Gordon Espy Scholarship

The Merchants National Bank of Winona created this endowed scholarship for the College of Business at Winona State University in memory of Gordon R. Espy. Espy served as the ninth President of the Merchants National Bank from March of 1967 until his retirement in 1985. He continued to serve on the Board of Directors for the Winona Bank until 1990. He died in January of 2000 at his retirement home in Sun Lakes, Arizona.

During his tenure as President, Espy steered the growth of Merchants National Bank from approximately $25 million in assets to nearly $150 million. While he was President, the Merchants Holding Company was formed, setting the stage for significant bank acquisition activity in the 1990s that has resulted in the Company growing to more than $450 million in assets.

Scholarship contacts are Nancy Espy (wife of Gordon) and Merchants Bank.