Thanks for everything, Jessie Banks

By JUDY HILDNER
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Any girl who ever dribbled a basketball . . .

Any girl who ever drove the lane . . .

Any girl who ever experienced the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat on a basketball court . . .

Thank Jessie Banks.

The Oklahoma woman who refused to sit demurely on the sidelines while there were games to be played will be honored by Colorado State University-Pueblo on Feb. 17. Appropriately, Banks will be inducted as a charter member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame and recognized at the ThunderWolves 6 p.m. women's game with New Mexico Highlands. "I knew women could compete at the university level and I was just fortunate I could do it," Banks said about her mission to build a women's basketball program at then-Southern Colorado State College.

"That would be another honor," she said when asked about serving as a role model for the young women of today.

Banks joined the staff of the Pueblo institution in 1966 at the invitation of fellow Oklahoman Harry Simmons. The "Chief," the legendary men's basketball coach and athletic director, joins Banks as a charter member of the new ThunderWolves' Hall of Fame.

Banks nurtured the fledgling program through those early years as Title IX changed the face of college athletics forever.

"Some of those first players were Ruth Shelton and Frances Price from Pueblo, a few girls from Denver," Banks said in a 2007 interview. "Ruth would bring her baby to practice."

Banks opened the door wide for many young women.

"She created opportunity for all of us," Kathy Eberling, Assistant District Attorney of the 11th Judicial District in Fremont County, said.

"It was the first time we'd ever played (organized) basketball," Eberling said about her college years of 1972-75. "We'd play these teams from Kansas and get beat 60-2 but we didn't care, we were playing.

"In three or four years, she had a team that was winning," Eberling said about her former coach.

Banks held the first women's invitational tournament at SCSC's Massari Arena and was a charter member of the AIWA, the first women's college organization.

She saw the development of women's basketball in the NAIA and NCAA Division II during her 20-some years of coaching. She retired from the faculty at Colorado State University-Pueblo in 1996, the same year she was inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame.

But Banks isn't resting on her laurels, not at all.

"I'm busy all the time. I'm fortunate that I have most evenings free," Banks said.

One of her most recent campaigns is to expand the number of women in the GPSA. She successfully nominated golfer Penny Zavichas in 2002 and is working with a committee to generate more nominations. She's just the woman to get it done.

We should all take some time on Feb. 17 to thank this tremendous champion of women's sports. She doesn't see herself as a pioneer, she just wanted to play basketball and help other women do the same.

Call Niki Whitaker at CSU-Pueblo 549-2021 to make arrangements to attend.

Chieftain Sports Editor Judy Hildner may be reached at (719) 544-0006, ext. 450; or by e-mailing jhildner@chieftain.com.