Our People: A different kind of service

Eddie Pullman was born and raised in San Angelo, Texas. He studied business at the University of Texas. He drafted into the Army for the Korean War in 1954 and was honorably discharged two years later.

Pullman married his wife, Jean, in 1959. They have three children.

He obtained his associates degree from University of Colorado School of Banking in 1972. He went to work for First National Bank in Clovis before moving to Farmington for work. After that, he worked for a finance company for 10 years. He moved to Las Cruces to work for another bank that would send him back to Clovis as a senior officer. Pullman decided he wanted to open his own bank. He started Western Bank in 1975. It was the first bank chartered after 59 years in Clovis.

He started with a small office on Sixth and Main streets that he rented for $50 a month before being approved to open his bank after one year.

Pullman is retired but keeps himself busy at his insurance business he started in 1994 on Sheffield Street in Clovis.

You spent most of your career in banking. What did you like about it?

I like people. No matter what job I took, it was always about the people.

What didn't you like about it?

Banking has changed a lot. But before I opened my own, I remember saying to (wife) Jean to keep a bag packed because in banking the only way to get promoted, back in those days, was for someone to die, retire or get fired and none of those ever came about. I was getting older coming out of finance and I knew I wouldn't ever be president of the bank unless I opened my own.

How would you describe yourself in one word?

Enthusiastic. I think it keeps me healthy and alert. Quality of life is important to me. Quantity is too. You've got to have that.

What's your idea of a perfect day?

Probably the meditation, prayer, health, being with my wife and life. I enjoy those positive things and people. There is no perfect day for me because I like doing different things.

When you were a kid, what did you think you'd be doing as an adult?

Well I call a spade a spade, not a shovel. I come from a mom and pop plumbing, blue collar family in San Angelo (Texas). All I knew is back then is that I didn't want to be a plumber.

Tell us a story about how you met your wife?

We met in Alamogordo. I lived there and one day I noticed in the newspaper a picture of the Sun Princess for the Sun Bowl. I put it on my agenda to meet her. I pulled up to the bank where she worked behind a desk. I was nervous so I went to a teller and asked them 'what does her husband do?' They said she's not married and so I went over to introduce myself.

What's your favorite song at the moment?

No one has knew this until now. I found it listening to a Portales radio station. It's an instrumental by Richard Claydermon called "Dolannes Melody." I appreciate all music. I like some more than others. I enjoy country and western in the morning.

What do you do when you're not working?

I used to play golf and swim. I now do a lot of gardening and I like to workout on the treadmill at the gym. I'll walk when the weather is conducive. We like to live travel. I like to drive to take in the scenery. I've always said I don't like to work on days that end in 'Y.'

Tell us about your favorite place to travel?

Jean and I fly free when space is available. I like driving most of all for the scenery. Santa Fe is one of our favorite places to go and we travel to Dallas often.

Tell us about your greatest individual accomplishment?

Maintaining family unity.

Who's invited to your fantasy dinner party and why?

I would want Jesus Christ, my immediate family and a person who is buried as the unknown soldier. This setting would be representative to God, my family and my country.

— Compiled by The News Corespondent D'Nieka Hartsfield