Ronald Banks, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, came to Kentucky State University in 1976 as a Mental Health Behavior Counselor. He is a graduate of Tennessee State University where he earned a B.S. Degree in Sociology with a minor in Health & Physical Education. He also earned his Master of Science Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Tennessee State University.

A long-time resident of Frankfort, Kentucky, Mr. Banks has been a true visionary and leader for KSU and the entire community. He was promoted in 1978 as the Job Placement Counselor. Helping students by assisting with employment upon graduation.

Mr. Banks, was promoted again in 1983 to Assistant Director of Career Planning and Placement. During this time Mr. Banks was strongly involved with the entire athletic department. Between 1995 to 2003 he started the “Athletic-Alumni Motivational Task Force”. This program was made to show every athlete how to make it after their sports career was completed upon graduation from KSU. He would bring in former KSU athletes to provide knowledge about life after sports. This program was very successful.

In 2008, Mr. Banks became Director of Career Planning and Placement / Co-Op Education. He worked very hard to obtain career employment to all student at KSU, especially the athletes on campus. During this time frame, Mr. Banks assisted the athletic department students who were unable to go home in the summer, by securing employment. Many of those student-athletes were able to retain those career positions after graduation. In 2016, Mr. Banks retired from KSU after 40 years of dedicated service. During his tenure, Mr. Banks created many worldwide career partnerships and programs. Those partnerships still carry over as they provided the opportunities for thousands of alumni to a obtain long term successful career.

Mr. Banks was always in favor of helping the athletic department at KSU. In 1990, he volunteered as a spotter at the KSU football games for the former announcer Mr. Van Little. In 1993, Mr. Banks became the voice of the KSU football game as he replaced Mr. Little. He is still the announcer after 32 years and shows no signs of letting up. He is now known as the “Voice of the Horse!”

As an announcer, Mr. Banks has called over 165 football games at KSU. It is amazing and admirable that Mr. Banks, has never accepted pay for the job of announcer. His selfless service and dedication to Kentucky State University makes Mr. Banks a true Thorobred. While as a KSU employee he has volunteered for the Special Olympics, the SIMON House, Department of Blindness Donor and has served on several community boards such as the Access Men’s Shelter, the Capital Planning and Development, and the Frankfort YMCA.

Finally, in2017, Mr. Banks was appointed to the KSU Board of Regents by former Governor Matthew Bevins. He served on the Board of Regents for five years. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Facility and Staff member on the Board of Regents from 2010 to 2013 for a total of eight years as a Board member.

Mr. Banks is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is married to Felicia and they have three adult daughters, Rashondra, Brianna, and Chemeka. They are proud grandparents of Cherica, Michael, Eric, and Layla.