Semi-retired decorating and construction trades contractor, Bankson joined NOSHA in the spring of 2012. He has an Associate of Arts degree from Wharton County Junior College (Texas), and attended University of Texas, Austin until 1969. He adopted a skeptical mindset early, which was re-energized on witnessing the increasing politicization of fundamentalist Christianity and Islam. Previous volunteer at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation. Reporter for the Humanist Advocate newsletter and contributor to the NOSHA Blog.