William V. Banks

William Venoid Banks (May 6, 1903 – August 24, 1985) was the first President and General Manager of WGPR-FM (which became Detroit's first black radio station) and WGPR-TV (which was the first black-owned and black-operated television station in the United States). He was also a lawyer and minister.

Banks was born in Geneva, Kentucky, and graduated from Lincoln Institute of Kentucky. He earned degrees from what is now Wayne State University and from the Detroit College of Law.

He also attended the Detroit Baptist Seminary and was ordained a minister in 1949.[1] He was also the founder of the organization called International Free and Accepted Modern Masons.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Obituary of William Banks, New York Times, Oct. 8, 1985
  2. ↑ http://internationalmasons.org/


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