While the nation was roiled by protests for and against integration, as well as three political assassinations in the 1960s, Ronald (Ronnie) Banks and his friends in the Franconia area were practicing what Martin Luther King was preaching, even though King himself was one of those who would be assassinated.
Ronnie was part of a large Black family that moved from Alexandria to 10 acres on Old Telegraph Road in the 1950s. There, Olander Banks, Sr., and his wife, Margaret, built a large home for themselves and what would total a family of nine children. They had worked hard, often at two jobs each, but were unable to obtain private financing for the construction of a new home. One of Olander’s employers, Jack Starry of Alexandria Seafood, was impressed with the Banks’ work ethic and financed the project.
Olander and Margaret would become millionaires and part of a growing community of overwhelmingly White families who transformed the area from rural to a fast-growing suburban community. The Banks property served as a community-gathering point for local youths. It continues today as a Fairfax County Park, thanks to an innovative financial arrangement that benefited both the Banks family and Fairfax County.
Ronnie was born on October 13, 1955, a little more than a year after the United States Supreme Court ruled that the 1895 separate but equal interpretation of the Constitution was illegal. It took several years for Virginia and other southern states to fully integrate as far as public schools and public facilities were concerned. Ronnie and his family lived in a small house on the Old Telegraph Road property while a 25-room mansion was being built.
During that time, the area along Telegraph Road was being developed with large communities such as Jefferson Manor, Burgundy Village, Virginia Hills and Rose Hill. The nearby community of Hayfield wasn’t far behind. According to his older sister, Deborah, Ronnie attended public school at Bush Hill and Wilton Woods Elementary, long bus rides away, and transferred with his schoolmates to the new Hayfield Elementary, almost just across the street, in January 1967.
Earlier, he had met Marty Mittendorf, who lived just north of the Banks on Telegraph Road. Marty stopped to talk to Ronnie as he passed the Banks house on the way to visit his cousin, who lived on a farm near where Hayfield Middle School and High School would be built. Ronnie soon learned that Marty’s father and brother had built a large model train (HO gauge) system in their house so he visited often to enjoy operating the system.
Ronnie and Marty attended schools, including Wilton Woods and Hayfield and played baseball against other communities which were played at Virginia Hills Elementary School. Richard Cooper, who played for the McDonald’s team from Virginia Hills, later would admit that Ronnie was the “first black person I had ever seen”. The two would become friends, sharing an interest in baseball and automobile repair.
Jeff Larrick grew up in Virginia Hills and attended elementary school there. He played baseball as a youngster in Alexandria because his dad, Henry Larrick, operated City Sports Shop. Jeff’s dad knew Ronnie’s dad, but the boys didn’t become friends until they attended Hayfield Middle School. Jeff was injured in an auto accident as a young man and is paralyzed from the waist down. He could drive, and visits with friends often. Jeff serves as a mentor for others who are paralyzed and works as a permit facilitator with local governments.
At Hayfield Elementary, Ronnie established a friendship with Cary Nalls, who transferred from Franconia Elementary, that would last a lifetime. Ronnie and Cary started out trying to compete with each other, but soon learned that working together would produce better results. They began selling candy charm pops to other students and pocketed the profits. Cary operated his own roadside stand at his grandparents’ property on Beulah Road, raising flowers and vegetables.
Ronnie was part of a large Black family that moved from Alexandria to 10 acres on Old Telegraph Road in the 1950s. There, Olander Banks, Sr., and his wife, Margaret, built a large home for themselves and what would total a family of nine children. They had worked hard, often at two jobs each, but were unable to obtain private financing for the construction of a new home. One of Olander’s employers, Jack Starry of Alexandria Seafood, was impressed with the Banks’ work ethic and financed the project.
Olander and Margaret would become millionaires and part of a growing community of overwhelmingly White families who transformed the area from rural to a fast-growing suburban community. The Banks property served as a community-gathering point for local youths. It continues today as a Fairfax County Park, thanks to an innovative financial arrangement that benefited both the Banks family and Fairfax County.
Ronnie was born on October 13, 1955, a little more than a year after the United States Supreme Court ruled that the 1895 separate but equal interpretation of the Constitution was illegal. It took several years for Virginia and other southern states to fully integrate as far as public schools and public facilities were concerned. Ronnie and his family lived in a small house on the Old Telegraph Road property while a 25-room mansion was being built.
During that time, the area along Telegraph Road was being developed with large communities such as Jefferson Manor, Burgundy Village, Virginia Hills and Rose Hill. The nearby community of Hayfield wasn’t far behind. According to his older sister, Deborah, Ronnie attended public school at Bush Hill and Wilton Woods Elementary, long bus rides away, and transferred with his schoolmates to the new Hayfield Elementary, almost just across the street, in January 1967.
Earlier, he had met Marty Mittendorf, who lived just north of the Banks on Telegraph Road. Marty stopped to talk to Ronnie as he passed the Banks house on the way to visit his cousin, who lived on a farm near where Hayfield Middle School and High School would be built. Ronnie soon learned that Marty’s father and brother had built a large model train (HO gauge) system in their house so he visited often to enjoy operating the system.
Ronnie and Marty attended schools, including Wilton Woods and Hayfield and played baseball against other communities which were played at Virginia Hills Elementary School. Richard Cooper, who played for the McDonald’s team from Virginia Hills, later would admit that Ronnie was the “first black person I had ever seen”. The two would become friends, sharing an interest in baseball and automobile repair.
Jeff Larrick grew up in Virginia Hills and attended elementary school there. He played baseball as a youngster in Alexandria because his dad, Henry Larrick, operated City Sports Shop. Jeff’s dad knew Ronnie’s dad, but the boys didn’t become friends until they attended Hayfield Middle School. Jeff was injured in an auto accident as a young man and is paralyzed from the waist down. He could drive, and visits with friends often. Jeff serves as a mentor for others who are paralyzed and works as a permit facilitator with local governments.
At Hayfield Elementary, Ronnie established a friendship with Cary Nalls, who transferred from Franconia Elementary, that would last a lifetime. Ronnie and Cary started out trying to compete with each other, but soon learned that working together would produce better results. They began selling candy charm pops to other students and pocketed the profits. Cary operated his own roadside stand at his grandparents’ property on Beulah Road, raising flowers and vegetables.
Cary Nalls (far left) and Ronnie Banks (far right) as classmates at Hayfield Elementary in 1968.
The popular Nalls Produce still operates, giving recent arrivals a glimpse of what Franconia was like before they arrived. Cary augmented his stock with visits to a market in Washington, D. C., taking Ronnie along to see what they could find to sell at school. Cary’s grandfather was the driver, but soon Cary made enough money to buy his own truck to use when he got his driver’s license.
Cary and Ronnie visit in later years at Nalls Produce.
The boys were probably too young to fully grasp the nation’s grief when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. The gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, was shot and killed two days later. The assassination of King on April 8, 1968 and Robert on F. Kennedy on June 6, 1968, hit home for Ronnie and his friends, who were living examples of King’s advice that people should be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin.
This story about Ronnie Banks and his friends is presented by the Franconia Museum during Black History Month to provide a snapshot of racial relations in Franconia during turbulent times. Ronnie passed away February 24, 2024.
At Ronnie’s funeral, Cary Nalls told a story about the time in their youth when he and Ronnie were out trick or treating. They stopped at the home of an elderly lady who was losing her eye sight. However, she recognized Cary, but didn’t know Ronnie and remarked that this costume and color seemed real.
“That’s because it’s my natural color,” Ronnie told her, sharing a laugh with Cary. In a nutshell, that was Ronnie’s approach to racial comments.
Richard Cooper recalled a time when was cleaning out his parents’ home and found a baseball glove and ball Ronnie had left there years earlier. “It was a big deal for Ronnie, “Richard said. “You’d have thought I had given him something of extreme value.”
Marty Mittendorf recalls receiving a call from Ronnie just before his childhood friend died. Marty now lives near Lynchburg and was surprised to hear from Ronnie. “We talked about trains and the good old days for about two hours. It was almost like he wanted to know if it was all real.”
Ronnie’s dad founded Banks Auto Parts, first on nearby Backlick Road and later on Smoketown Road in Woodbridge and Fredericksburg Ronnie exhibited an interest in model cars, automobile repair and parts sale, real estate and culinary arts during his life. As one of his childhood friends remembered “Ronnie liked everyone and everybody liked Ronnie.”
Ronnie’s younger sister, Carolyn, is a recent addition to the Franconia Museum’s Board of Directors. Cary Nalls, one of Ronnie’s friends, also is a member of the Board and suggested this story about whom he called “his best friend.”
This story about Ronnie Banks and his friends is presented by the Franconia Museum during Black History Month to provide a snapshot of racial relations in Franconia during turbulent times. Ronnie passed away February 24, 2024.
At Ronnie’s funeral, Cary Nalls told a story about the time in their youth when he and Ronnie were out trick or treating. They stopped at the home of an elderly lady who was losing her eye sight. However, she recognized Cary, but didn’t know Ronnie and remarked that this costume and color seemed real.
“That’s because it’s my natural color,” Ronnie told her, sharing a laugh with Cary. In a nutshell, that was Ronnie’s approach to racial comments.
Richard Cooper recalled a time when was cleaning out his parents’ home and found a baseball glove and ball Ronnie had left there years earlier. “It was a big deal for Ronnie, “Richard said. “You’d have thought I had given him something of extreme value.”
Marty Mittendorf recalls receiving a call from Ronnie just before his childhood friend died. Marty now lives near Lynchburg and was surprised to hear from Ronnie. “We talked about trains and the good old days for about two hours. It was almost like he wanted to know if it was all real.”
Ronnie’s dad founded Banks Auto Parts, first on nearby Backlick Road and later on Smoketown Road in Woodbridge and Fredericksburg Ronnie exhibited an interest in model cars, automobile repair and parts sale, real estate and culinary arts during his life. As one of his childhood friends remembered “Ronnie liked everyone and everybody liked Ronnie.”
Ronnie’s younger sister, Carolyn, is a recent addition to the Franconia Museum’s Board of Directors. Cary Nalls, one of Ronnie’s friends, also is a member of the Board and suggested this story about whom he called “his best friend.”
FRANCONIA REMEMBERS
This is one of the Franconia Museum’s occasional articles highlighting the area’s history. If you would like a friend to receive these FREE articles, contact us at franconia.museum.newsletter@gmail.com Membership is also encouraged, so that we can continue our work. The Museum is in the Franconia Government Center, currently located at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310. The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Museum is a 501 (c) tax exempt organization, as approved by the Internal Revenue Service.
This is one of the Franconia Museum’s occasional articles highlighting the area’s history. If you would like a friend to receive these FREE articles, contact us at franconia.museum.newsletter@gmail.com Membership is also encouraged, so that we can continue our work. The Museum is in the Franconia Government Center, currently located at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310. The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Museum is a 501 (c) tax exempt organization, as approved by the Internal Revenue Service.
________________________________________
For previous stories, go to franconiamuseum.org and click on history blog.
Join or contribute to the Franconia Museum electronically by accessing Franconiamuseum.org and clicking on Become a Member. You can also join the old-fashioned way by mailing a check made payable to the Franconia Museum at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA, 22310. Levels of memberships and giving are presented below.
The Museum will soon move into new quarters at the relocated Franconia Government Center on Beulah Street, near its intersection with the Franconia-Springfield Parkway. We need your help to make the move, so please consider making a contribution or becoming a member for 2025. Contributions in excess of the membership fee are encouraged. The Museum is a volunteer effort, but there are also costs for insurance of our artifacts, printing and postage. Please help!
2025 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW
Join us in celebrating our 24th year of preserving and protecting the history of our unique community. Our collections are growing, and we are starting to purchase electronic equipment for displays that will be available in the new Franconia Govt. Center coming in 2025 next to Lane Elementary and Beulah Park. Make the move with us by becoming a member! Additional donations are especially welcome! We are a tax-exempt, volunteer organization. There are no fund-raising costs! Come see us and learn about our past, present and future! Join us as a new member, renew your 2024 membership, or become a Lifetime or Founding member. We need to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors, and need volunteers to help man the Museum on Mon-Tues-Wed-Sat.
Annual dues $25.00
Donation $______________
Total Enclosed $_____________
or Lifetime Member…$350.00 (one time payment)
or Founding Member…$1,000.00 (one time payment)
Name............................................................................................................................................
Address.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
Phone..................................................
E-mail...........................................................................
Please complete application and mail with payment to
Franconia Museum, 6121 Franconia Rd, Franconia, VA 22310
Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Questions: Call Carl Sell at 703-971-4716 or email sellcarl@aol.com
For previous stories, go to franconiamuseum.org and click on history blog.
Join or contribute to the Franconia Museum electronically by accessing Franconiamuseum.org and clicking on Become a Member. You can also join the old-fashioned way by mailing a check made payable to the Franconia Museum at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA, 22310. Levels of memberships and giving are presented below.
The Museum will soon move into new quarters at the relocated Franconia Government Center on Beulah Street, near its intersection with the Franconia-Springfield Parkway. We need your help to make the move, so please consider making a contribution or becoming a member for 2025. Contributions in excess of the membership fee are encouraged. The Museum is a volunteer effort, but there are also costs for insurance of our artifacts, printing and postage. Please help!
2025 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW
Join us in celebrating our 24th year of preserving and protecting the history of our unique community. Our collections are growing, and we are starting to purchase electronic equipment for displays that will be available in the new Franconia Govt. Center coming in 2025 next to Lane Elementary and Beulah Park. Make the move with us by becoming a member! Additional donations are especially welcome! We are a tax-exempt, volunteer organization. There are no fund-raising costs! Come see us and learn about our past, present and future! Join us as a new member, renew your 2024 membership, or become a Lifetime or Founding member. We need to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors, and need volunteers to help man the Museum on Mon-Tues-Wed-Sat.
Annual dues $25.00
Donation $______________
Total Enclosed $_____________
or Lifetime Member…$350.00 (one time payment)
or Founding Member…$1,000.00 (one time payment)
Name............................................................................................................................................
Address.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
Phone..................................................
E-mail...........................................................................
Please complete application and mail with payment to
Franconia Museum, 6121 Franconia Rd, Franconia, VA 22310
Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Questions: Call Carl Sell at 703-971-4716 or email sellcarl@aol.com
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