http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/06/isadore.banks.cold.case/
A giant of a man
Isadore Banks was a giant -- 6-foot-1 and nearly 300 pounds. He was a quiet man who rarely laced up his shoes because his feet were so big. A generous spirit, he would pay for supplies at the local black school.
A ladies' man, he also was known to carry on several affairs. His heirs include children and grandchildren from those relationships.
At 22, Banks left his hometown of Marion to join the Army. As a young black man in the segregated South, he had been denied the rights and privileges of his white peers. Yet when his nation called, Banks responded.
His first day in the service was June 15, 1918, in the final months of World War I. Records show his first payment was $71.30. It appears Banks was sent to Camp Pike, a massive complex near Little Rock where tens of thousands of soldiers with the 87th Division trained for battle. Blacks were kept separate from the white troops.
It's not clear from Banks' military records whether he deployed overseas. He received an honorable discharge on August 2, 1919.
After the war, Banks returned home and put his experience to work. In 1925, he was one of five men who brought electricity to this tiny Delta town. Working for a utility company out of Memphis, they dug holes with shovels and lifted the large wooden poles by hand. They strung up the wires and, within four months, Marion had power. Banks and his co-workers then brought power to nearby communities.
Along the way, Banks began buying land. He farmed cotton and helped form a black-owned cotton gin business in the 1940s to prevent white farmers from undermining the profits of black farmers. He also started a trucking company.
At one time, he owned as many as 1,000 acres in Crittenden County, according to newspaper accounts. Land deeds show Banks had at least 640 acres in 1947.∼a Black veteran of WWI -- Banks was chained to a tree and set on fire. The motivation was said to be his money or possible involvement with white women.
A pillar in the African-American community, Banks helped bring electricity to the town of Marion in the 1920s and became one of the wealthiest black landowners.
His parents were James Wesley Banks and Anna Butler Banks (supplied by granddaughter - Marcelina Williams).
(update 2-2011) the FBI has reopened the case, and the land Isadore owned has been found, the crime is still under investigation, and hopefully justice will be served.
A giant of a man
Isadore Banks was a giant -- 6-foot-1 and nearly 300 pounds. He was a quiet man who rarely laced up his shoes because his feet were so big. A generous spirit, he would pay for supplies at the local black school.
A ladies' man, he also was known to carry on several affairs. His heirs include children and grandchildren from those relationships.
At 22, Banks left his hometown of Marion to join the Army. As a young black man in the segregated South, he had been denied the rights and privileges of his white peers. Yet when his nation called, Banks responded.
His first day in the service was June 15, 1918, in the final months of World War I. Records show his first payment was $71.30. It appears Banks was sent to Camp Pike, a massive complex near Little Rock where tens of thousands of soldiers with the 87th Division trained for battle. Blacks were kept separate from the white troops.
It's not clear from Banks' military records whether he deployed overseas. He received an honorable discharge on August 2, 1919.
After the war, Banks returned home and put his experience to work. In 1925, he was one of five men who brought electricity to this tiny Delta town. Working for a utility company out of Memphis, they dug holes with shovels and lifted the large wooden poles by hand. They strung up the wires and, within four months, Marion had power. Banks and his co-workers then brought power to nearby communities.
Along the way, Banks began buying land. He farmed cotton and helped form a black-owned cotton gin business in the 1940s to prevent white farmers from undermining the profits of black farmers. He also started a trucking company.
At one time, he owned as many as 1,000 acres in Crittenden County, according to newspaper accounts. Land deeds show Banks had at least 640 acres in 1947.∼a Black veteran of WWI -- Banks was chained to a tree and set on fire. The motivation was said to be his money or possible involvement with white women.
A pillar in the African-American community, Banks helped bring electricity to the town of Marion in the 1920s and became one of the wealthiest black landowners.
His parents were James Wesley Banks and Anna Butler Banks (supplied by granddaughter - Marcelina Williams).
(update 2-2011) the FBI has reopened the case, and the land Isadore owned has been found, the crime is still under investigation, and hopefully justice will be served.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/06/isadore.banks.cold.case/
A giant of a man
Isadore Banks was a giant -- 6-foot-1 and nearly 300 pounds. He was a quiet man who rarely laced up his shoes because his feet were so big. A generous spirit, he would pay for supplies at the local black school.
A ladies' man, he also was known to carry on several affairs. His heirs include children and grandchildren from those relationships.
At 22, Banks left his hometown of Marion to join the Army. As a young black man in the segregated South, he had been denied the rights and privileges of his white peers. Yet when his nation called, Banks responded.
His first day in the service was June 15, 1918, in the final months of World War I. Records show his first payment was $71.30. It appears Banks was sent to Camp Pike, a massive complex near Little Rock where tens of thousands of soldiers with the 87th Division trained for battle. Blacks were kept separate from the white troops.
It's not clear from Banks' military records whether he deployed overseas. He received an honorable discharge on August 2, 1919.
After the war, Banks returned home and put his experience to work. In 1925, he was one of five men who brought electricity to this tiny Delta town. Working for a utility company out of Memphis, they dug holes with shovels and lifted the large wooden poles by hand. They strung up the wires and, within four months, Marion had power. Banks and his co-workers then brought power to nearby communities.
Along the way, Banks began buying land. He farmed cotton and helped form a black-owned cotton gin business in the 1940s to prevent white farmers from undermining the profits of black farmers. He also started a trucking company.
At one time, he owned as many as 1,000 acres in Crittenden County, according to newspaper accounts. Land deeds show Banks had at least 640 acres in 1947.∼a Black veteran of WWI -- Banks was chained to a tree and set on fire. The motivation was said to be his money or possible involvement with white women.
A pillar in the African-American community, Banks helped bring electricity to the town of Marion in the 1920s and became one of the wealthiest black landowners.
His parents were James Wesley Banks and Anna Butler Banks (supplied by granddaughter - Marcelina Williams).
(update 2-2011) the FBI has reopened the case, and the land Isadore owned has been found, the crime is still under investigation, and hopefully justice will be served.
A giant of a man
Isadore Banks was a giant -- 6-foot-1 and nearly 300 pounds. He was a quiet man who rarely laced up his shoes because his feet were so big. A generous spirit, he would pay for supplies at the local black school.
A ladies' man, he also was known to carry on several affairs. His heirs include children and grandchildren from those relationships.
At 22, Banks left his hometown of Marion to join the Army. As a young black man in the segregated South, he had been denied the rights and privileges of his white peers. Yet when his nation called, Banks responded.
His first day in the service was June 15, 1918, in the final months of World War I. Records show his first payment was $71.30. It appears Banks was sent to Camp Pike, a massive complex near Little Rock where tens of thousands of soldiers with the 87th Division trained for battle. Blacks were kept separate from the white troops.
It's not clear from Banks' military records whether he deployed overseas. He received an honorable discharge on August 2, 1919.
After the war, Banks returned home and put his experience to work. In 1925, he was one of five men who brought electricity to this tiny Delta town. Working for a utility company out of Memphis, they dug holes with shovels and lifted the large wooden poles by hand. They strung up the wires and, within four months, Marion had power. Banks and his co-workers then brought power to nearby communities.
Along the way, Banks began buying land. He farmed cotton and helped form a black-owned cotton gin business in the 1940s to prevent white farmers from undermining the profits of black farmers. He also started a trucking company.
At one time, he owned as many as 1,000 acres in Crittenden County, according to newspaper accounts. Land deeds show Banks had at least 640 acres in 1947.∼a Black veteran of WWI -- Banks was chained to a tree and set on fire. The motivation was said to be his money or possible involvement with white women.
A pillar in the African-American community, Banks helped bring electricity to the town of Marion in the 1920s and became one of the wealthiest black landowners.
His parents were James Wesley Banks and Anna Butler Banks (supplied by granddaughter - Marcelina Williams).
(update 2-2011) the FBI has reopened the case, and the land Isadore owned has been found, the crime is still under investigation, and hopefully justice will be served.
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