Jimmy Banks (1925-1995) 

During his long career as a public relations/political consultant, journalist and freelance writer,  Jimmy Banks served as an Austin correspondent for The Dallas Morning News; founder of The Texas Star magazine; and public relations director for Texas Railways magazine, for which he edited and won six national magazine awards. He relished political campaigns and managed several high profile ones, including those of Governor Allan Shivers, and U.S. Senators Lloyd Bentsen and John Tower. In addition, he served as the press secretary for Governors Shivers and Daniel.

As a sidelight, Banks covered the UT football games for Sports Illustrated. He also authored four books covering the careers of Darrell Royal and former Texas Speaker Billy Clayton, as well as two histories of life along the Colorado River. In his "spare time," Mr. Banks wrote and published many articles in magazines, including Sports Illustrated, for which· he covered University of Texas football games.

He also authored four books: Money, Marbles and Chalk: The Darrell Royal Story; Gavels, Grit & Glory: The Billy Clayton Story; and Corralling the Colorado: The First Fifty Years of the Lower Colorado River Authority. All of his writing was done on a manual typewriter.

Banks served as president of the Headliners Club and of the local chapter of Sigma Delta Chi (journalism fraternity). He was also an active Governor of the early Headliners Foundation board. George Christian initiated the fundraising for this scholarship, and the funds came in from across Texas and the Club members. Mrs. Banks and her family continued to annually contribute to the endowment.