For five days a week, George Banning is up with the rising sun, making it to the Plant City Family YMCA just in time for spin class. He even goes on Monday mornings, the same day he has Rotary Club meetings at 7 a.m. That means Banning is on the bike by 5:30 a.m.
Banning’s dedication to his health, the fellowship and the facility has attracted the attention of many members at the YMCA. They all have coffee in the mornings in between biking and private personal training drills.
His dedication also attracted the attention of the YMCA staff.
This year, Banning has been selected as the 2014 YMCA Strong Leader. He will be honored at an Aug. 26 banquet.
“I was very overwhelmed,” Banning said. “I was very appreciative of the offer. There were a couple other candidates I thought should receive it.”
Banning was surprised when he learned of his selection. He didn’t realize that, when he was called into a meeting to explain the sport of pickleball, the YMCA staffers were setting him up to announce his award.
Since November, Banning had been trying to convince the YMCA to bring pickleball to the facility. The sport, which originated in California, is played using a tennis net, ping-pong paddle and a Wiffle ball. It’s a less strenuous replacement for racquet ball. In June, they decided to bring pickleball in, but not before Executive Director Rick Gould approved it.
Gould already had approved it but played along with the charade. When Banning entered the meeting, they told him he had been selected at the Strong Leader.
Banning served on the YMCA Board from 2001 to 2010 and was president. He’s been major donor chairman and even chairman of the Strong Leader banquet.
In fact, he’s been active with the YMCA since he finished his five-year stint with the U.S. Air Force.
“In the service, I had a lot of opportunity to exercise,” Banning said. “I got to know the YMCA director in the community I was living in. Since then, I’ve always looked to the Y. I believe in the program.”
That community was Columbus, Ohio. From there, he served on the Metropolitan Board that oversees all YMCAs in Franklin County, Ohio. When he moved to Orlando to manage Wendy’s restaurants in 13 counties, he joined the local YMCA. After he and his wife, Cassandra, moved in 1994, to Plant City, he got involved with the YMCA yet again.
His other accomplishments include an extensive résumé of Rotary service. Banning has been in Rotary since 1976 and has been president of the local club, district governor, received the Service Above Self, Meritorious and Club Building awards, and hosted other club members from all over the world, such as Russia, Taiwan and India.
Banning also serves on the United Food Bank of Plant City and the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center boards.
“I’ve enjoyed working with people,” Banning said. “I love Plant City. I’ve never met more friendly people.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
12th Annual Strong Leader Award Dinner
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26
WHERE: HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road
CONTACT: Reagan Thomas at Reagan.Thomas@tampaymca.org or (813) 757-6677