George Banks remembered fondly

A distinct feeling of loss came over me this morning as I sat in my room in South Carolina and read of the passing of former councilman and Mayor of Front Royal, George Banks.

The words that kept coming to my mind were, always a gentleman always a friend.

I had served with George on the town council in the mid-nineties. It was from George that I began to learn to disagree without being disagreeable – a lesson I still have to work on. But for George it seemed almost natural. No matter if you disagreed with him or not, one never left a meeting angry at George.

It also always seemed to me that he had a love of Front Royal, and in some existential way Front Royal loved him back.

George Banks on ‘Mayor’s Row’ on wall of Front Royal Town Hall meeting room. Royal Examiner Photo by Roger Bianchini)

My sincere condolences to his wife Cornellia and to his family and friends and in a different way, to the town and people of Front Royal.

Stan Brooks
Former FR resident, mayor, and councilman