Lexington banking icon, Chamber leader retires

January 9, 2013

LEXINGTON, SC – January 9, 2013 – Lexington’s business community bid farewell to one of its stalwarts with the recent retirement of banker Harry Deith. A longtime Greater Lexington Chamber leader and former Board Chair, Deith spent 39 years in banking. Thirty-seven of those were in Lexington.
          

“My career in banking grew as Lexington grew,” says Deith, describing Lexington as a “close-knit community” when he arrived in 1975 to work for First National Bank. A native of New Jersey—“south Jersey,” he’s fast to say—Deith jokes he learned to say “y’all” the first day he came to South Carolina, via the U.S. Navy.

His laidback, friendly personality served him well in banking and with the Chamber. “I put a lot of credibility into what the Chamber does,” he said, noting the Chamber changed and grew to reflect the business community.

Pictured: L-R Gail and Harry Deith, Randy Halfacre, Mike Crapps

As Board Chair in 2007-08, Deith helped recruit Randy Halfacre as president/CEO. One of his biggest accomplishments was “being able to reinforce Randy as the effective and visionary leader of the Chamber that I knew he would be.” Halfacre, as Lexington’s mayor, presented Deith with a key to the town upon his retirement.

“It’s remarkable that Harry never had to relocate from Lexington because of a banking acquisition or merger,” Halfacre notes. “That’s a testimony to his love for our community, and proof that all the banks recognized the value of his relationships and knowledge of local businesses.”          

After First National, Deith worked for South Carolina National Bank, Lexington State Bank, and BB&T. He joined First Community Bank in 1996, retiring as vice president and commercial banker.

Forming relationships and helping people were the most gratifying part of his career. “Not having to go anywhere else and helping others build and start businesses—I’ve always counted that a blessing,” he said.           

Deith plans to stay active in Lexington County, especially with Lexington Interfaith Community Services and the Dickerson Center for Children, on whose boards he serves.                                                                      

The Greater Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center strengthens and promotes economic prosperity, public policy, quality of life and workforce development in the greater Lexington community and MidState Chambers Coalition region. A nonprofit, 501 (c) 6 organization, the GLC&VC represents approximately 950 businesses and more than 30,000 employees.Photo: Gail and Harry Deith, Lexington Mayor/Chamber President Randy Halfacre, Mike Crapps with First Community Bank