2021-01-01 Support for Naming the Chatham South Bridge the "Clyde L. Banks, Sr, Memorial Bridge" PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
RESOLUTION#2021-01-01
SUPPORT FOR NAMING THE CHATHAM SOUTH BRIDGE THE "CLYDE L.
BANKS,SR.,MEMORIAL BRIDGE"
VIRGINIA, at the Regular Meeting of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
("Board"), held on January 19, 2021,the following Resolution was presented and adopted:
WHEREAS,the Board is committed to recognizing and celebrating Pittsylvania County,
Virginia's("County")historical heritage and contributions made thereto by its citizens; and
WHEREAS, Clyde L. Banks, Sr., a former Chatham resident and a respected civil rights
leader and community supporter, died on June 7, 2008; and
WHEREAS, Banks was born on May 9, 1924, in the County, the son of the late Edward
Langston Banks and Reubena Smith Banks, and was married to the now late Mary Helen Bailey
Banks; and
WHEREAS,Banks honorably served his Country as a member of the United States Navy;
and
WHEREAS, an integral part of the life and prosperity of his community, Banks operated
the Travelers Inn in Chatham for nearly forty (40)years; and
WHEREAS,at the height of the local civil rights movement, Banks was jailed during the
Civil Rights sit-in in Danville,Virginia;was instrumental in helping many African-Americans find
jobs; worked diligently to integrate the County Public Schools; lobbied to get blacks hired as
Sheriff's Deputies; and fought to get black teachers the same salaries as their white counterparts;
and
WHEREAS, over the years, Banks generously gave his time and expertise to many civic
organizations, serving as a member and leader of the Pittsylvania County Chapter of the NAACP
and the Judah Lodge No. 205, as Chairman of the Board of the Pittsylvania Christian Housing
Corporation,as chairman and Founder of the Board of the Pittsylvania County Community Action
Agency, Inc., as Vice-Chair of the Fifth District Democratic Committee, and as a member of the
State Democratic Central Committee; and
WHEREAS, Banks was a faithful member of the Corinth Christian Church, where he
served as a deacon and trustee and was active in the church's many missions in the community;
and
WHEREAS, an inspiration to all who knew him well, Banks was known for his
impeccable moral character, and he never sought credit or acclaim for his many good deeds; and
WHEREAS, Banks will be fondly remembered for his passion and keen intellect and
greatly missed by his son, Clyde L. Banks, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Cathy; his grandson, Joshua
Banks; and his numerous other family members and good friends; and
WHEREAS, § 33.2-213 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, authorizes the
Commonwealth Transportation Board("CTB")to give suitable names to state highways,bridges,
interchanges, and other transportation facilities and change the names of any highways and
bridges, interchanges, or other transportation facilities forming a part of the systems of state
highways; and
WHEREAS, the same Virginia Code Section further provides that the Virginia
Department of Transportation("VDOT") shall place and maintain appropriate signs indicating the
names of highways, bridges, interchanges, and other transportation facilities named by the CTB
and requires that the costs of producing, placing, and maintaining such signs shall be paid by the
localities in which they are located.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Board fully and
enthusiastically supports the naming of the Chatham South Bridge as the "Clyde L. Banks, Sr.,
Memorial Bridge;"and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County agrees to pay the costs of producing,
placing, and maintaining the signs calling attention to this naming; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
appropriate local VDOT officials and the CTB for consideration.
Given under my hand this 19th day of Jan ,2 1.
-F .
Robert("Bob") W. W en, Chairman
P. . . ty Board of Supervisors
t'?l'
• M. mi r erman, Clerk
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Approved as to Form:
j,freitep..ti
J. Vaden Hunt, Esq. y
Pittsylvania County Attorney