Greenleaf: Small town remains tenacious

Topeka Capital-Journal, The,  Oct 26, 2001  by Capital-Journal

"We think we have worked very hard. It is not easy to keep a rural community viable."

GARY PADGETT, Greenleaf banker

Story and Photographs by John E. Chambers

Special to The Capital-Journal

"We think we have worked very hard. It is not easy to keep a rural community viable.", GARY PADGETT, Greenleaf banker

GREENLEAF --- Although its population is only 357, the central Washington County town of Greenleaf is tenacious --- witness its recovery from a 1973 tornado that killed two children, devastated the business district and destroyed many homes.

For its recovery efforts, in which Citizens National bank, business community and Kansas PRIDE had played major roles, the town earned special recognition from Kansas PRIDE.

Third-generation banker Gary Padgett termed the tornado "Greenleaf's economic development program." The town had formed a PRIDE committee three years earlier.

Padgett said the bank and its employees during the years have participated in city government and school board governance, and "during crisis times --- and there have been several --- we have played a strong role in trying to keep it a viable community.

"We think we have worked very hard," he said. "It is not easy to keep a rural community viable."