'Founding Fathers of Gainesville Banking' honored

GAINESVILLE - Peach State Bank & Trust honored the "Founding Fathers of Banking in Gainesville-Hall County" during its president's week celebration on Thursday.

A special program at the bank's new main office at Washington and Academy streets Thursday night honored Pierce Hancock, Heyward Hosch, Jr., James Mathis, Sr., Ray McRae and Ed Wayne, all retired presidents of community banks.

Hancock and Hosch were affiliated with Citizens Bank n/k/a Bank of America; Mathis, Home Federal Savings, HomeTrust Savings n/k/a SunTrust; McRae, First National Bank n/k/a Regions Bank; and, Wayne, Gainesville National Bank, First Atlanta n/k/a Wachovia.