DE Campus Life Editor

Gwen Peyton developed an interest for finance when she was in high school, and that interest paid big dividends Tuesday when she was recognized as the Carbondale Business and Professional Woman of the Year.

Peyton is the office manager of the check cashing and ticket office in the Student Center. She retired in 1993 from 29 years of work at the Carbondale First National Bank and Trust Co., 509 S. University Ave., before coming to work at SIUC.

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Peyton was presented a plaque by the organization in recognition of her years of dedication to the Carbondale Business and Professional Women’s organization and the Carbondale community.

The Carbondale BPW, comprised of 50 women, was established in 1927, and this year marks the 70th anniversary of the club.

She said she does not feel old enough to permanently retire yet. She is 58 years old now and wants to be about 65 before retiring for the University.

Peyton has learned everything about loans and banking through real-world experience.

I don’t have a college degree, but I’ve earned my degree at the school of tough knocks, she said.

Karen Cupp, president elect of the Carbondale BPW, said Peyton is a good leader who does not like the spotlight.

She is a silent leader, Cupp said. She makes other people aware of the organization by the things that she does.

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Before Peyton began working for First National Bank and Trust Co. in 1964, she worked for two Carbondale finance companies, which went out of business. Finance came naturally to Peyton as early as 1959, when she graduated from high school.

Peyton grew up in Tamms, about 50 miles south of Carbondale. She took a number of book keeping courses while in high school.

Public Finance and Universal CIT, which are now out of business, enticed Peyton to come to Carbondale in the early 60s. When she went to work at First National Bank and Trust Co. she started out at the drive-up window.

I worked at the window when the bank was still near ABC Liquors (on Washington Street), she said. I can remember this little old lady who came in once to cash Indian-head coins, then she walked right over to the liquor store to buy some alcohol.

When the bank moved to its current location in 1970, Peyton saw some interesting things come through the drive-up window.

One time when I was working there was a package sent through to us, and it turned out to be something undesirable, she said. It was dog droppings. And there was a rubber snake sent through one time.

Peyton worked at Carbondale First National Bank and Trust Co. through the 70s and 80s while she and her husband, Earl, raised two children. Peyton has been married for 37 years.

I was pretty busy raising children that’s what I did, she said.

Linda Benz, president of the Carbondale BPW chapter, said the organization helps women to network, and provides some financial assistance to local women who attend college.

The BPW brings in so many different careers, she said. Women can really network with one another.

Peyton is in charge of 20 student workers and six full-time employees at check cashing.

Peyton earned the 1994 November employee of the month award by working closely with students and other key departments such as the Information Station and the Craft Shop.

I enjoy working behind the scenes, she said. Working with people who need help is what I like to do.

Peyton is also active in bringing changes to check cashing policies. She has added the presence of money orders at check cashing, and she helped to raise the amount of an SIUC paycheck that a student can cash at the window.

I want to stay on top of things now, she said. Students are our business, and I will continue to engage in teamwork to make my office as nice as possible.