PORTLAND — James A. Banks, Sr., 80, of Hudson, Fla., died on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, following a hard-fought battle with cancer. The last two months, Jim was in hospice care at the home of his son, Gregory, in Rotonda West, Fla.

Jim was born on April 12, 1939, in Portland, and grew up the oldest of four children. Jim attended parochial schools in Portland; Sacred Heart Grammar School (1945 to 1953) and Cheverus High School, (1953 to 1957). Following high school, Jim enlisted in the Air Force where he remained until 1961. Upon departure from the service, he completed one year of college at the University of Maine, Portland before leaving school in December 1963 to start a family.

Jim married Cora J. Richard on Dec. 28, 1963, and eventually settled in Portland to raise their family. In early years, he worked at Boston Shoe Store in Dover, N.H., and Portland, before starting his career in public safety in 1965 with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department as a dispatcher. He also worked at the U.S. Postal Office in Portland during Christmas in order to buy Christmas gifts for his family. In 1968, Jim started his career in law enforcement with the Maine State Liquor Commission. When the opportunity arose to advance his career into supervision, Jim attended the Criminal Justice Academy in Waterville, graduating in 1974. He continued his formal education, completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Maine, Portland-Gorham (now the University of Southern Maine), graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. Jim held the rank of Sergeant in the Maine State Bureau of Liquor Enforcement until his retirement in March of 2000.

Jim’s commitment to public service and volunteerism first began with coaching youth baseball at Little League 9 (LL9) in Portland. He coached his son, James Jr.’s, farm league team, where they won the LL9 Farm Championships in 1973. Jim went on to coach Little League (Haverty Buick) for 13 years. During this time, Jim first ran for and successfully won a seat on the Portland School Board in 1979. He stayed on the committee until 1984 and then ran, and won, again, in 1990 and served until 2002. During the 17 years on the school committee, Jim served as chairman during three different times and was a member of several committees.

Jim also served on various city-wide committees including serving as a member of the committee to build the Portland Ice Arena (1983) and work to establish the Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament at Portland Exposition Building (1986). As a huge proponent of education and helping to create programs that directly benefit the children of Portland, Jim also served on multiple statewide boards and committees including the Maine State School Board Association (MSBA) as a director and president. In 2007, Jim was appointed by then-governor John Baldacci to the Maine State Board of Education where he served until 2012 as vice chairman and chairman.

Jim was a representative on the Maine State Employees Association (MSEA) from 1972 until the early 1980s. From 1977 to 1979, Jim served as a Director on the MSEA Board. During his time working for the MSEA, he served on the State Board of Trustees to purchase health insurance for State employees. He also served for 15 years on the Income Protection Board where he helped negotiate insurance with UNUM, securing a plan of income protection which stands today with the MSEA.

Jim was an active member in the Portland Kiwanis Club, serving as president; at the District level, Jim coordinated the Emergency Medical Technician training for treating trauma in the young children of Southern Maine; became director of the Kiwanis Foundation of New; became governor; served as a delegate to 25 International Kiwanis Conventions and as a delegate or alternate to 30 New England Kiwanis Conventions. Over the years, Jim has been recognized for his commitment to public service and volunteerism. He received the Maine State Employees Association “Employee of the Year”; the Robert B. Ganley Award for Distinguished Community Service with special emphasis on children; the Portland School Committee Award named for “James A. Banks Sr.” presented on behalf of the Portland School Committee the “Unsung Hero” awarded each Thanksgiving at the annual Portland-Deering Thanksgiving Day Game (since 1996). 

A recent recognition came when the Portland City Council unanimously voted on February 3, 2020, to rename the Portland Exposition Building the “James A. Banks Sr. Exposition Building.” Jim was very humbled and honored. The Expo is very dear to the Banks family.

Jim has been an active member of St. Pius Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus with the honor of Grand Knight.

To honor his high school, Jim served in multiple positions for Cheverus, including Alumni as vice-president and president, was a proud member of the Cheverus 500 donor club, was named the recipient of Cheverus’ 2020 MAGIS award for his outstanding community service. Jim’s family will receive the award on his behalf in April. 

In March 2014, following over 50 years of marriage, Jim’s beloved wife, Cora, died. Jim was known to say that one of his greatest privileges in his life was to help raise his four sons with Cora. Jim was also predeceased by his father, Robert S. Banks Sr.; his mother, Catherine I. Banks; and his brothers, Robert S. Banks  Jr. and Eugene D. Banks.

He is survived by his sons, James A. Banks Jr. of Winslow, Gregory R. Banks of Rotonda West, Fla., Douglas J. Banks  Sr. of Naples and Jeffrey C. Banks of Malden, Mass.; his sister, Catherine I. Harrington of Windham; three granddaughters, three grandsons, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather and visit with Jim’s family on Friday, Feb. 28, during the hours of 2 to 8 p.m. at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Feb. 29, at St. Pius Church, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway in South Portland.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting Jim’s online guestbook at www.athutchins.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jim’s memory to the: Kiwanis Foundation of New England for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute, Tuffs Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111.