Robert Oliphant

A living legend, Robert E. “Bob” Oliphant, 88, of Independence, MO, died Thursday, October 7, 2010 at the Villages of Jackson Creek. His career as executive officer and president of the Bank of Odessa began in September of 1948, and spanned 62 years. During those years, Bob’s knowledge and expertise along with his ability to judge character became a hallmark of the growth of not only the Bank of Odessa but the Odessa community. Born June 22, 1922, the son of Glenn and Cordia (Hall) Oliphant in Cainsville, a small community in north Missouri, he was raised in Princeton where he graduated from high school in 1941. After high school he attended Chillicothe Business College for a year before entering the Army where he was accepted into the Army Special Training Program, an elite college-type study at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, where he majored in mechanical engineering. Due to the escalation of World War II the program closed after six months and he went into basic training with the Infantry in the spring of 1944. After basic training he was sent to Europe where he served with the 103rd Infantry Division under Major General Charles C. Hoffner, Jr., which was part of the Seventh Army commanded by General Alexander Patch. During the Battle of the Bulge he suffered severe wounds to his shoulder and arm late in 1944, and was awarded the Purple Heart. After hospitalization in Europe, he returned to Howard General Hospital in New York before being sent to a hospital in Springfield for more than a year. In the spring of 1946 he began employment for Clarence H Goppert at the People’s Bank at 85th and Prospect in Kansas City. In September of 1948, he was named executive vice president of the Bank of Odessa, which Goppert had purchased. He was named president of the Bank of Odessa in the early 1960’s and has been chairman of the board for more than 40 years. He also served as an officer with the LaMonte Bank and the Commercial Bank of Oak Grove, both in the Goppert chain. Under his leadership, the Bank of Odessa has grown in assets and is the largest independently owned bank in Lafayette County and is one of the largest banks in any town under 10,000 in the state. His banking career is legendary but the philanthropic efforts and contributions have been untold. The Bank of Odessa, under his leadership, was instrumental in assisting with the purchase of what is now Dyer Park. Area churches, the Community Center in Dyer Park, numerous school community and civic organizations owe a debt of gratitude to Bob Oliphant, who through the Bank of Odessa, has provided not only leadership in a lending institution but has given back a portion of the profit to the community and this area. He was a thoughtful friend to many throughout his years in Odessa. in addition to lending his talents as an outstanding community leader. His awards and honors are numerous. He was selected in the first Hall of Fame class of the Odessa R-7 Public School Foundation. A charter member of the Odessa Rotary Club, a scholarship is given each year in his name to an Odessa High School graduate. He was a charter member and a Paul Harris fellow in the Odessa Rotary Club. A longtime member of the former Odessa Lions Club, he delighted in his “team” selling the most brooms in the club’s annual contest. He also was a life member of the Odessa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. Bob Filler, longtime commander, said “Bob loaned us $5000 interest free when the post home was built in the 50’s. His interests varied from hunting, fishing, gambling, sports and horse racing. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, William Oliphant. Bob is survived by his wife, Pearl Oliphant; two daughters, Deborah I. Labosky and husband Robin, Overland Park, KS and Patti Pedersen and husband Per, Lee’s Summit, MO; and two grandchildren, Justin Robert Labosky and Emily Pederson. A memorial visitation will take place from 2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. with a 5:00 p.m. celebration of Bob’s life at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 14, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 3736 S. Lee’s Summit Rd., Independence, MO 64055. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Odessa R-7 Public School Foundation or the Odessa Rotary Club Robert E. Oliphant scholarship.