Bill Docking Day

Union State Bank Staff Celebrate Bill Docking Day

Union State Bank (USB) employees gathered Sunday afternoon to show their appreciation to former bank CEO and Board Chair, William (Bill) Docking. Docking passed away on March 13, 2025, as a result of ongoing health issues.

Bill held the position of Chief Executive Officer for over thirty years, from 1983 until 2014. And served on the bank’s Board of Directors until his retirement in February of this year.

“There is no better legacy my uncle would have wanted than to have us carry on what he spent his life building,” expressed Brian Docking, Chairman of the Union State Bank Board of Directors.

Upon his retirement, the USB Board of Directors presented Bill with a formal proclamation establishing March 23^rd as William R. (Bill) Docking Day. The City Commission of Arkansas City followed suit by proclaiming the same day, which would have been Bill’s 74^th birthday, as Bill Docking Day officially within the city.

“On this day we recognize the diligence and dedication Bill led with as well as he and Judy’s generosity to our community,” said Eric Kurtz, Union State Bank President and CEO.

In honor of Bill’s accomplishments, USB staff celebrated Bill Docking Day by volunteering their time preparing the Docking Memorial Garden for Spring. The multi-flowerbed display is located at Wilson Park in Arkansas City, KS. The garden includes a monument to Bill’s father, former Kansas Governor Robert Docking, who served from 1967-1975 and includes “The Meredith Rose” which was planted by the City of Arkansas City in honor of Bill’s mother’s community volunteer efforts.

“When this day was initially planned, it was a way for Union State Bank staff to continue the tradition of giving back that Bill had promoted his entire career,” said Clayton Pappan, Union State Bank VP, Director of Marketing. “However, with his recent passing, Bill Docking Day was more about honoring Bill and his family’s legacy for the lasting impact they have made both locally and across the State. The Docking Memorial Garden seemed to be the perfect place to do just that.”   

As were the generations of Dockings before him, Bill and his wife Judy were well known for community support through their time and donations. Bill was a member of the Cowley College Foundation’s Board of Directors. He served 10 years as a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, the governing board of Kansas’ six state universities. Bill was also a former Director of the Kansas Health Foundation and former President of the Kansas Bankers Association. He was a trustee of the Kansas University Endowment Association, serving as a member of the executive committee from 2000-2019.

In 2007, Bill, his brother Tom and Union State Bank established the Docking Lecture Series on Leadership and Public Service at Southwestern College. In 2022, Bill and Judy created the “Bill and Judy Docking Faculty Development Fund” to support development opportunities for faculty at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Most recently Bill and Judy assisted Cowley College in the realization of the Tyler Technical Education Center.

Photo: USB staff prepare the Docking Memorial Garden for Spring in honor of Bill Docking Day.