Willard K Denton, former chairman and chief executive officer of Manhattan Savings Bank, died Monday at his home in Southbury, CT. He was 85 years old.
Mr. Denton, who had been a special deputy state superintendent of New York banks, joined the Metropolitan Savings Bank as executive vice president in 1938.
At the request of the State Superintendent of Banks, he subsequently merged the Metropolitan Savings Bank, the Manhattan Savings Institution, and the Citizen Savings Bank, three small banks that were said to have been on the verge of failure.
The combined bank, of which he was named chairman and chief executive officer in 1938, became the Manhattan Savings Bank. During his 32 year tenure, he directed the bank's growth from resources of $106 million to more than $760 million.
Mr. Denton had a flair for innovation and introduced dog shows, boat shows, karate exhibitions, piano and organ recitals and golf exhibitions to the bank's headquarters and throughout its 16 branches. One Christmas he made headlines by having an ice pond built into the bank's lobby at Madison Ave. and 47th Street, which had been transformed into a miniature scale model of Central Park.
After his retirement in 1970, Mr. Denton started a real estate company in Mt. Kisco. More recently, Mr. Denton, who was a collector of antiques, had his own antique clock business called Old Timers in Southbury, CT.
He is survived by his wife, the former Faith deBaubigny; a son Willard Jr., and two grandsons.
A memorial service will be held today at 7 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Katonah, NY.
Mr. Denton, who had been a special deputy state superintendent of New York banks, joined the Metropolitan Savings Bank as executive vice president in 1938.
At the request of the State Superintendent of Banks, he subsequently merged the Metropolitan Savings Bank, the Manhattan Savings Institution, and the Citizen Savings Bank, three small banks that were said to have been on the verge of failure.
The combined bank, of which he was named chairman and chief executive officer in 1938, became the Manhattan Savings Bank. During his 32 year tenure, he directed the bank's growth from resources of $106 million to more than $760 million.
Mr. Denton had a flair for innovation and introduced dog shows, boat shows, karate exhibitions, piano and organ recitals and golf exhibitions to the bank's headquarters and throughout its 16 branches. One Christmas he made headlines by having an ice pond built into the bank's lobby at Madison Ave. and 47th Street, which had been transformed into a miniature scale model of Central Park.
After his retirement in 1970, Mr. Denton started a real estate company in Mt. Kisco. More recently, Mr. Denton, who was a collector of antiques, had his own antique clock business called Old Timers in Southbury, CT.
He is survived by his wife, the former Faith deBaubigny; a son Willard Jr., and two grandsons.
A memorial service will be held today at 7 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Katonah, NY.
Willard K Denton, former chairman and chief executive officer of Manhattan Savings Bank, died Monday at his home in Southbury, CT. He was 85 years old.
Mr. Denton, who had been a special deputy state superintendent of New York banks, joined the Metropolitan Savings Bank as executive vice president in 1938.
At the request of the State Superintendent of Banks, he subsequently merged the Metropolitan Savings Bank, the Manhattan Savings Institution, and the Citizen Savings Bank, three small banks that were said to have been on the verge of failure.
The combined bank, of which he was named chairman and chief executive officer in 1938, became the Manhattan Savings Bank. During his 32 year tenure, he directed the bank's growth from resources of $106 million to more than $760 million.
Mr. Denton had a flair for innovation and introduced dog shows, boat shows, karate exhibitions, piano and organ recitals and golf exhibitions to the bank's headquarters and throughout its 16 branches. One Christmas he made headlines by having an ice pond built into the bank's lobby at Madison Ave. and 47th Street, which had been transformed into a miniature scale model of Central Park.
After his retirement in 1970, Mr. Denton started a real estate company in Mt. Kisco. More recently, Mr. Denton, who was a collector of antiques, had his own antique clock business called Old Timers in Southbury, CT.
He is survived by his wife, the former Faith deBaubigny; a son Willard Jr., and two grandsons.
A memorial service will be held today at 7 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Katonah, NY.
Mr. Denton, who had been a special deputy state superintendent of New York banks, joined the Metropolitan Savings Bank as executive vice president in 1938.
At the request of the State Superintendent of Banks, he subsequently merged the Metropolitan Savings Bank, the Manhattan Savings Institution, and the Citizen Savings Bank, three small banks that were said to have been on the verge of failure.
The combined bank, of which he was named chairman and chief executive officer in 1938, became the Manhattan Savings Bank. During his 32 year tenure, he directed the bank's growth from resources of $106 million to more than $760 million.
Mr. Denton had a flair for innovation and introduced dog shows, boat shows, karate exhibitions, piano and organ recitals and golf exhibitions to the bank's headquarters and throughout its 16 branches. One Christmas he made headlines by having an ice pond built into the bank's lobby at Madison Ave. and 47th Street, which had been transformed into a miniature scale model of Central Park.
After his retirement in 1970, Mr. Denton started a real estate company in Mt. Kisco. More recently, Mr. Denton, who was a collector of antiques, had his own antique clock business called Old Timers in Southbury, CT.
He is survived by his wife, the former Faith deBaubigny; a son Willard Jr., and two grandsons.
A memorial service will be held today at 7 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Katonah, NY.
