Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
Tommy Glen Banks
Tom was born in Salmon, Idaho on December 4th, 1936 to Bennie and Myrna Banks. He had two brothers, Dick and Ben, and two sisters, Linda and Adele. Tom was born with clubfoot and spent quite a bit of time in the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.
The first sentence he said was “I want that,” which became his motto for life. He worked for the Forest Service, the BLM, and surveyed on the pipeline. He was always on the go, plowing, cutting wood, and helping others. Those who knew Tom knew he had a generous heart. He loved to work with diamond willow, build sheds, ramps, furniture, and too many other things to list.
Tom had two children, Tommy A. (deceased) and Melissa; five grandchildren, T.J. (deceased), Bobby, Jessie, Shelby, and Zoey; and three great grandchildren, Alexis, Oaklie, and Aaiden.
Tom lived in his home in Wasilla for 33 years. For the last 13 years, Tom and Fran Rodabaugh resided there together. She was his love and best friend. She took care of him at home till the end, always with love humor and her quick wit.