George Banta III

Ancestors

Son of George Riddle Banta Jr. and Margaret Alice (Killen) Banta

Descendants

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Biography

George was a CEO.

Captain George Banta III served in the United States Army in World War II
Service started: 8 Nov 1942
Unit(s): Co. F, 313th Infantry
Service ended: 31 Aug 1951

George was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

George Riddle "Bud" Banta III (1923-2005) was an American businessman who served 14 years as president and CEO of the Banta Corporation.

Name

Bud was named after his father, George Riddle Banta Jr. His middle name, Riddle, was the maiden name of his great-grandmother, Melissa Riddle.

Birth

He was born on 19 June, 1923 at Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah, Wisconsin, the youngest of three children born to George Riddle Banta Jr. and Margaret Alice Killen.^[1]

Education

Bud did his high school studies at Shattuck Military Academy, a boarding school in Fairbault, Minnesota.^[2] Upon graduation, he entered Lawrence University, where he studied for a year and a half before departing to enlist in the army during his Sophomore year. In 1976, he was conferred an honorary Master of Arts degree for his service on Lawrence's board of directors by President Thomas Smith.^[3]

Military

On 8 November, 1942, Bud enlisted in the US Army at Menasha, Wisconsin.^[4]

1st Marriage

On 28 December, 1943, Bud married Virginia Jensen of Glencoe, Illinois, the daughter of Leif Jensen and Agnes Jensen. The couple was married in Fayetteville, North Carolina while Bud was stationed at Maxton Army Air Base.^[5] The two had met at Lawrence University.^[6]

Career

After returning from his service in World War II, Bud went to work at the George Banta Printing Company, Inc., his grandfather's company. He was named vice president in 1961 and president in 1965 following his father's retirement from that post. After the company went public in 1971, rechristened the Banta Corporation, he was named chairman of the board and CEO, positions in which he served until his retirement in 1979.^[3]

Residence

• Bud appears in the 1930 US Census as "George R Banta 2nd." He is living at 350 Park St. in Menasha with his father, mother, sister, and two maids, Hazel Thornton and Louise Braatz.^[7]
• Bud appears in the 1940 US Census as "George R Banta." He is living at 808 Keyes St. in Menasha with his father, mother, sister, and two maids, Louise Braatz and Marie M Roder.^[8]
• In 1980, he moved with his new wife, Anne to Stuart, Florida.^[2]
• In 2000, he and Anne moved to Orlando, Florida, to be closer to his stepson.^[3]

Hobbies & Interests

• Tennis and golf^[2]
• Building dollhouses^[9]
• He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs.^[2]

Positions

• Trustee and chair of the board, Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin^[3]
• Trustee, Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana^[3]
• President and Silver Beaver award recipient, Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America^[2]
• President, Book Manufacturers' Institute^[2]
• President, Printing Industries of America^[2]
• Province president, Phi Delta Theta fraternity^[3]
• Member of the board of directors, First National Bank of Menasha^[3]
• Member of the board of directors, First Wisconsin National Bank, Oshkosh^[3]
• Member of the board of directors, Theda Clark Hospital, Neenah^[3]
• Member of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. He often volunteered at the resource center for the homeless.^[9]

Alcoholism

Bud struggled for many years with alcoholism and eventually found himself in rehabilitation. At the time of his death, he had given up drinking for 33 years. After moving to Florida, he served as a director on the board of the Hanley-Hazelden Foundation, and frequently spoke to groups at Alcoholics Anonymous.^[9]

Death

Bud died of cancer on 12 May, 2005 at the age of 81, while living in Orlando.^[10][9] His body was cremated, and is memorialized at the First Presbyterian Church Columbarium in Orlando, Florida.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Record for George Riddle Banta, 19 June 1923, Page No. 428, State of Wisconsin Department of Health—Bureau of Vital Statistics. Uncertified copy in possession of J Banta.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} "Banta III, George 'Bud'." Obituary. Appleton, Wisconsin, Appleton Post-Crescent, 22 May 2005.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8} Lawrence University, "George Banta, III, 1923-2005." URL: [1]. Retrieved by J Banta (Notice is no longer at this URL! ~~~~)
4. ↑ "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," index, FamilySearch ([2] : accessed 20 May 2015), George R Banta, enlisted 08 Nov 1942, Menasha, Wisconsin, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 126323, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
5. ↑ Certificate of Marriage, George R. Banta to Virginia Jensen, 28 December, 1943, No. 5838, Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina. State of North Carolina, County of Cumberland Office of Register of Deeds. Uncertified copy in possession of J Banta.
6. ↑ Recollected by members of the family, including Robert Banta and Virginia Banta Michel.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch ([3] : accessed 20 May 2015), George R Banta 2nd in household of George R Banta, Menasha, Winnebago, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0006, sheet 12B, family 281, line 95, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2619; FHL microfilm 2,342,353.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch ([4] : accessed 20 May 2015), George R Banta in household of George Banta, Ward 3, Menasha, Menasha City, Winnebago, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 70-6, sheet 2B, family 37, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 4537.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} "George 'Bud' Banta III ran printing business, made intricate dollhouses," Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2014. URL: [5]
10. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch ([6] : accessed 20 May 2015), George Banta, 12 May 2005; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

• Find A Grave: Memorial #140100547
• Paternal relationship is confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between Robert Banta and his third cousin PT. Their most-recent common ancestors are their great-great-grandparents, David D Banta and Melissa (Riddle) Banta. Based on sharing 33 cM across 2 segments, Ancestry places the third cousin relationship in the most likely category, with 30% probability.