Systematic Savings and Loan president to retire

Gottas, 76, has worked 54 years with the association. He will be succeeded by Secretary-Treasurer Betty K. West, who has been with the company for 27 years.

Gottas started at Systematic Savings and Loan, 318 South Ave., in 1952 as a part-time teller. He spent the next 30 years making his way through the home-loan company, holding every position possible – including loan officer, bookkeeper and vice president – before getting “kicked upstairs as president,” he jokes.

“Quite frankly, my younger years as a loan officer were the most interesting,” Gottas said. “It’s an individual thing with each person, and so the transactions are on their own, and you have a good feeling of trying to help people move in and get them a home.”

Gottas graduated from Drury University in 1961 with an undergraduate degree in business administration. He was one of the school’s first two students to earn a degree entirely through evening courses.

Gottas has been active in the Downtown Springfield Association and has seen a number of changes in the banking and finance industry, particularly after Sept. 11.

In retirement, Gottas says he has no particular plans but intends to spend time with his family and travel occasionally to visit three of his daughters who live in Virginia, Tennessee and Jefferson City. His fourth daughter resides in Springfield.

Gottas also will stay on as a member of Systematic Savings and Loan Association’s board.