William V. Banks Explained

William V. Banks
Birth Name:Williams Venoid Banks
Birth Date:6 May 1903
Birth Place:Geneva, Kentucky, U.S.
Death Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation:Lawyer, minister
Alma Mater:Wayne State University
Detroit College of Law
Years Active:1949–1985
Spouse:Ivy Banks
Children:3

William Venoid Banks (May 6, 1903 – August 24, 1985) was an American lawyer and minister who is the first president and general manager of WGPR-FM (which became Detroit's first black radio station) and WGPR-TV (which was the first black-owned and black-operated television station in the United States).

Banks was born in Geneva, Kentucky, and graduated from Lincoln Institute of Kentucky. He earned degrees from what is now Wayne State University and from the Detroit College of Law.

He also attended the Detroit Baptist Seminary and was ordained a minister in 1949.[1] He was also the founder of International Free and Accepted Modern Masons.[2]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/28/us/william-v-banks-dies-at-82-founded-detroit-tv-station.html Obituary of William Banks, New York Times, Oct. 8, 1985
  2. Web site: Home . internationalmasons.org.