DWIGHT, Ill. — Mr. Stanley E. Banks, 73, of Dwight, passed away at Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac, Ill., Monday March 1, 2010, after an extended battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Born Oct. 22, 1936, in Belvidere, Ill., Stanley was the son of Glenn and Ethel (Schoonmaker) Banks.
The Banks family moved to Dwight in 1969 and established their Victory Lane Farm.
"Slammin Stan" was well known throughout the Midwest during the 1970s and 80s as one of the top harness horse drivers in the nation. During his career, he drove in over 32,000 races, winning more than 3,500 of them. He was inducted into the Illinois Harness Horseman's Hall of Fame in 1982.
In 1985, Stan became the co-owner of the Snook Inn Restaurant, located on Marco Island, Fla. Over the next 25 years, The Snook Inn became a world famous establishment and an achievement of which Stan was very proud.
Stan is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda; his sons, Scot (Kelly) of Dwight and Steven (Kieu) Ft. Meyers, Fla.; daughters, Lori (Alex) Gorman, Marco Island, Fla.; Lacey Humbert, Odell, Ill., and Sheri (Ken) Asperson, Poplar Grove, Ill. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Chris and Carrigan Banks, Seth Banks, Cara and Amanda Humbert, Allasia and Emma Asperson; two brothers, Les (Jean) and Dwight (Terri) Banks; and one sister, Benita (Bill) Yunek, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 8, 2010, at Hager Memorial Home in Dwight.
A memorial service will follow the visitation at 2 p.m. Monday at the memorial home.
A celebration of Stan's amazing life will be at Victory Lanes Bowl after the service.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Stanley Banks Scholarship Fund at the First National Bank of Dwight, 122 W. Mazon Ave., Dwight, Ill., 60420.
Hager Memorial Home, 201 W. Mazon Ave., Dwight, Ill., is in charge of arrangements. For more information, call (815) 584-2666.