Pulaski County ArArchives Biographies.....Hicks, William Arthur 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 2, 2009, 11:42 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

WILLIAM ARTHUR HICKS.
    William Arthur Hicks, vice president and cashier of the American Bank of
Commerce & Trust Company, which it today the largest banking institution of the
state, was born October 12, 1880, in Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas,
being a son of William Henry and Mary Olivia (Diehl) Hicks. The father, whose
birth occurred in Hawkins county, Tennessee, September 8, 1845, was a successful
contractor and builder of Little Rock throughout his active business career.
During the period of the Civil war he served as a private of Company G,
Forty-seventh Arkansas Cavalry, from July 24, 1862, until April 25, 1865. At all
times he was active as a supporter of the democratic party, manifesting a keen
interest in politics. He departed this life on the 18th of August, 1906, but is
still survived by his widow, who was born April 13, 1851, in Little Rock, where
she yet makes her home. They were married in Little Rock on the 27th of August,
1879, and became the parents of seven children, namely: Mina, William Arthur.
John Ernest, May Pearl, Charles Henry, Walter Scott and Jimmie Winfield. Of the
above named only two survive, William A. and his brother, Walter Scott.

    William Arthur Hicks attended the public schools of his native city to the
age of seventeen years, completing the work of the ninth grade. He then started
out to provide for his own support and whatever success he has achieved or
enjoyed is attributable entirely to his own labors. For five years he was
connected with the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf Railroad, now a part of the Rock
Island system filling a clerical position. He afterward became associated with
the Oregon Short Line Railroad at Salt Lake City as a clerk and when he returned
to Little Rock he entered the employ of the Waters-Pierce Oil Company as chief
clerk in the general offices. For a year and a half he filled that position and
on the expiration of that period removed to New Orleans, where he became sales
manager for the southern division of the H. W. Johns-Manville Company of New
York. He spent a year and a half in the Crescent city, after which he came again
to Little Rock in 1909 and here entered the employ of the American Bank as
assistant cashier. This bank was afterward consolidated with the German National
in 1911 and Mr. Hicks became assistant cashier of the newly organized
institution, conducted under the name of the German National. In 1911 he was
advanced to the position of cashier. In 1914 the German National changed its
name to the American National. Bank and Mr. Hicks continued as cashier. In 1919
the American National consolidated with the Bank of Commerce and became the
American Bank of Commerce & Trust Company, Mr. Hicks remaining as cashier, while
later he was elected to the vice presidency and today fills both offices. He is
thoroughly conversant with every phase of the banking business and his close
application, his diligence and his efficiency have been potent forces in the
attainment of success by the institution which he represents. He is also the
vice president and treasurer of the National Ice Cream Company, a director in
the Arkansas Building & Loan Association and treasurer of the Tipton Nursery,
Incorporated, all of Little Rock.

    On the 6th of November, 1901, Mr. Hicks was united in marriage to Miss
Nellie Louise Miller, who was born in Little Rock, December 7, 1880, a daughter
of Daniel and Margaret Miller of this city. Her father, who is now deceased, was
a veteran of the Confederate army. Mrs. Hicks obtained her education in the
public schools of her native city and by her marriage has become the mother of
two children, Marian Miller and Nellie Louise, who are eighteen and sixteen
years of age respectively.

    Both Mr. and Mrs. Hicks attend the Methodist Episcopal church and he is well
known as a thirty-second degree Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. He
likewise belongs to the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of the Maccabees and
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he has membership in the Little Rock
Country Club, the Little Rock Quapaw Club, the Big Lake Club, the Old River
Fishing Club, the Brasfield Rod and Gun Club, the Lakeside Club and the Kiwanis
Club. His interest in the community welfare is shown through his connection with
the Chamber of Commerce and he also occupies the important position of president
of the Arkansas Children's Home Finding Society, doing everything in his power
to ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the unfortunate. His political
allegiance is given to the democratic party. At the time of the World war he did
active work for the government in connection with the Liberty Loan drives and
also the Red Cross, War Savings Stamps and the Near East Relief drives. His wide
acquaintance and his salesmanship ability enabled him to accomplish excellent
results in this connection. Moreover, he was actuated by a most patriotic
devotion to the cause and in days of peace he has manifested the same loyalty to
every project or interest that tends to promote the welfare and upbuilding of
Little Rock.


Additional Comments:

Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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