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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | Bert Bank |
| Address |
Northport, Alabama , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
September 01, 1914
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| Died | June 22, 2009
(94 years)
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| Contributor | User 490 |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Dec 22, 2014 08:36pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Mr. Bank is a native of Montgomery, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama and is a graduate of the Law School. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant through the ROTC program and was assigned to the 27th Bomb Group, arriving in the Philippines on November 20, 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, his unit was moved to the Bataan Peninsula on December 24, 1941. After months of intense fighting, Bataan surrendered on April 9, 1942 and shortly thereafter the infamous Death March began during which approximately 20,000 prisoners died. Mr. Bank was held in several locations including the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp in which 2,656 Americans died. It was from that camp that he and 512 other prisoners were liberated by the 6th Ranger Battalion on January 30, 1945. He returned to the United States where he spent two years in the Valley Forge General Hospital recovering from malnutrition. He separated from the Air Force in 1947 with the rank of Major. His book, "Back From the Living Dead", recounts his experiences as a prisoner of war.
Mr. Bank came to Tuscaloosa where he started radio stations WTBC-AM and WUOA-FM and, in 1953, started the University of Alabama Football Network where he continues as the Producer Emeritus. He sold the radio stations in 1985.
He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1966 and served two terms. In 1974, he was elected to the Alabama Senate and served one term ending in 1978 when he ran unsuccessfully for Lt. Governor of Alabama. He served under three Governors and each one recognized his leadership by asking him to serve as floor leader.
During his twelve years in the Alabama House and Senate, Mr. Bank offered legislation that was passed requiring that the philosophy of patriotism be taught in every public school in Alabama. He introduced legislation that made it a felony to burn the American flag, the first state to do so. He also authored legislation to make it a felony to burn a draft card, again, the first state to do so. Other successful legislation introduced by Mr. Bank made it possible for Veterans of the Gulf War to participate in the state sponsored college education program and he passed legislation that rewarded the 21 Alabama Vietnam Prisoners of War with a special $500 bonus.
Mr. Bank is a member of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and has been recognized by all of these organizations for his outstanding service to veterans. He has served in leadership capacities with a wide variety of civic and community organizations and continues to be recognized for his many contributions. He and his wife Emma reside in Tuscaloosa.
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