RALEIGH – A four-mile stretch of U.S. 19E in Yancey County has been designated in honor of a distinguished public servant from Yancey County.
The N.C. Board of Transportation approved a resolution this week to name a stretch of the highway between Cane River School Road and the West Yancey Fire Department as the Sheriff Donald Banks Highway.
Transportation officials reviewed and approved the application submitted by the Yancey County Board of Commissioners and forwarded by NCDOT Division 13 leadership.
Yancey County residents first elected Banks as sheriff in 1938, at 22-years-old, and he served until 1942. He served two additional terms, from 1958-1962 and from 1966 until his death on Sept. 19. 1969.
Banks also served one term in in the North Carolina Senate from 1950-52 representing District 30 which consisted of Avery, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties.
The resolution further states Banks was an active member of Cane River Baptist Church, numerous civic organizations in Yancey County, a prominent businessman and a pillar of the Yancey County community representing the ideals and values that citizens of Yancey County hold true.
NCDOT Division 13 officials and Banks family members will install signs and hold a dedication ceremony at an appropriate time in 2020.