BANKS Summer Issue—2005
Banks Family Association Reunion held June 24 & 25 At the Banks Family Association reunion in Elberton June 24 and 25, we counted 48 people on Friday evening and 58 on Saturday. The Ralph II family, which are the descendents of Ralph and Elizabeth Maxwell Banks, had the largest number in attendance - 17. Hurrah!! for our family. We voted to raise the dues to $10 per family per year, and reminded every family it is due every year. We visited Coldwater Plantation and were given access to the three levels of the house. Ross Banks was our host. Many pieces of his furniture creations were on display and for sale. Ross makes furniture from timber cut on the plantation and cured in storage barns. The plantation is still for sale, and this may have been our last chance to visit. Thomas & Ginger Dixon
Make your plans now
Sunday, October 9th Our 70th Reunion of the Thomas Marion Banks Family
Announcements by Branch Aunt Gertrude
Uncle Groves
Beth Stapleton, grandaughter of Gertrude, received her PhD in Linguistics from LSU in August. She is now a full time instructor at Mississippi College.
Christy Banks, daughter of Sandy and Lanny Banks, and granddaughter of Evelyn and Verner Banks, will complete her course studies at Athens Technical College in September. Showing her true colors in her chosen field of respiratory therapy, she has been invited to join the 2005 class of the Associate Degree Nursing program. Also, Christy has been nominated for inclusion in the 2005 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges, and has been chosen by her professors as a Lambda Beta scholar, a national honor society for respiratory care. Christy has worked hard, and the family is proud of her accomplishments!
Aunt Bertie Irmgard Dixon, wife of Timothy D. Dixon, became a US citizen on June 8th of this year.
She was born in Bonn, Germany and has been working on the documentation for citizenship for several years. She was naturalized in Atlanta at the Federal Building. Thomas and Ginger Dixon were also present for the ceremony.
Uncle Marion Teresa Hereferd and Justin Banks, son of Chris and Janice Banks, and grandson of Tom and Peggy Banks have announced their wedding plans. July 16th is the big day. The two just graduated from the University of Montevallo. Justin will be joining his dad in the insurance business, and Teresa has accepted a teaching position at West Blocton Elementary School.
Carrie and Bryan Blasco, son of Ron and Brenda (Banks) Blasco, and grandson of Ralph Truitt and Margaret Banks, and the late Bennie Banks have a new daughter! Sidney Banks Blasco was born May 5th, and is the object of her grandparents’ affection.
Inside this issue: The novel we’ve been waiting for Steel Warrior
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Those Who Served P.2
“Ok, Mom, but it better P.3 not taste like cabbage!”
Banks GIRLS P.3
tatting sample The Year was 1955! P.4
BANKS: P.4 Never without words!
(Uncle Groves—continued) Taylor Coles, son of Donna Banks Dodd, and grandson of Bill and Colleen Banks, enjoyed much of 2005 in a study-abroad program in western France. He took advantage of his free time by traveling Euro-rail, experiencing the wonderful cultures of neighboring European countries.
Aunt Martha Sara and Joe King, son of Bob and Susan King, welcomed a new King in May. Emma and Matthew’s new baby brother is Joseph Taylor King—and they will call him Will.
Summer, 2005
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Steel Warrior Charles W. Banks
Steel Warrior is now released!! Be sure to order your copies in time for Charles to autograph at the October reunion!
The poignant reunion of a retired admiral and his grandson, a recent graduate of the Naval Academy, draws to a close and the admiral is left to savor the sunsets, and walk among the portraits that frame his memory. Zach Tanner takes the reader from 1940 Hawaii, his first duty station, to 1951 Long Beach, California, where a then-seasoned line officer assumes his first command. From the moment he crosses the gangway of the USS Wingate, Zach is on a war footing to ready an inexperienced crew, in a ship that has been
idled for five years, for duty in a war that was never declared. Following a shakedown cruise in the warm waters of the Caribbean, Wingate races across the Pacific to link up with Task Force 77, operating in the frigid waters of the Sea of Japan. Assigned picket duties, Wingate takes a hit by a floating mine and is forced to Yokosuka, Japan, for repairs. Once again fit for sea duty, she is dispatched to Najin, North Korea, to undertake a clandestine mission to kidnap a foreign national, the result of which abounds with political implications.
You may order online at www.publishamerica.com/books/9121, or if you’d prefer, you may pay by check—just fill out the coupon below and mail to Publish America, P.O. Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705 Book Title: Steel Warrior $18.95
Make checks payable to Publish America
Customer Name (please print) ______________________ Phone # ( ) ________ __________ Address ____________________________ City______________State_____ Zip_______________ #______ copies at $18.95 each $__________ MD residents add 5% tax _______$__________ Shipping/handling (1st copy) ADD $ $3.00 Shipping/handling (ea. additional copy .50 each) $__________ TOTAL ENCLOSED $__________
A special email received from Peggy Banks in January Dear Donna, Due to Delayne and me having orthopedic surgeries, we have been unable to attend the reunions since October, 2000, and after reading your newsletter, I realized how much I miss seeing all of you. I was married to Tom 52 years, and I grew to love his family as my own. Those Banks genes are so strong, and I always enjoyed seeing the cousins together and noted how many ways they were alike . . . My wish for all of you is a healthy and happy 2005, and do hope Delayne and I stay well so we can see all of you in October. Much love, Peggy Peggy, we pray that you and Delayne will be with us for our 70th reunion! We all have missed you!!
Summer, 2005
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Celebrating their Golden Anniversaries! Eleanor and John Banks—February, 1955 Dolores and Charles Banks—March, 1955 Volina and Earle Roper—June, 1955
Those Who Served Revolutionary War Captain James Jones, Captain Ralph Banks, Rev. Thomas Maxwell Indian War of 1818 John Banks Civil War Watkins Banks, Eugene Banks, Willis Banks, George Banks, Elbert Banks, Ralph Banks, John Stephens, James Russell Banks World War I John Allen Banks,Sr., Russell Marion Banks
The Fine Art of Tatting
World War II Sara Sue Terrell Chapman, Russell Alvin Banks, Marion Elizabeth Banks McLeod Bill K. Anderson, Paul Banks Byrum, Thomas Verner Banks, Harry Russell Anderson, Joseph Phillips Banks, William Lambertine Banks Albert Riley Byrum, Edward Peter King, Thomas Sidney Banks Homer Hillman Byrum, Russell Marion Banks, Jr., John Allen Banks, Jr., Banks Russell Terrell Korean War William Lambertine Banks, John Allen Banks, Jr., Paul Banks Byrum, Charles William Banks, Thomas Dean Dixon Vietnam War William L. Banks, Bruce Banks Byrum
Insid e Story Hea dli ne
(Scanned photo was darkened to emphasize detail.)
Submitted by Thomas & Ginger Dixon
This is a sample of the work the Bank Girls (Bertie and her sisters) did as young girls and then on. The inner border is "hem stitching" and the outer border is "Tatting". This is 8 1/2" X 10" We guess it was intended for a Handkerchief. It looks and feels like linen.
Gulf War Bruce Banks Byrum, Timothy Dean Dixon Russell Marion Banks III, Owen Englander Iraq War Timothy Dean Dixon, Owen Englander Russell Marion Banks III, Dustin Byrum Robert Edward Stapleton Matthew Garrison YOUR FAMILY THANKS YOU!
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Summer, 2005
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BANKS Puzzle -
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NEVER without Words!
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Born at (9-across) Plantation, Dr. (1-across) Banks (1794-1856) was the (11-across) child of Ralph and Rachel Jones Banks. He moved to (3-across), Georgia in 1892. Noted for his successes with (6down) surgery, Dr. Banks was commissioned by the Federal Government to convey his medical knowledge to the (2-down) Indians living in a nearby territory.
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www.CrosswordWeaver.com
Although his assignment was that of supplying the much needed small-pox vaccine to the Indians, he faithfully performed his surgical skill restoring sight to many that had been blind for years. The Great (5-down) (8-down), they thought to possess superhuman power and benefice. Honoring his memory, the General Assembly of the State of (7 across) gave to a subdivision of her territory the name of (10-across) (4-across).
Here is the Cabbage Patch Stew recipe. It is a favorite of our family. Our favorite family story about it is that someone recommended it to Susan; she fixed it and explained to the kids what they were having for supper; they said, "Okay, Mom, but it better not taste like cabbage!!" It doesn't. Bob and Susan King 1-2 lb ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 1 Bell pepper, chopped 1 16 oz can kidney beans, drained 1 16 oz. can stewed tomatoes 1/2 cup water 3 cups shredded cabbage Combine beef, onion, pepper in large pot and cook, stirring until beef is browned. Add remaining ingredients and simmer until cabbage is tender. Salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce to taste. 9(across) Coldwater, 1(across) Richard, 3(across) Gainesville, 6(down) Cataract, 2(down) Cherokee, 5(down) medicine, 8(down) man, 7(across) Georgia, 10(across) Banks, 11(across) County