William Penn Life, 1984 (19. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1984-07-01 / 3. szám
Since Mother's Day was the next day and since Mr. Banes' family was gathered at the testimonial, his children presented a ''Mother's Day Skit” and awarded Mrs. Banes a plaque which read: May 12, 1984 To Helene F. Banes With appreciation for 42 years service as wife of one, mother of three and hostess to thousands. With love, Your Children Helene F. Banes, Sandra B. Nimmer and Barbara Botkin. Mr. and Mrs. Banes later hosted a "Thank You” party at Penn's Scenic View for some 1 50 friends to complete the retirement festivities. The occasion also celebrated the 38th wedding anniversary of long-time friends Albert and Helen Voss. Mr. Voss is General Manager of United States Steel's McKeesport works. An attorney for the past 40 years, Mr. Banes actually began his professional career in science. He graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1938 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry and earned his teacher's certifications in Ohio and Pennsylvania. After working six years as a chemist for Vanadium Corporation, Mr. Banes earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from Duquesne University Law School in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1 944. His first position in the legal profession was as a Claim Settlement Agent for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 1 947 he became a Pennsylvania Department of Justice Representative in the Department of Public Assistance. Since leaving formal State service in 1952, he has remained active in State legal affairs, serving as a delegate to the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention from 1967-1968 at which he was cochairman of the Structure of Local Government Committee and Subcommittees. Mr. Banes entered private law practice in 1952, but even before then he was eagerly involved in numerous worthwhile endeavors. In 1 949 he became Solicitor for the Port Vue School District. In 1951 he was elected to a seat on the Board of Directors of the William Penn Association. And during this time he campaigned to become Justice of the Peace in Port Vue Borough. As with all challenges Mr. Banes chooses to face, these three he parlayed into success. He was elected Justice of the Peace for not one but two terms, serving from 1953 to 1965. He completed his term as a Director of the William Penn Association and soon thereafter became its General Counsel and, in 1 984, its Vice President of Planning. He continued to serve as Solicitor for the Port Vue School District through its two mergers until the present day, and he served as Solicitor for 11 other school districts, municipalities, and governmental authorities. In addition, Mr. Banes has been Chairman of the Board of Viewers of Allegheny County since 1 973. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, and American Bar Associations. He is the Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress and was a member of the Ad Hoc Committee of the National Fraternal Congress for the Model Fraternal Code in Pennsylvania. The Code was signed into law as House Bill No. 207 by then Governor Milton Shapp in 1977. Despite his extremely full and active professional life, Mr. Banes expends equal, if not greater, energy on his personal life. He holds much pride in his Hungarian heritage and has held several positions in which he showed his concern for Hungarian people everywhere. He was an organizer and secretary of the Hungarian Freedom Fund and was President of the Pittsburgh Branch of the American Hungarian Relief Fund at the end of World War II. Today, he serves as Chairman of the Hungarian Room Committee at the University of Pittsburgh. He is a lifetime member of the Port Vue Volunteer Fire Company, the Elks Club of McKeesport, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Vizsla Club of America, the Audubon Society, and numerous professional and civic organizations. Mr. Banes, born in McKeesport, Pa. to Joseph and Mary Disegi Banyacsky, is married to the former Helene F. Waskowitz also of McKeesport. The couple have three children: Dr. Albert J. Banes, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Assistant Director of the Burn Unit at the University of North Carolina; Sandra Nimmer, Manager for Hexter Company, Interior Design Showroom in Chicago; and Barbara Botkin, a member of the Board of Directors of the William Penn Association. Mr., and Mrs. Banes also have five grandchildren. Pictured above are L. to R.: Gay B. Banes, Vice President —Planning. General Counsel; National President, John Sabo and National Secretary, Gus G. Nagy in the President's office in front of William Penn's portrait. 1 5
