Mr. Eldred was born July 2, 1896, in Beloit and grew to manhood here. His entire banking career was spent here. He knew the needs of the community and had a large part in helping to meet those needs. On June 17, 1925, Burdette and Gladys Brooks Main were married in Kansas. Two children, Mrs. William (Dorothy) Bigelow and John M. Eldred survived to this union. He left Beloit College in 1917 and joined the American Field Service to volunteer his services as an ambulance driver in France. Subsequently he won a commission in the French artillery.

He returned home to Beloit College in 1919 when he also received his degree. On July 1, 1919, Burdette joined the Second National Bank as a full time employee and began working his way through the ranks. In 1924 he was elected Assistant Cashier and also a Director of the bank. Eleven years later he was raised to the vice presidency. Born to the bank, raised in the bank, it was logical and natural that Burdette Eldred, Jr., should succeed his father as President in 1951. Director of the Second National Bank at that time were E.L. Howell, J.F. Perrigo, P.B. Eldred, Jr., L.K. Munn, C.E. Macklem and F.H. Normington.

During the ten years that Burdette was president of the bank, the institution’s resources doubled. He rebuilt the bank in its entirety. He provided a parking lot for bank customers and added drive-in facilities. His last project, which was nearing completion at the time of his death, was the incorporation of the adjoining building into the main bank. In 1960 the Directors voted a change in name to the First National Bank and Trust Company.

Mr. Eldred devoted liberally of time and energy to promote civic institutions and community betterment. Like his father, he was a member of the Rock County Board of Supervisors and served on the Finance Committee. He was widely known in banking circles. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and for a time, president of the Board of Trustees. For many years he served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, a director of the Greater Beloit Association of Commerce and served as president for one term.

During World War II he served as treasurer of the Beloit Council of Defense. He was a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Beloit, a life member of the Beloit Masonic Lodge, serving as treasurer and as Worshipful Master in 1923. He also belonged to the Elks Lodge, Beloit Country Club, the American Legion and the Beloit Art League. He also served as treasurer of the Beloit chapter of American Field Service and as a director of the Beloit Boys club. The field of banking, though it was his major concern, was not his sole interest. He had many others, one being that of people. He liked people and liked to talk and joke with them. Bank customers always found him available to discuss their problems. He was never too busy to be accommodating. Baseball was another of his interests. He knew many of the great and near great of the diamond, beginning with the old Beloit Fairies and continuing with the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Braves.

He could spin many anecdotes about players, their whims and foibles, as well as their good points. His rose garden was also an interest. He took great pride in its care and appearance. He knew how to treat rose bushes to get them to produce their best. He was familiar with the many varieties and only a day before his death he went to Whitnall Park near Milwaukee taking note of the new varieties with the idea possibly of adding some to his own garden.

Beloit lost one of its most enthusiastic supporters in the death of Burdette Eldred, President of the First National Bank and Trust Company, Sunday afternoon, June 25, 1961. The year after Mr. Eldred’s death, the First National Bank and Trust Company inaugurated the Annual Rose Show honoring him. Mr. Eldred will be remembered for his friendliness, his zest for life and his great faith in Beloit ad its people.