Tarzan, Lassie, Cisco Kid, and more were protected in lard kegs for many years before reappearing and being hung on the walls at Citizens State Bank. Almost every room and office in the bank have the books adorning their walls. The books belonged to Floyd A. Riggs, brother of the president of CSB. Throughout the 1950s, Floyd collected the 10 and 25 cent comic books, stacking them in his closet. He once asked his mother to throw them away but she tucked them in the lard kegs instead and when opened, were still in great condition. Instead of selling them, the local art teacher presented to her an idea: to permanently put the collection on display at the bank. They were framed and bought by the bank for display.

The collection has been displayed at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Dodge City, the Norman R. Eppink Art Gallery at Emporia State University in Emporia, and at the Dane Hanson Museum in Logan, along with various other places around the state. They've also been featured in 2002 Kansas Curiosities and You Know You're in Kansas When by Pam Grout, and Kansas Guidebook for Explorers by Marci Penner.

 

It's almost like that Visa commercial: Purchase the books-10 to 25 cents each, Purchase for display at CSB-more than $600, Comic books to share with the world, priceless.

 

The bank has served Morland and the surrounding areas for 104 years in the present site of operation. There are also locations to better serve Northwest Kansas in Hill City and WaKeeney.

 

Visitors and explorers are more than welcome to stop in and see the comics anytime during Morland's normal business hours, listed below.

Hours of operation in Morland: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.