He’s a musician, WWII veteran, scholar, public servant, mentor, advocate for equality, husband, father and God-fearing man. Charles Banks of Mumford is all of these things and so much more. This month, as Banks celebrated his 83rd birthday, he was recognized by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for his 50-year career in public administration with the Alpha Award of Achievement at the fraternity’s 48th Annual Black and Gold Scholarship Gala on October 6, 2007. Alpha Phi Alpha is the first African-American Fraternity, initially forming on the Cornell University campus in 1906 before spreading to numerous other college campuses. To list all of his career achievements, his resume would read in chapters. After graduation in 1942 from Caledonia High School, Banks served in WWII. After his discharge from the military, Banks, a talented musician, played saxophone and toured with a big band until his deep spiritual convictions conflicted with the musician’s lifestyle, leading him to pursue a different career path. He married and went on to attend and graduate from the University of Rochester in 1957 with a degree in psychology and political science. Shortly after his college graduation, Banks joined the fraternity, the first African-American fraternity formed in 1906 at Cornell University. It is here that Banks’ began his illustrious career in public administration, holding numerous positions at the local, state and federal levels, including serving as an advisor to NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller as chairman of the Upstate New York Area Council. In all of his professional endeavors, Banks’ goal was to provide opportunities for people of color. "My goal was to promote scholarship and provide opportunities for youth, particularly young African-American males, and to stimulate their ambitions," Banks said. Banks calls his life, blessed and says he can’t recall a time when his African- American ethnicity prevented opportunity in his own life, but admits that several friends and family members have had doors shut because of the color of their skin. "I never experienced the negative attitudes of discrimination," said Banks with his characteristic ear-to-ear smile. Still, he knew and understood that there was less opportunity open to those of a multicultural background, and he’s been intent on improving that ever since. He did that by advancing his education, serving in various capacities where he could effect change and by teaching in college classrooms. Banks earned a master’s degree in public administration/public policy from SUNY Buffalo and was later honored by the college as a fellow and invited to serve as a consultant and adjunct professor of political science. In addition, he earned advanced management certification from the University of Missouri and Syracuse University Maxwell School of Management. As a result of his work on the political scene with federal, state and local representatives, Banks was asked to be part of a panel to develop a master’s program in public policy. The degree program has been in place at the University at Buffalo for over 30 years. On October 20, Banks and his wife, Audrose, attended the 50th reunion celebration of the University of Rochester Class of 1957 where President Joel Seligman presented him with a 50-year medallion. Though officially retired from a long and successful career in public administration, Banks serves on the President’s Multicultural Alumni Advisory Council at the University or Rochester. He is also a deacon at Second Baptist Church in Mumford, a member of the Town of Wheatland Economic Development Commission and the trustee of the Scottsville Free Library.
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