Graduating at the top of the West Virginia College of Law Class of '61, A. Michael Perry received many tempting offers but chose to return to Huntington, his hometown. He joined one of the city's most prestigious law firms. However, his interest stretched beyond the legal profession and into the realms of higher education, health care and commerce.
Perry shared his time and talents with Marshall University, his church and national, state and local organizations that supported the arts and economic development. In 1981, Perry became chairman of the board of the First Huntington National Bank and the president and chief executive officer of Key Centurion Bancshares, Inc., West Virginia's largest bank holding company. Upon his entrance into the banking world, Perry went to work with others on modernizing West Virginia banking laws to permit branch banking, multi-bank holding companies, automatic teller machines and interstate banking.
Mike Perry and his wife, Henriella, can often be found working on their Children's Farm Museum. A man with his finger on the pulse of the city, the state and beyond, he describes himself as "a number of different people - a banker, historian, farmer, husband and father, but not necessarily in that order." A. Michael Perry has never lost sight of his roots and builds his life philosophy on that firm and enduring foundation.
