Pat Blanchard, remembered as a generous banker who rose to prominence at an early age, died this month after an illness. He was 81.
“Pat was the consummate banker,” said Realtor and friend E.G. Meybohm. “He loved the banking business because it gave him the opportunity to see lots of people – and he loved people.”
Judge James Blanchard said his first cousin inherited the best qualities of his grandfather, Jake Pollard, and father, longtime Columbia County superintendent of schools John Pierce Blanchard.
“They were always looking out for people who were down and out, and trying to make their lives better,” Blanchard said.
Pat Blanchard graduated from Harlem High School and Georgia Southern College, then quickly rose to prominence as an assistant vice president of Georgia Railroad Bank & Trust.
By age 27 he was known as the youngest assistant state treasurer in the country and by age 30 he was president and CEO of Georgia State Bank in Martinez.
During a 52-year career in banking, Blanchard would become organizer, president and CEO of Georgia Bank & Trust Co. of Augusta as well as contributing founder of Georgia-Carolina Bancshares Inc.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution named Georgia-Carolina Bancshares as No. 3 on a list of Georgia’s 100 Top Performing Companies in 2003, and Blanchard would remain vice president of its board of directors upon his retirement in 2008.
Pat Blanchard held the rank of brevet colonel of the United States Signal Corps, served as chairman of the board of both the Augusta Metro and Columbia County chambers of commerce and served as president of the Augusta Symphony League and Historic Augusta.
“He was involved in so many things, but he was always meek and kind. I never saw him get angry. He always tried to help people,” Judge James Blanchard said.
Services for Pat Blanchard were held Friday. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gwen Banks Blanchard, two children and four grandsons.
