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1999 Business Hall of Fame Laureate

Mr. Robert F. Baronner

Starting his career with Kanawha Valley Bank in 1971, Mr. Baronner led Kanawha Valley Bank, which became One Valley Bank, through twenty-nine years of growth and excellence. Mr. Baronner provided the leadership in moving Kanawha Valley Bank from a $300 million unit bank to a $2.5 billion state-wide, multibank Holding Company. His unending dedication and determination set an example for One Valley employees to follow when exceeding the expectations of customers, other employees, and its owners. His leadership in directing the transformation of One Valley Bank to state-wide status is an example of his vision and innovation.

A leader in the community as well, Mr. Baronner served on three national committees of the American Bankers Association and has served on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Bankers Association. He was a member of the Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, VA. He served as President of Junior Achievement, the Fund for the Arts and the Buckskin council of the Boy Scouts of America. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Charleston Area Medical Center and as a member of the Board of Trustees of CAMCARE and the University of Charleston. He was a former Board member of the United Way of Kanawha Valley and has served as the Campaign Chairman. He was also a senior active member of the Charleston Rotary Club.

The Baronner family includes his wife, Jane, their three children, Rebecca, Elizabeth J. and Robert F., Jr. and their four grandsons, Adam, Sam, Trip and Jack. Mr. Baronner’s education background started at Hollidaysburg High School in Pennsylvania (1944) and upon graduation he enlisted in the Navy during WWII. Graduating from St. Francis with a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1950, Mr. Baronner went on to receive a Graduate degree from the School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin (1956-58).