Local Leader Leaves Behind Great Legacy
Local Leader Leaves Behind Great Legacy
Tribute to Patrick J. Cullen, January 7th, 1947 - July 14th, 2023
Photo / The late Patrick Cullen and his wife.
Long-time president and CEO of the Bank of Cattaraugus, Patrick J. Cullen knew a thing or two about spending. Indeed, thoughtful, future-minded spending was not only a personal practice, but the foundation of his bank’s operations within the community, and still is today. However, Cullen also had a deep understanding of how to spend the most precious asset of all: time. In the words of William James, “The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” There is no greater example of this than in Cullen’s life, for the impact of his work and devotion to the village of Cattaraugus is apparent everywhere you look.
“My dad always taught people how to preserve the past and prepare for the future,” said his daughter, Colleen Young, current President and CEO of the Bank of Cattaraugus. Toward that end, Cullen devoted much of his time to preserving the history of the village he loved and ensuring that future generations could learn from it, too. Founded in 1882, the Bank of Cattaraugus is one of the oldest independent community banks in New York state, with just one branch location. Cullen began his career there in 1971, when his father, then President and CEO L. Edgar Cullen, offered him a job. From 1982 to 2019, Cullen served as President and CEO and continued to work at the bank every day until he passed away. His wife, Joan Cullen, has been the bank’s corporate secretary for over 30 years and continues to work alongside her daughter.
In addition to serving his community, Cullen was involved at the state level with other independent banks and was a former board member and long-time member of the Independent Bankers Association of New York. President John Witkowski remembers Cullen fondly. “When I took over the association, I remember learning about Pat and what he's all about,” Witkowski recalled. “He's just been a mainstay, that person who’s kept everything going with the Bank of Cattaraugus and the community. As a community bank, he absolutely supported all the events, education, and advocacy we did - always showed up at our events and was a big supporter. If we needed something, he’d always help out.”
A single-location independent bank in New York state now is unusual – so much so that in 2011, The New York Times ran a feature on Cullen and Young on the front page of the Christmas day edition. In the article, Cullen is quoted as saying, “Where is it written I have to grow? We take care of our customers. The truth is we probably couldn’t grow too much in a town like this.” In a village of about 1,000 people, there’s definitely some truth to Cullen’s wry observation.
However, Cullen’s deep understanding of the village and its people is the reason why the bank has been strong for so many years. Far from the greedy, self-centered banker stereotype, Cullen ran the kind of bank that approved small loans (under $1,000) for folks facing a steep car repair and larger loans for his Amish customers who don’t have the typical credit or employment history that most larger banks require. “He put helping others before making money himself,” said Young. “He definitely realized how important it is for a local community bank to reinvest locally to improve living conditions, working conditions, and downtown businesses to benefit the lives of everyone.”
A history buff, Cullen was especially interested in Cattaraugus’ roots and helped form the non-profit organization Historic Cattaraugus Corporation to preserve historic buildings, showcase the village’s history, and help local businesses get started and continue to thrive. One of those businesses was that of Cattaraugus Mayor Anthony Nagel. In 2019, Nagel and his wife purchased a mixed-use retail/residential property at 42 S. Main Street and secured financing through the Bank of Cattaraugus. “My wife, my daughter, and I were invited into his [Cullen’s] office, and he shared with us the history of our building and various other details of the village’s history,” said Nagel. “It was an educational experience, and I was interested in the information he provided us. The more significant impact was the inspiration and motivation the conversation provided me. It was immediately apparent how important the village and its history were to Mr. Cullen. He shared some of his dreams and plans for the future of the village. Some plans had been in the works for some time; others were yet to come. The project focuses on our downtown, the historic district, and its return to prominence.”
The Historic Cattaraugus Corporation is devoted to preserving the historic downtown, which includes the operation of several local businesses and trades to propel the village into the future. The corporation has played a key role in getting 19 significant downtown buildings placed on the National Register of Historic Places. When private residents are no longer willing or able to maintain their buildings, the HCC has taken on the responsibility and now owns several downtown buildings - like the 1890 Crawford Hotel and the 1909 Palace Theater - that were donated by citizens who believed in the mission of the HCC. Several HCC buildings are now vibrant commercial spaces, like the 1894 Jewell Hotel and the 1915 Ford dealership building. Young said that most recently, her father was thrilled with the HCC’s recent donation: the exact site on Main Street where Theodore Roosevelt addressed the town - his last speech before being elected governor of New York.
Beyond the village, Cullen was an ardent supporter of the Cattaraugus County Historical Society and Museum and served on its board of directors for several years. Brian McClellan, museum curator said, “Our Board President Bradley Parker knew him and knew that he was very involved in history and that he’d be a great asset to our board. He’d been a member of our board for about 10 years, and it was wonderful to have him involved.” One of Cullen’s biggest contributions to the museum was his knowledge of locally made cutlery, knives, and firearms; he often loaned pieces from his own collection to the museum. McClellan referenced the American Museum of Cutlery in Cattaraugus, which was founded by Cullen and continues to be operated by volunteers and open to visitors four days a week since 2004.
Cullen’s long-time interest in the area’s cutlery-making history is two-fold. Not only did the Bank of Cattaraugus provide financing for several well-known cutlery businesses, such as Cattaraugus Cutlery and Case Brothers Cutlery, but Cattaraugus and the surrounding area were the epicenter of cutlery manufacturing for many years. In Cullen’s own chapbook about the history of the village, he explains how Cattaraugus was one of the country’s first railroad “boomtowns,” an advantageous situation given local manufacturing. Over the years, more than 200 companies made axes, knives, and other tools in the Cattaraugus area; the region had the highest concentration of cutlery companies in the Western Hemisphere, according to Cullen.
The impact of Cullen’s pride in the village is still being felt, as new businesses have recently opened and two more will be opening later this year. Mayor Nagel, who credits Cullen for inspiring him to get more involved in the village, served two terms as village trustee before becoming mayor, and is also a business owner in the community. “That conversation [with Cullen] also motivated us to make plans to renovate our building. Although the pandemic slowed our progress, my wife and I are nearing the grand opening of a consignment store and we will be renovating a second retail space in the building this winter,” he said.
Young noted that it was her dad’s dream to have every storefront in the downtown area open. “He’s been integral in helping these businesses – whether it’s been through financing or the HCC,” she said. “Going forward, our focus will remain on the projects we have in the works that he was integral in, like the Crawford Hotel project, which we received a $2 million grant for.”
Thanks to Cullen’s investment in the community, the impact of his leadership will continue through the organizations he founded and the people he inspired. “His dream, goals, and plans continue to develop and will live on in this village’s history,” said Mayor Nagel. “Mr. Cullen, through his commitment to history, to the bank, and this village, has built a foundation for the rebirth of this community. It's now our responsibility to write the next chapter.”