Kent Needham was born in Pratt, Kansas on May 10, 1953, the first child of Leslie L. and Bobbie R. Needham.  He had one sister, Kim, who passed away in 2024.  Raised in Northwest Kansas and graduating from Decatur Community High School, in Oberlin, Kansas in the Spring of 1971, Kent was very active in music, sports, and many other clubs and organizations.  In the Fall, he attended Fort Hays State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Business with majors in finance and economics.  Kent continued his education by attaining an MBA with an emphasis in banking and finance at Wichita State University.  Additionally, he is a 1984 graduate of the Colorado Graduate School of Banking held at the University of Colorado, in Boulder, Colorado.  A lifetime learner, Kent has received various other licenses and certifications during his career.  Terry and Kent married after graduation from college in January of 1977.  They are blessed with three children, Michael, Matthew and Megan.  Their children are married to Andrea, Katie and Russ respectively.  Additionally, Kent and Terry have ten grandchildren, four girls and six boys.    

                    

Kent grew up in the banking business which has ran through the family for several generations.  Starting at an early age, he dumped the trash and filed checks after school.  Involvement in the bank continued through high school.  While attending college, he worked several jobs including banking, farming, the oil field, a mattress factory, selling clothes, insurance and several other part time and full-time jobs.  All helped to reinforce his interest and appreciation of the banking industry.  His first employer after graduate school was Western National Bank in Amarillo, Texas where he worked for approximately four years.  Wanting to return to Kansas, he accepted a job with Farmers Bank & Trust in Great Bend where he was the Executive Vice-President and served on the board of directors for approximately 12 years.  An opportunity developed that took the Needham family to Tonganoxie where Kent was President and CEO and member of the board of directors of the First State Bank and Trust in Tonganoxie for 15 years.  In 2008, an opportunity arose that allowed Kent to assume the position of Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of the First Security Bank in Overbrook, Kansas.   

 

Kent has been an active advocate for his profession.  He has been involved with the Kansas Bankers Association, having served on several committees, the governing council, the board of directors, and had the honor of being selected to serve as the Chairman in 2004.  Additionally, Kent has provided his time and talents by serving on several committees, a task force, and the board of directors of the Kansas/Nebraska School of Banking.  For seven years, he was on the board of trustees of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.  During that time, he accepted the responsibility of serving on several committees including the Strategic Planning Committee where he served as Chairman from 1995-1997 and was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1998.  In 2000, Kent was asked to represent the American Bankers Association in Washington, D.C. by serving as the State Membership Chairman for Kansas.  He continued to be involved with the ABA by serving on the Administrative Committee of the America’s Community Bankers Council. In 2012, Kent was elected to the FHLBank of Topeka board of directors.  He has and continues to serve on several board committees including Housing and Governance, Operations, Risk Oversight Committee as its Chairman, Audit and the executive committee.  Finally, Kent has worked with the Financial Services Volunteer Corporation in New York City, New York as a volunteer to Russia by providing a presentation on Strategic Planning for the banking industry of Russia in Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2003. 

 

Community service has long been a passion for Kent.  His involvement has extended for many years and includes being a member of various civic groups, chambers of commerce, booster clubs, and children’s coach for recreational sports.  He has worked with the local school districts by serving on foundations, facilities committees, and patron advisory councils.  Kent was heavily involved with the Boy Scouts of America taking on such responsibilities as cubmaster, webelos leader, assistant scout master, merit badge counselor, district committee, ethics-in-action committee chairman and council executive board member.  On a broader scale, Kent has been very active in economic development by being a member of an organization board of the Central Kansas Business Development Center and of the Board of Western Kansas Technology Corporation, and the KTEC Industrial Liaison Program for Western Kansas.  He also participated in the Tonganoxie Bio-Science initiative and on the KTEC Bio-Science Authority Animal Science Hot Team. As a Deacon on the Finance Committee of the Tonganoxie Christian Church and a member of the Board of Trustees of Manhattan Christian College, Kent has been actively involved in his churches and the Christian faith.  Youth and education continue to be a focus as Kent has and continues to serve on the boards of several foundations.  Kent served on the Fort Hays State University Foundation Board of Trustees and served on the Finance Committee. Previously, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Barton County Community College Foundation for 6 years holding the positions of Treasurer, Vice-President and President. 

 

Kent was raised a Master Mason at San Jacinto Lodge #1330 in Amarillo, Texas on February 20, 1979.  He received his York Rite and Scottish Rite Degrees while living in Texas.  Upon moving back to Kansas, he transferred his memberships to Great Bend Lodge #15, Mt. Nebo Chapter #36, R.A.M., Golden Belt Council #21, R. & S.M. and St. Omer Commandery #14, K.T. all of Great Bend, and his Scottish Rite membership to the Valley of Salina.  Kent was Master of Great Bend Lodge #15 in 1988, Excellent High Priest in 1992, Illustrious Master in 1995, and Eminent Commander in 1990.  He was honored with the Knight of the York Cross of Honour (KYCH) in 1996 and is a past Prior of the order. 

 

Kent joined ISIS Shrine, A.A.O.N.M.S. of Salina, Kansas in 1989.  When work required a move to Tonganoxie, Kent became a plural member with Henri Lodge #190 in Tonganoxie.  He is a perpetual life member of both Great Bend #15 and Henri #190.  Kent has received the Order of High Priesthood, Order of the Silver Trowel, and is a member of the Kansas Association of Past Commanders.  He represented the Grand York Rite by serving on several committees of the Grand Chapter, Grand Council, and Grand Commandery of Kansas.  He serves as the Grand Representative to Scotland for both the Grand Chapter and the Grand Council.  Kent transferred his York Rite Membership to Lawrence Chapter No. 4, Lawrence Council No. 14, and DeMolay Commandery No. 4, all in Lawrence, Kansas and his Scottish Rite membership to the Valley of Northeast Kansas, to be closer to his work and home. 

 

Kent is a Past Preceptor of King David No. LX, Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests, Past Puissant Sovereign of St. Augustine Conclave, Order of Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine, Past Governor of Kansas York Rite College #125, Past Excellent Chief of Drogheda Council No. 68, Knight Masons USA, Past Sovereign Master of Loch Lomond Council No. 385, Allied Masonic Degrees, and a member of National Sojourners, Inc.  As a Senior DeMolay, Kent is a recipient of the Legion of Honor awarded by DeMolay International.  He has participated in and served in many capacities in Masonry including serving as the M:.W:. Grand Master of Masons of the M:. W:. Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M of Kansas in 2010, Grand Treasurer of the M:.W:. Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Kansas, Grand Representative to the United Grand Lodge of England, Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Kansas, and currently serves as the Most Illustrious Grand Master of Cryptic Masons of Kansas.  

 

Kent is a Founding Member of the Masonic Order of Athelstan in Kansas and holds Past Grand Rank as Past Grand Senior Warden. Kent received the Knight Commander of the Temple Patent of Honour from the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the USA and has been awarded the Order of the Purple Cross by the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.  Other affiliations include the Royal Order of the Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord (3rd Grade), Kansas Lodge of Research, Ankara Grotto, the Order of Saint Patrick, and Yeomen of York.