| Graduation Year | Class of 1965 |
| Date of Passing | Apr 23, 2015 |
| About | Birth: Aug. 6, 1947 Fayette County, Indiana Death: Dec. 16, 2008 Vanderburgh County,Indiana Parents: Harold W Banks (1906 - 1994) Helen E Gordon Banks (1910 - 1984) Burial: Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, ***************************************** Cole Banks, 61, of Evansville, died Dec. 16, 2008, at his home. He was a prominent Evansville defense lawyer and public defender, an adjunct professor at the University of Southern Indiana and a member of Bethel United Church of Christ. Pierre Funeral Home is handling the private service and burial in a local cemetery. Memorials may be made to a favorite charity. Published in Courier Press on Dec. 21, 2008 ************************************* "There will never be another Cole Banks — ever. This loss will be felt for years and years to come, not only in the courthouse, but in the community," said Donita Farr, Vanderburgh County's chief trial deputy prosecutor. "It feels as though there's a heavy blanket over everything; it's very somber and sad," she said of the mood at the Civic Center's courts wing. Banks was counsel or co-counsel to some of Vanderburgh County's highest-profile criminal defendants, including William C. Davis, a fugitive sex offender who was apprehended after talk show host Oprah Winfrey offered a $100,000 reward for him. Banks had the task of defending Davis' legal rights during a lurid trial in April 2006. After Davis was convicted, Banks said Davis was his most frustrating case in more than 30 years of practicing law. But with all his clients, Banks was a zealous advocate who could explain complicated legal cases without jargon. "He was a great student and teacher of the law. He was a fantastic lawyer, and he represented his clients without compromise," Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Wayne Trockman said. Trockman noted that Banks, more than any other local attorney, referred clients into the county's Drug Court treatment program so they could overcome addictions that often led to their crimes. "He was very much for getting to the root of the (client's) problem," Trockman said. Attorney Sonny Reisz, who along with Banks defended Davis, said Banks was at heart a political strategist and had served as political consultant to candidates. "I don't know where he got that savvy from, but he turned out to be right most of the time, and he was able to translate that into helpful things legally — selecting a jury and analyzing what people think," Reisz said. Banks' ability to convey concepts clearly found other outlets, too. For years, he taught a law and justice course at USI. "Not only did the students love him, but he absolutely loved working here and loved working around students. He always taught Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8 a.m. to make it to court on time, and still help us out," said Julie Evey, chair of the USI political science department and assistant dean of liberal arts. She will meet with his students today. Banks also offered his legal and political insights in frequent newspaper and television interviews, analyzing Supreme Court decisions and state elections. "My best memory of Cole is Cole's regular appearance in my office, always unannounced, wanting to sit down and talk about some local or national issue, always involving politics or the law," Trockman recalled. "It was always hard to tell whether he was a Republican or Democrat because he didn't ever seem to be willing to take on either of those labels. He was just interested in the process. He was really old school in many ways." Professorial and dignified with his bow ties, Banks could be mirthful and quick-witted. A collector, he owned a couple of classic Lincoln cars. Farr and Reisz both remembered that Banks collected expensive, high-quality fountain pens. Reisz said Banks had recently remarked about the collapse of the financial markets and observed his 18-karat gold-nib writing instruments were investments that held their value. Trockman and Senior Judge Maurice O'Connor recalled that Banks had suffered continuous hip trouble, had undergone hip replacements and walked with a limp. But in recent days, Banks appeared as upbeat and pleasant as ever. "It's all very odd," Trockman said. "The only thing we both know is, he had chronic pain and maybe that was it. I don't know that for sure. Maybe that was what he couldn't bear any more." Banks left detailed instructions for how his ongoing clients' cases should be handled, O'Connor said. Clients should contact the Vanderburgh County public defender's office or the Evansville Bar Association for referral to new attorneys. "He was a tenacious defender for his clients, but always in a gentlemanly way," O'Connor said. Evansville Courier & Press Written by staff writers Bryan Corbin and Gavin Lesnick. |
