Orbituary

Obituary Robert Blackburn Banks The AIT Community has learned with deep sorrow of the passing away on 19 August 2002 at the age of 80 of the former AIT President Professor Robert B. Banks. President Banks will be remembered for the important contributions he made towards the growth and development of AIT during his Presidency, which he held from January 1977 to July 1982. Prior to that, Professor Banks held the position of Vice-President and Provost. Mrs. Gunta M. Banks, in her letter to AIT communicating the sad news, recalls that "President Banks was associated with AIT for many years and held fond memories of his time here". In this time of bereavement, and on behalf of the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the Asian Institute of Technology, we would like to convey our heartfelt sympathy to his family and to all those who loved and admired him. Jean-Louis Armand President

Robert Banks spent his youth in Kansas and California. After attending the
University of Wichita for two years, he served in the US Navy, receiving an
honorable discharge as Lieutenant, Junior Grade, in 1946. He then returned to
his academic studies, receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil and Environmental
Engineering from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering
from University of California at Berkeley. Following post-doctoral research
as a Fullbright Scholar at Imperial College in London, Banks commenced a 40-year
career in academia, holding positions as professor, researcher and administrator.
From the 1950s to the mid-1960s, he was Professor of Civil Engineering at Northwestern
University and later at the Asian Insitute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand.
On his return from Asia, Banks became Dean of College of Engineering at University
of Illinios at Chicago.

In 1967, he moved to Mexico and became Regional Program Advisor for Science
and Technology for the Ford Foundation. In 1976, Banks accepted the post of
Vice President and Provost at the Asian Insitute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand,
and in 1977 was appointed President. In 1982, he became Executive Officer of
the International Service for National Agricultural Research in the Hague, Netherlands.
Following his retirement in 1988, he remained active in the academic world throught
consulting, lecturing and writing; his latest books "Growth and Diffusion
Phenomena: Mathematical Frameworks and Applications", "Towering Icebergs,
Falling Dominoes and Other Adventures in Applied Mathematics", and "Slicing
Pizzas, Racing Turtles, and Further Adventure Mathematics", were published
after his retirement. They can be consulted in the AIT Library.

During his distinguished career, Banks was recognized for his outstanding contributions
to education and received numerous honors and awards, including the Commandeur
dans l'Ordre des Palmes Acadmiques from the Government of France, and the Most
Exalted Order of the White Elephant from His Majesty the King of Thailand.

Robert Banks is survived by his wife, Gunta, and sons, Steven and Erik.

Robert Blackburn Banks; born October 12, 1922 Wiichita, Kansas; died August
19, 2002 La Jolla, California.

Mrs. Gunta M. Banks:
400 Prospect # 232
La Jolla, CA 92037
USA

April 1982: President Banks awards an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Technology
to Prime Minister General Prem Tinsulanonda on AIT's 34th Graduation Day.