John Henry Banks

Surrounded by his family, John Banks, beloved husband, dad, and papa, passed away in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 20, 2022, after a short illness.
John Henry Banks was born in Hanau, Germany on July 16, 1948 to Carl and Luise Banks. At the age of eight, John’s Dad, who was serving in the Army, was reassigned to the States. They were stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and then Niagara Falls, New York where John attended high school.
As a Junior in high school, John began to think about what he wanted to do with his life. At the time, his dad was an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialist at Niagara Air Force Base, and he had been an Army Brat all of his life. John decided to follow his dad’s footsteps and upon graduating in 1966 from Niagara Falls High School, he took the armed forces entrance exam and made a score of 99. He enlisted in the Army and his 20-year military career began. He became a United States Citizen on May 17, 1966.
John was accepted into Infantry Officer Candidate School and he graduated five days after turning 19 as a 2nd Lieutenant. After completion of OCS, John was stationed in Munich, Germany in 1967.
In August of 1969, he was assigned to Vietnam. An attack on the firebase left John with a severely wounded right leg, which began nine months of hospitalizations. John was awarded the Purple Heart.
After his recuperation, he returned to active duty. In June of 1971, John was released from active duty and returned to the states. He moved to Norman, Oklahoma to attend the University of Oklahoma where he majored in Finance.
Simultaneously, he joined the Army Reserves and was promoted to the rank of Major. He remained in the Reserves until his retirement in August, 1986.
Upon completion of college, John began his career as an Investment Banker. At the time of his death, he was working for D.A. Davidson as Managing Director of Investment Banking in Norman, Oklahoma.
John was a specialist in the structuring of general market municipal bond issues and tribal essential purpose transactions. He joined the firm in 2000 after a twenty-year financial advisory career with Oklahoma based clients, particularly, the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority and the Authority’s Credit Enhancement Reserve Fund. Since joining the firm, John completed financings for various State Agencies on a competitive basis; negotiated financings for Oklahoma municipal water and sewer issuers; lease revenue bond transactions for a wide range of Oklahoma school districts; and privatized student-housing financings for Oklahoma Colleges and Universities. He also managed the firm’s Tribal financing practice and completed several essential governmental function transactions for tribal clients.
Over the last 25 years, John worked tirelessly for the Oglala Sioux, the Flandreau Santee Sioux, and the Lower Brule Tribes financing Nursing Homes, Schools, Medical Facilities, Waste Management, and other facilities.
Additionally, John developed working relationships with rating agencies, nationally recognized legal counsel, local counsel and trustee banks, all with a view to provide the best mix of talent and services to support client funding needs. As a result, John had extensive experience in the public finance sector and as such, used his experience and knowledge of the national debt markets to service the financing needs of his clients. During his tenure with Davidson, John structured over two billion dollars in debt offerings.
John was a 45-year seasoned veteran of the Oklahoma municipal bond profession and will be sorely missed.
John loved his family passionately and was ready and available to be of help and extend a listening ear to anyone that needed his guidance. He enjoyed watching children and grandchildren play sports or any other activity they were interested. John was always available to help with school work, especially writing papers and essays, He also played a mean game of Uno. John was an avid reader and a wonderful gourmet cook.
John will be sorely missed by all that knew and loved him. He was generous to a fault, had a kind heart, and loved making others happy. He loved McFarlin Methodist Church and was a faithful member.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Luise Banks, his first wife, Inge Banks, and his son, Michael Banks.
John is survived by his loving wife, Patty and their son, Bradley of the home. Son Chris Banks, and wife Tamara; Daughter, Melisa Wood, and husband, Dr. Frank Wood. Step Son, Michael Shackelford, Step Daughter, Heather Shackelford. Grandchildren, Jessica Banks, Nathan Banks, Anthony Banks, Hunter Banks, Taylor Fish, Jackson Fish, Landon Shackelford, Preston Shackelford, and great grandson, Daniel Banks, as well as numerous extended family and friends.
John’s life will be celebrated on July 26, 2022 at 2:00 pm at McFarlin Methodist Church, Norman, Oklahoma.