MARIETTA - Lunches with his business friends at Tiber Way Grill in Marietta and meeting with clients at Settlers Bank are two of the favorite things Jim Meagle will miss as he steps down as CEO and chairman of Settlers Bank and Third Street Bancshares on Dec. 31.
And then there are all the delightful to-dos on his retirement list that Meagle looks forward to, like going to his grandchildren's out-of-town athletic games on weekdays, tackling handyman projects around the house and getting in plenty of rounds of golf. Although Meagle admitted he's not mechanically inclined, "I like working with my hands. (I like to) cut it, pound it or put a nail in it," Meagle laughingly said.
Golf is among Meagle's popular pastimes, one he hasn't had time for in recent years.
"I played a lot of golf prior to starting Settlers Bank," Meagle remembered. The golfing prints hanging on his office wall, showcasing golf courses like the Masters' Augusta National Golf Club and Pebble Beach golf links, are testament to that passion.
Personal golf outings took a big business backseat when Meagle helped start Settlers Bank in the late 1990s, a process that took about 18 months.
"You're starting at zero" and dealing with government bureaucracies, said Meagle.
"Raising $5.5 million (to start Settlers Bank) was much easier than going through the regulatory part," he said. "With the federal government, it just drags on and on and on, and you get very frustrated."
Meagle didn't let that frustration deter him from taking a leadership role at Settlers Bank and driving the bank's continued success.
He'll still be involved in the bank even after the end of the year.
Beginning Jan. 1, Meagle will be chairman of Marietta's Settlers Bank and Third Street Bancshares, Inc.
No longer involved in the bank's day to day operations, Meagle said "If people need me to make a call on a prospective customer and I can help, I'll certainly do it."
Donn Schafer, who will be president and CFO of Settlers Bank moving forward, said he is thankful he has worked closely with Meagle for 10 years.
"If I can emulate his leadership and the example he sets, then everything will be fine," Schafer said.
Meagle said he has no worries about Schafer's future leader role at Settlers Bank.
"I'm very confident that he'll be able to manage it, build it and run it forward," he said.
In his role as a business leader and as a private citizen Meagle has played an active role in the Marietta and Washington County communities. He put much of his focus on education, athletics, health care and business development.
Meagle served on the board of Marietta City Schools when Dora Jean Bumgarner was curriculum supervisor.
"His loyalty to the district and to the community was certainly evident," Bumgarner said. "He was always very cooperative and informative when we worked together on committees."
Meagle's interest in Marietta's school district also extended to its athletic department.
"He's always been an active supporter of our athletic programs and attends football games," said Harry Fleming, Marietta City Schools superintendent.
At Marietta College, Meagle and his wife, Kay, were instrumental in developing the women's basketball foster family program.
"He extends himself beyond the bank," said Debbie Lazorik, associate professor in business and economics at Marietta College. "Jim is a person who touches people's lives."
