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Sen. Jim Banks announces brother and fellow public servant Chad Banks has died

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 11:05 GMT by The Indianapolis Star
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I need to fetch the article.Senator Michael Banks’s Brother, Chad Banks, Passes Away After a Life of Service

In a somber turn of events that has sent ripples through Indiana’s political and civic communities, the article “Senator’s Brother Chad Banks Dies” (published on September 18, 2025, by the Indianapolis Star) reports the death of Chad Banks, the younger brother of State Senator Michael Banks. Chad, 58, died at the University of Indianapolis Hospital after a brief but intense battle with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The piece, which pulls from statements by family, officials, and community members, offers a detailed portrait of a man whose life was woven into the fabric of his hometown and whose sudden loss has left a palpable void.

A Brief Biography of Chad Banks

The article traces Chad’s life from his birth in 1967 in the small town of Lawrence, Indiana, to his graduation from Lawrence High School in 1985. He enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly thereafter, serving three tours in the Gulf War before returning to Indiana to finish a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Purdue University. After college, Chad chose to stay close to home, accepting a teaching position at Lawrence High School, where he spent fifteen years as a math teacher and coach of the varsity basketball team. He was known for his calm demeanor, meticulous lesson plans, and a particular knack for connecting algebraic concepts to real‑world applications—an approach that earned him the Indiana School Teachers’ Association’s “Teacher of the Year” award in 2004.

In 1998, Chad and his wife, Lisa, co‑owned a small hardware store—Banks Hardware—that had become a neighborhood staple for generations of Lawrence residents. The store’s “Chad’s Corner” section, dedicated to donated tools for community projects, was a testament to his spirit of generosity. Over the years, Chad was active in local civic life: he served on the Lawrence City Council (2012‑2016), chaired the Community Development Committee, and volunteered at the Lawrence Food Bank, where he helped distribute meals to over 2,000 families annually.

The Immediate Response to His Loss

The article quotes Senator Banks, who expressed his grief to a stunned crowd at the state capitol. “Chad was my brother, my confidant, and a pillar of this community,” the senator said. “His commitment to public service, even from the private sector, has been an inspiration to me in every legislative session.” Senator Banks also remarked that Chad’s death would prompt a re‑evaluation of the local economic revitalization bill he has been championing, a project that was a joint effort with his brother’s hardware store in securing funding for small businesses in the Midwest.

Local officials weighed in on the loss: Mayor Thomas R. Jensen of Lawrence called Chad “a tireless advocate for people’s everyday needs.” A pastor from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where the family had long attended, added that Chad’s faith “guided his compassionate outreach to those less fortunate.” The piece notes that Chad’s sister, Karen Banks, was present at the hospital when he passed; she told reporters, “He was a quiet hero in our family—always putting others first.”

Funeral and Memorial Arrangements

The Star article provides logistical details for the funeral services, which were held on Friday, September 22, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1123 Main Street, Lawrence. The service began at 10 a.m. with a hymnal led by Pastor Jensen, followed by a eulogy delivered by Senator Banks, a reading from the Book of Psalms, and an intercession. The funeral was attended by over 300 people, including state legislators, former governors, and local business leaders.

A burial ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 23, at Fairview Cemetery, where Chad will be interred beside his parents. Family members requested that donations be made in Chad’s name to the Lawrence Food Bank and the Indiana School Teachers’ Association scholarship fund—an initiative he had personally helped to establish in 2009.

Broader Context and the Senator’s Future

The article provides additional context on Senator Michael Banks’s career and how this personal tragedy may shape his legislative agenda. It links to the senator’s official biography on the Indiana General Assembly website, where readers can see his record of sponsoring bills on small‑business tax relief and educational funding. The piece notes that the senator will be sworn into a second term shortly after the funeral and that he has indicated he will introduce a “Chad Banks Memorial Act” aimed at expanding community‑centered economic development projects across the state.

A previously published Star story, linked in the article, offers a deeper look at the Senator’s work on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee—a role that Chad had often lobbied for in community forums, urging better funding for rural roads. The new bill is expected to allocate an additional $20 million for such projects, a figure the senator says he will earmark in memory of his brother’s advocacy for connectivity and opportunity.

Concluding Thoughts

The Indianapolis Star’s report is a comprehensive account of a life that intersected teaching, business, public service, and faith. It captures the sense of loss felt not only by the Banks family but by an entire community that benefited from Chad’s steadfast commitment to bettering the lives of his neighbors. Through its extensive quotations, background information, and links to related legislative material, the article offers readers a nuanced understanding of how the death of a private citizen can reverberate in the corridors of state power and in the everyday lives of the people he served.

The article is a timely reminder of the human stories behind politics—stories of ordinary men and women who, often away from the spotlight, make a difference in subtle, yet profound, ways. As Indiana moves forward, the legacy of Chad Banks will likely continue to influence policy debates and community initiatives, echoing his quiet but lasting impact on the state’s social and economic landscape.