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‘Mr. B’ inducted into Shocker Hall of Fame
By Amy Geiszler-Jones
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| In his office/work area in Cessna Stadium, athletics equipment manager Roland Banks sorts through basketball uniforms after the men’s and women’s teams return home from road trips. Displayed behind him are some autographed pictures of famous athletes, Shocker athletes turned pro and celebrities. Banks has an extensive collection of sports memorabilia. |
For a quarter of a century, Roland Banks has been handing out uniforms and equipment to WSU athletes. On the side, he’s offered jokes, some advice and good conversation that have turned into lasting friendships with many of those athletes.
When Shocker athletes start recalling memorable people from their playing days, many list Banks. For someone like former star quarterback Prince McJunkins, who played football from 1979-82, Banks is the only connection at WSU to a program that no longer exists.
"I can’t think about sports at WSU without thinking of Roland ‘Joe’ Banks," McJunkins said.
On Jan. 22, during halftime of the men’s basketball game in Levitt Arena, Banks will be inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his long service that has included being an important link to former athletes.
He becomes only the 13th non-athlete or coach inducted in the 99-member Hall of Fame. Since 1979, only five other university employees have been inducted; Banks is the only honoree inducted while still working for the athletics department.
It’s an award, Banks said, he never thought he’d be considered for because as he sees it, he’s just been doing his job all these years. Yet, ask former players including other Hall of Fame inductees and they’ll be quick to point out Banks has gone way beyond doing his job.
"You couldn’t find a better person to represent Wichita State and the athletics department," said Leslie Namee, who played basketball from 1985-88 and later worked for Banks as a student employee.
Banks started working for the athletics department part time in 1974, while he was finishing up a 22-year Air Force career that included winning the 1955 Air Force baseball world championship. He’s supervised the department’s equipment operation since 1976.
If it seems Banks is always around Levitt Arena or Cessna Stadium, it’s probably because that’s not far from the truth.
"You put in long hours here," said Banks. Being responsible for the equipment needs for 10 sports means being there whenever a team is practicing or getting ready for the road. That’s meant working some 12-hour days or staying past midnight after a men’s basketball game, washing uniforms and packing equipment for road trips for both the men’s and women’s teams the next day.
In between ordering, inventorying, handing out and packing up equipment, he oversees set-up of all university and other events in Cessna Stadium and helps with Levitt Arena events.
"I think he’d sleep there if Wichita State would let him," joked Namee.
In his 26 years with WSU, Banks can’t recall taking a sick day, and he’s only missed one game ever – a men’s basketball game in 1998 when his wife Lydia underwent surgery.
While he’s always willing to help and serve the university – he was recognized for that with a 1995 President’s Award for Distinguished Service – it’s probably Banks’ relationships with athletes and others that makes him a standout.
His affable personality has served him well in a job in which he’s dealt with hundreds of athletes and countless coaches and staff members.
Banks tends to set people at ease by joking around with them. When McJunkins first met him as an 18-year-old freshman, he didn’t recognize Banks’ humorous side. He recalled Banks taking him and a couple of other recruits on a tour of Cessna Stadium. When they got to Banks’ long office in the stadium, with its cagelike wall, Banks pulled a dull pocket knife, telling the new recruits "not to mess with his stuff."
"The other guys were laughing, and I thought he was serious. Then I saw that that knife wasn’t going to cut butter," McJunkins said. He realized then Banks was just trying to break the ice by having a little fun with the new players.
For McJunkins, Namee and scores of other athletes, Banks became a trusted counselor during their playing days. For many, he’s now an important friend. Both Namee and McJunkins said they’ve come to regard Banks almost as a parent, making sure they contact him weekly to see how he’s doing.
A number of players keep in touch with him, stopping by when they’re back in Wichita, calling him or sending a letter or card. Some, like former quarterback Sam Adkins who went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks, share pictures of their families.
"A lot of people don’t understand that Mr. Banks has been a big, big part of my life," said Shocker basketball standout Antoine Carr when he spoke at WSU in September during the Distinguished Alumni Breakfast Series.
He’s even been a willing last-minute babysitter, said McJunkins who, since moving back to Wichita to enroll at WSU, has occasionally called on Banks to watch his two 7- and 8-year-old children.
McJunkins recalled that Banks would notice when a student athlete was going through some trying times. "He would just say, ‘Do you need to talk?’
"He would offer up an opinion. He wouldn’t tell you what to do, but he would say, well, if it was me I’d do this or that."
Banks has always dealt with student athletes in a straightforward manner.
"I never try to think that I’m above them. They know I’m older than they are," Banks said, "but we get along on a friendship basis. We’re just truthful with each other. If you treat people the way you want to be treated, you get along good. I was coming up 21st Street the other day, and this church has a lot of cliches on its board. I’m not big on cliches, but I liked this one – ‘One nation, one race, one God." If everybody considers that, you’ll get along.
"When I first contemplated the idea of retirement (from the Air Force), I thought about going home (to Washingon, D.C.)," Banks said. "I’m glad I didn’t. That was a good decision. I’ve really enjoyed myself and the people I’ve been around. If I had to do it over again, I’d do it the same way."
When the 66-year-old Banks was asked if he has plans for a second retirement, he smiled and said, "They ain’t seen nothing yet."
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