Official Washington turned out in force last week to fete Neil Milner’s retirement after 15 years heading the Conference of State Bank Supervisors.
Milner was toasted for his vision and leadership and roasted for his relentless pursuit of dues from cash-strapped state banking commissioners.
The Dec. 6 dinner, hosted by the Jones Day law firm, treated 200 guests to a gorgeous view of the Capitol, including the freshly lighted Christmas tree.
Oklahoma Banking Commissioner Mick Thompson served as the evening’s able emcee and took his own share of ribbing from a long list of speakers.
That list was led by Federal Reserve Board Gov. Sarah Bloom Raskin, who was hilarious in her comments about Thompson and grateful in her remarks about guidance Milner provided early in her tenure as Maryland’s banking commissioner.
Among the faces in the crowd: former House Banking Committee Chairman Jim Leach, Fed Gov. Betsy Duke, acting Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Marty Gruenberg and former Comptroller John Dugan. Milner is turning the CSBS over to its longtime legislative guru, John Ryan.
