Leroy Banks

Leroy Banks VIRGINIA BEACH - Leroy Banks died June 23, 2009, in Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. A native of Rocky Mount, N.C., he was reared in Newport News. He was a member of the 1942 class of Huntington High School. After graduation he joined the United States Navy. He graduated from Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) where he was a standout basketball player. He led his team to winning the 1947 CIAA Championship as the game high scorer earning for himself the Most Valuable Player award; he was also named to the All Tournament Team. After graduating he attended City College of New York where he earned a Master of Science degree. After graduation he was worked as an accountant with the Internal Revenue Service. He began his teaching career in 1962 and retired from the New York Board of Education in 1998. An avid patron of the arts, he worked throughout his time in the city as cultural arts coordinator and liaison for many museums, among them The Lincoln Center. He also mentored, coached and tutored youth through the New York Department of Parks and Recreation. He was predeceased by a brother, Charles Banks and his sister, Geneva Banks Hunter. He is survived by a daughter, Pamela Banks Jeffries; nephews, Seward T. Hunter, Rodney M. Hunter and Charles Banks Jr.; a niece, Patricia Wise Green; and a filius surrogate, Bernard Green. A memorial service will be held Friday, June 26, at 11 a.m. in Hale Funeral Home, who is handling the arrangements.