Roy C. Hinds, though yet a young man, holds a responsible position in the financial circles of Locust Grove as cashier of the Security State Bank, of which institution he was one of the organizers. He was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, on the 2d of July, 1890, a son of Corder W. and Mary E. (England) Hinds, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Illinois. Their marriage was celebrated in Siloam Springs.
For many years the father was engaged in the mercantile business there and in 1898 he removed to Rose Prairie, Indian Territory, where he followed the same line of work. Subsequently he located in Pryor and thence removed to Peggs, where his death occurred in May, 1920. Three sons and one daughter were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hinds, Roy C. being the second in order of birth. Mr. Hinds was a prominent and progressive citizen and took a particularly active part in church work. For some time he served as township trustee and he was a stanch supporter of the Democratic Party.
Roy C. Hinds received his early education in the public schools of Siloam Springs and in due time entered the North East Normal School at Tahlequah, Oklahoma, from which institution he was graduated in 1914. He then enrolled as a student in the University of Oklahoma and was graduated from that university in 1917, with the A. B. degree. His first occupation after putting his textbooks aside was teaching school and for some time he taught in a log cabin school, built before the Civil war, at Cedar Bluffs. For two years he was superintendent of schools at Braggs, this state, and from 1917 to 1918 he was registrar at the normal school in Tahlequah. He was likewise head of the department of public speaking at that institution.
During the World war Mr. Hinds gave generously of his time and money to the promotion of the Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives and in February, 1918, he enlisted for active service. He was stationed at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, and received the Commission of Second Lieutenant, Eightieth Infantry, Fifteenth Division. He received his discharge following the signing of the armistice. Since attaining his majority Mr. Hinds has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic Party and he has always been active in its interests. He was a member of the sixth legislature of Oklahoma from Cherokee county, 1917-1918, and served on the house committee and on the education, appropriation, prohibition and judicial redistricting committees. In 1920 he located in Locust Grove and he was one of the dominant factors in the organization of the Security State Bank here, which was opened for business on the 5th of October, 1920, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars and surplus of ten thousand. The success of the institution seemed assured from the start and the resources now total one hundred and twenty thousand dollars.
Mr. Hinds is active as cashier of the bank and in this connection has proven a most popular and obliging official, who at the same time has carefully safeguarded the interests of the institution which he represents.
On the 24th of April, 1920, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hinds to Miss Cherrie McSpadden, a daughter of James and Ellen McSpadden. Her father won prominence and substantial success as a merchant and flour mill operator. To their union one child has been born: Mary Ellen, whose natal day was the 22d of March, 1921.
Fraternally Mr. Hinds is a Mason, having membership in Locust Grove Lodge, No. 460. He is likewise a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a national college fraternity. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and Mr. Hinds is a member of the board of stewards and also superintendent of the Sunday school. Along strictly business lines he is identified with the American, Oklahoma and County Bankers Associations, and he has won for himself a prominent place in the financial circles of the state. He is an alert and wide-awake young man whose aid may always be counted upon in promoting any movement for the improvement of the community and he stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens.