Tim Harty, The Business Times

ANB Bank Regional President for Western Colorado Vance Wagner asked the question, so he could answer it: Do you know anyone who sat on a board of directors for a business for 32 years?

Wagner said most people would be hard-pressed to name one, but, of course, he knows one: Paul Brown, a third-generation owner of Monument Oil in Grand Junction and a member of ANB Bank’s board for 32 years.

Wagner brought it up, because Brown isn’t going for a 33rd year. The Dec. 16 board meeting was Brown’s last, and Wagner said ANB Bank, which has 30 locations in Colorado and Wyoming, is losing a rare director with the 68-year-old Brown retiring.

“For me as the regional president, he gave me a great perspective on the business climate and pointed out to me things that he thought were important in the community,” Wagner said. “And what I mean by that is, like, the city would do projects, and we help the city out. Or individual nonprofit groups would have an initiative for something, and Paul will tell me about it, and we support that initiative.

“That’s what a board member is supposed to do, and that’s what me as a president listening to board members is supposed to do, so we can try to help each other out, make our community a better place.”

Wagner said Brown took his seat on the board of directors when ANB Bank was known as Mesa National Bank in Grand Junction, back when Wagner was first starting out. So, Wagner has seen all along how Brown approached his board duties.

“Paul came on back in those days and was an immediate contributor to the organization, and I think that’s just kind of natural for him,” Wagner said. “Third-generation family over here in the valley, and I think it came very natural for Paul to be on that board, because he’s a kind of community-minded guy.”

To say Brown’s approach came naturally is a reflection of how he was raised and the mentors he had in the business world, beginning with his father, CR Brown.

“I had a great mentor with my father who was on the United Banks of Colorado legal board for many years,” Brown said. “I just remember that even in my college years, when my dad served on that board, how he felt about serving the community, because the bank obviously intertwined in most communities that they’re doing business. And you know, my dad kind of led the way, showed me the importance of helping your community through these kinds of board memberships and participation.”

CR Brown also had a hand in his son landing on ANB Bank’s board of directors, as CR declined the invitation of bank owners Don and Sue Sturm and suggested they consider Paul instead.

Paul was in the room when that discussion took place, and he recalls CR saying to the Sturms, “Here’s a young man that would be a good opportunity if you want somebody that has an understanding of what it takes to be on a legal board and is community-minded.”

Paul Brown said he didn’t know that was coming, and he was surprised when CR looked at him when referring to the “young man,” then was surprised again when his father described him as capable of being what the Sturm’s needed as a director.

After Paul accepted the board position, there was only one way he knew to approach it.

“When you get asked to do things like that, you want to be able to do it and do it right,” he said.

Paul finished the story with: “Here we are 30 years later, and it has been a terrific journey and a great opportunity to try to serve my community.”

Correction: 32 years later.

And Wagner said both parties were better for that lasting relationship.

“You know, he just made a difference for our banking group to be, I would say, a good corporate citizen,” Wagner said. “Because that’s what we want to do, we want to do good business, be a good corporate citizen. And you can’t do that without direction from people who are leaders in the community, and certainly Paul has been that throughout his career.”