Six decades later: Carlene Hadaway retires from Central State Bank after 60 years

Published 4:36 pm Wednesday, January 29, 2025

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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

CALERA – Sitting at her desk inside the Central State Bank office in Calera, she remained locked in the zone despite the celebration happening around her.

She couldn’t resist staying focused on the job; after all, it’s something Carlene Hadaway had been doing for 60 years.

But, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the longtime employee at Central State Bank officially retired.

“She was always such a stable person. Customers loved her,” Central State Bank CEO Mitt Schroeder said of the employee Hadaway was. “They knew they could always count on her. In 60 years of service, I don’t know if she ever truly took a sick day. She was just always there and always made our customers feel important, comfortable and appreciated.”

That dedication was evident on her final day, as customer after customer came in the building from her first minute through the door until she walked out that afternoon.

Hadaway, while enjoying the moment, still continued to stay focused on her job and helping the customers.

“It is challenging to encapsulate who Carlene is and what she means, to everyone, with only words,” Central State Bank Senior Vice President Shane Schroeder said. “She has been a part of my entire life. Carlene committed six decades serving the community and people. Her genuine care and actions have helped and continue to help change lives. We would not have had the level of success we share without her wisdom, knowledge and true desire to help make everyone better. The welcome mat will always be here for her. We will always love her. She will be sorely missed.”

Starting at the bank in the 1960s when Roy Downs was leading the charge, Hadaway quickly became dedicated to the job. A few years later, when Downs passed away and the torch was passed to Bill Schroeder, she was a steady hand that made the transition easy.

“At the beginning of 1971, we began the year as junior officers of the bank,” Bill said. “During the year, we had a senior officer retire and in October, my father-in-law, Roy Downs, who was CEO, passed away. Upon his passing, I was promoted and named CEO. Carlene’s dedication and experience were immeasurable to me in my new role. Her customers were always a number one priority, and she treated each one with dignity and respect.”

Bill spent 56 of Hadaway’s 60 years at the bank with her, and every step of the way, she was there.

Early in the tenure of his new position, Mitt said that presence was key for the success of the bank.

“Dad was not from Calera,” Mitt said. “He didn’t really know the community or the people. Dad said, if it weren’t for Carlene coming in and giving him pointers on the community, he would’ve made a lot of mistakes. She really introduced him to the community and the people. She was really the one who carried the customer support. It’s our mission to be the bank where customers wouldn’t consider anywhere else, and she lit that torch and carried it during that period of time.”

Mitt said that was key in building a culture that not only focuses on the community, but a work culture that helped sustain employees for long periods of time.

He credits her as playing a big part in the bank having 30 employees out of 90 that have been with Central State for more than 10 years and 15 who have been there for more than 20 years.

On retirement day, her community impact was shown when people continuously flowed through the doors to bring gifts and celebrate the special accomplishment.

“It never stopped. It was an all-day affair,” Mitt said. “They just kept coming. That alone shows the impact she had on people. It was because of her general demeanor and personality, if you had one word to describer her, it was caring. It didn’t matter if you had $10 or $10 million, she cared about you the same way.”

Mitt, Shane and Bill each said it was incredibly touching that she spent her life dedicated to the bank, but more so, that she spent her life caring for them and the people of the community.

“She really helped me when my uncle David passed away,” Mitt said. “She was there for me for comfort support when it was tough on me. I remember her just sitting with me in the safe deposit room making sure I was alright. That’s who she is.”

She did the same when Deegee, Bill’s wife and Mitt and Shane’s mother, passed away, making sure they didn’t have to worry about anything while they focused on the family.

That is a loyalty the family will treasure forever.

“Words cannot express the true meaning of a person who would dedicate 60 years of their life to one institution,” Bill said. “Carlene, we will miss you.”