John Clyde ‘J.C.’ Banks, 72

COLORADO SPRGINS, Colo.— Dr. John Clyde “J.C.” Banks, of Creede, passed away peacefully at age 72 on Dec. 27, 2018, in Colorado Springs, Colo. surrounded by family.
J.C. was born on March 22, 1946, in Cordell, Okla. to the late Alice Louise Pyron Banks and the late William Kenneth Banks. He grew up on a farm southwest of Dill City, Okla.
After high school, J.C. attended Cameron University, where he met the love of his life, Ruth Renee’ Dowlen. They married on June 3, 1967. To this union, two children were born; son Kenneth Edward, and daughter Diana Renee’.
J.C. earned a Ph.D. in Agronomy from Oklahoma State University in 1974. Upon graduation, he began working for Eli Lilly & Co. He served as a Senior Scientist for Plant Science Field Research in Lubbock, Texas. Several years later, he was named manager of the Texas Research Station in Mission, Texas, overseeing the management and operation of Lilly’s Plant Science Research Center in the Rio Grande Valley.
In the early 1980s, J.C. was named Regional Research Representative for the Southwest Region based in Dallas, Texas. He was responsible for the EPA Experimental Permit Program, product development, and technical service for the Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado region. In 1987 he was transferred to Greenfield, Ind. where he covered the North Central Region.
With a desire to get back to his roots, he resigned from Eli Lilly & Co in 1988 and returned to Oklahoma to serve as the Director of the OSU SW Research and Extension office in Altus, OK as well as the OSU Extension Cotton Specialist. In 1995 Ag Consultant Magazine named J.C. “Consultant of the Year.” He was also honored at the Beltwide Cotton Conference in 1998 as “Cotton Specialist of the Year.” He had a special connection with many of the farmers in the region and considered them friends.
J.C. was a talented craftsman and enjoyed woodworking, blacksmithing, and working with metal. He had a well-earned reputation for being able to fix just about anything. He greatly enjoyed his church family and friends in Creede and was always happy to help people in the community.
J.C. is survived by his wife, Renee’; his children Kenny Banks (Shannon) and Diana Collier (Robbie); Four grandchildren: Kyndal Beasley (Matthew), Paige Banks, Tristan Collier and Ethan Collier and one great-grandson, Owen Beasley; his sister, Naea (Les) Teachman and brother Bill (Pam) Banks. He was the best father, husband, son, brother and “Grampy.” He will be missed dearly by all of his family and friends.
A service of remembrance will be held at Creede Baptist Church on Feb. 16, 2019, at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to Creede Baptist Church, 600 La Garita St., Creede, CO 81130.