[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 98 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF DAN BANKS

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 2014

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dan Banks on the occasion of 
his 80th birthday. No matter what Dan takes on--professional or 
personal--he always gives it 110 percent. Take for example his third 
century bike ride he completed in May to celebrate his birthday: 100 
miles through Napa County. He also continues his quest to become a Life 
Master at bridge. Dan's endurance and determination are awe-inspiring.
  I've had the great honor and pleasure to call Dan and his wife 
Cynthia Schuman my treasured friends for more than a dozen years. Their 
wit, warmth and generosity enrich my life every day.
  Dan was born in Sri Lanka and when he was seven years old his family 
moved to Madras, India, where his father worked for Standard Oil. They 
returned to Nashville, Tennessee, his mother's home, in 1941 during 
World War II.
  Dan graduated from Sewanee Military Academy, earned his BA in History 
and English from Yale, became a member of the coveted and secretive 
Skull & Bones Society, completed his training with the United States 
Marine Corps, and finally earned his MBA at Stanford University in 
1961. He spent two years in the Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant and 
was stationed in Japan. While going back and forth to Asia his eyes 
were opened to San Francisco where he landed his first real job as an 
assistant buyer for Macy's. He met his first wife Sandra at Macy's and 
she helped him make it through business school at Stanford.
  Dan is a thoughtful and ethical man. He pursued a successful career 
as an investment banker in San Francisco and hasn't left the city 
since. Dan fondly remembers raising money for corporate clients through 
public offerings, private placements, mergers and acquisitions. The act 
of raising money to fund an expanding business is a key step in 
creating jobs. Dan understood his role in creating opportunities for 
all. He points out that investment banking then was not what it became 
in the 90s. The deals and fees were much smaller, he says. ``My 
favorite client, Nordstrom's, initial public offering was $21 million, 
not the hundreds of millions one might expect today. After a long and 
productive career, he retired in 1993.
  The 1980s were a difficult time for Dan and his family. Sandra was 
diagnosed with breast cancer and died in 1989. He calls that period a 
bookend to that phase of his life, but it also brought new beginnings.
  In 1991, Dan met his wonderful wife Cynthia and they married the 
following year. Dan has always valued the arts and developed a deep 
appreciation for opera while he was stationed in Okinawa. He invested a 
tremendous amount of energy and passion into his role as a Trustee of 
the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco for eight years.
  For the last two decades Cynthia and he have focused on their 
beautiful family of their four children--Pamela Banks Joyce, Tom Banks, 
Darrell Benatar and Denise Benatar--and eight grandchildren--Colin, 
Sandra, Michael, Taylor, Isabel, Maya, Trevor and Parker. It is best to 
cite Dan's own words to illustrate his optimism and outlook on life. 
``We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth,'' he says, 
``surrounded by those who love us and thank our lucky stars for each 
successive day.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor Dan Banks, an extraordinary man. I thank my lucky stars for his 
wisdom and friendship each successive day.

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