Paul Conrad is considered one the founding fathers of Barton Community College.  Coming from Washington state, he moved to Great Bend in 1954 to serve as the managing editor of The Great Bend Herald Press, a weekly newspaper that had just been purchased by the owners of The Great Bend Daily Tribune.  Paul and other influential citizens pursued the dream of higher education in Barton county.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From 1965 to 1972, J. A. Mermis, Jr. served Barton Community College as one of the original trustee members, acting as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.  He was also a strong supporter of the community being one of the original incorporators of Security State Bank, was elected in 1949 as mayor of Great Bend, was instrumental in the building of Central Kansas Medical Center, and involved in many other civic and community organizations.

The J. A. Mermis, Jr. Scholarship was created in 1981 by the Board of Directors of Security State Bank as a tribute for his service to the bank and college.

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