Charles A. Banks ’62

Charles A. Banks ’62, of Gloucester, Va.; June 27. He entered Brown’s NROTC program and at graduation was commissioned an ensign. He served three years active duty and then five years in the reserve. Also while at Brown, he was captain of the lacrosse team his senior year, played football, and joined Delta Tau Delta. He worked for Cameron Brown mortgage company and was transferred to Newport News in 1966. He then worked for the Peebles Supply Company, moving to Washington, D.C.; he moved to Atlanta to set up the regional headquarters for Ferguson PLC; then back to Newport News, where he became president of Ferguson. He held that office for 12 years, during which time he also served as president of Southern Wholesalers Association, and then as the board chair of the National Association of Wholesalers-Distributors. He and his wife lived in England from 2001 to 2006. After returning to Gloucester, he was involved with many state and local charities and organizations, including the College of William & Mary, where he was inducted as an honorary alumnus. He was also given an honorary degree from Christopher Newport University and an honorarium from Oxford University. He was instrumental in the founding of the Ferguson Center for the Arts and was honored by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce as citizen of the year, along with his wife. He is survived by his wife, Mari Ann; a daughter and son-in-law; two sons; a daughter-in-law; and seven grandchildren.