."
Roger Knight Jr.'s service included the boards of the University of Denver, the former Museum of Natural History and the Denver Chamber of Commerce.
At a time when Colorado banks were stunted by restrictive laws that prohibited branching, Roger Knight Jr. and his colleagues found a way to create what would become the state's dominant bank. In 1964, what was then the Denver-U.S. National Bank formed a holding company that ultimately became United Banks of Colorado.
"From the '60s to the early '90s, United really reigned in Colorado," said Wells Fargo regional President Tom Honig, who worked for Roger Knight Jr. early in his career. "It was because of the vision of Roger, Bernie Hart, Neil Roberts and John Hershner."
Former Wells Fargo regional President David Bailey started at Denver-U.S. National Bank in 1964 as a teller, watching Roger Knight Jr., then CEO. At a time when the bank had one of the largest drive-through banks in the country at East 17th Avenue and Lincoln Street, cars would get snarled, but Roger Knight Jr. chipped in to help.
"Friday afternoon, here's a wealthy guy, the CEO of the bank, out in the street directing traffic," Bailey said. On other occasions, he "would go around picking up paper clips because he was afraid someone would slip."
Roger Knight Jr.'s service included the boards of the University of Denver, the former Museum of Natural History and the Denver Chamber of Commerce.
