George Riddle Banta III (1923-2005)

George Riddle Banta III (1923-2005)

Obituary
George Banta, III, 1923-2005. Trustee Emeritus. The Lawrence community was saddened to learn of the death of former chair of the Lawrence University Board of Trustees George Banta, III, Thursday, May 12, in Orlando, Florida. He was 81. Mr. Banta attended Lawrence College for a year and a half before entering the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in Africa, England, France, and Italy and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He earned eight battle stars in the European Theater of Operations and served in the army of occupation in Bamberg, Bavaria. He became a captain in the Wisconsin National Guard. Mr. Banta spent most of his career with the George Banta Company, Inc., becoming vice president in 1961, president in 1965, and chairman of the board and CEO in 1971. He was a past president of the Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America; a member of the board of directors of First National Bank of Menasha, First Wisconsin National Bank, Oshkosh, and Theda Clark Hospital, Neenah; past president of the Book Manufacturers' Institute; a member of the Menasha School Board; and a trustee of Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. He also was a former province president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. At the September 1976 Matriculation Convocation, he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree by President Thomas Smith, in recognition of his service to Lawrence. He served as a term trustee from 1967 to 1980 and was elected an emeritus trustee in 1981. As a trustee, he chaired the board committee on business affairs, was campaign chair for the Lawrence Leadership Fund during the 1970s, and served as chair of the board. The Banta family has had long and extensive ties to Lawrence and been generous in their support of the college. His father, George R. Banta, Jr., ’10, was also chair of the Board of Trustees from 1940-1943 and, again, from 1955-1959, and was instrumental in the construction of the Banta Bowl football stadium, which bears his name. His mother, Margaret Killen Banta, ’28, set up the George Banta, Jr., Scholarship in 1966, which has benefited many Lawrence student recipients over the years. His sister, Margaret Banta Humleker, ’41, was a term trustee from 1981-2005, when she was elected trustee emerita. He is survived by his wife, Anne; two sons, Robert and David; a daughter, Virginia Banta Michel; stepson, Scott Spradley; and stepdaughter, Karan Bamberg. Condolences may be sent c/o 1848 Morgans Mill Circle, Orlando, Florida, 32825. Lawrence University, PO Box 599, Appleton, WI 54912 (920) 832-7000 Contact Lawrence.