Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2944 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSComity, Georgia, and grew up amid agricultural surroundings. His firstactivities on his own account were prosecuted in the line of farming, but whenhe was still a young man he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, andfor seven years was engaged in business in Coweta County. In 1897, recognizing an opportunity to expand and improve his condition, he came to Tiftonand became cashier of the Bank of Tifton, an institution which had beenfounded the previous year. He continued to act as cashier of this institutioniintil May, 1910, when he was elected to the vice presidency, and in this position continues as the directing head of one of the strong and substantial banksof this locality. The duties of this office, however, form only a small partof Mr. Banks' activities. He is a director of the Fourth National Bank ofMacou, the Third National Bank of Atlanta, and the Bankers Trust Company, of Atlanta, as well as of a number of smaller banks all over the state.Aside from banking, Mr. Banks is interested in oil mills, being president ofthe Planters Cotton Oil Company, of Tifton, the Cotton Seed Oil Company,and the controlling mills in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas; is vice president of the Golden Hardware Company of Tifton, one of the largest hardware and implement concerns of this part of the state; and either vice president, director or stockholder in several other mercantile and commercialenterprises. As a business man he invests his occupation with its requirements of good judgment, good heart and unquestioned integrity, which farsightedqualities insure him a permanent place among the substantialupbuilders of the community.It is but natural that such a man as Mr. Banks has shown himself to beshould be proffered public office, but this he has declined with one or twoexceptions. He was mayor of Tifton for three terms, giving the city a clean,energetic and business-like administration, and then refused another nomination. In state affairs he has been offered numerous offices, but has not caredfor public life, although he served as a 'member of the staff of GovernorTerrell. He was also tendered a like position on the staffs of GovernorsBrown and Harris, but declined the honor. On several occasions he hasserved as chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee for theSecond District, but for the most part his activities in public life have beenconfined to seeking the promotion of good and beneficial movements for thegeneral welfare. He has demonstrated what a man can accomplish by pursuing practical and straightforward methods, and by exercising always inhis association with his fellow men the qualities of integrity and consideration. Mr. Banks is' also prominent in fraternal life, being a Shriner Masonand a member of the Uniformed Rank of the Independent Order of OddFellows, and of the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and theBenevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He holds membership also in theCapital Club, of Atlanta, and belongs to the Baptist Church.Mr. Banks was married June 10, 1896, to Miss Mary Evelyn Towns, ofSenoia, Georgia, daughter of J. 0. and Sarah E. (Mathews) Towns, and amember of a very prominent family of the state. Mrs. Banks is prominentin state federation work and in church work (Baptist).EDGAR GOULD GBEENK. An educator of nearly forty years' experience,Mr. Greene has spent half that time as superintendent of schools of DoolyCounty. His work has brought him high standing among Georgia educators,and it would be possible to enumerate a great many changes and improvementsin Dooly County's school system directly traceable to Mr. Greene's influenceand activities.While he represents one of the solid old family names of Georgia, Mr.Greene's success in life has been due to 'his own exertions. He spent hisearly youth in the period marked by the stress and turmoil of the war, and inorder to gain an education he studied by caudle light. He was born in Macon