On Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7, multiple Milwaukee City Conference student-athletes competed at the state track & field championships in La Crosse, Wis. Congratulations to these athletes for their postseason performances and successful spring seasons!

"Hometown Hero"

TMJ4 News highlighted the new mural of local soccer legend Jimmy Banks that was installed on the exterior of Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium!

Milwaukee honors soccer legend Jimmy Banks with new mural and stadium dedication

Family and community celebrate the legacy of Jimmy Banks, the first African American to captain the U.S. Men's National Team, who returned to...

www.tmj4.com

On Monday, June 9, FOX6 News Milwaukee spoke with artist Tia Richardson following Milwaukee Public Schools' unveiling of the new mural outside Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium.

New mural honors soccer legend, Milwaukee native Jimmy Banks

Jimmy Banks was a UW-Milwaukee and former Milwaukee Wave standout – and the first Wisconsinite and one of the first two African American players to...

www.fox6now.com

Thank you to all community members, local leaders, and family and friends who joined Milwaukee Public Schools, the Milwaukee City Conference, and the Friends of Jimmy Banks at our mural unveiling on Monday, June 9!

To celebrate local soccer legend Jimmy Banks, the first Wisconsinite and ...one of the first two African-American players to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team in a World Cup, the community rallied together to initiate an incredible piece of art that spans multiple columns on the exterior of Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium. The 12' x 50' mural, entitled "Reaching Your Potential," was designed by renowned local artist Tia Richardson of Cosmic Butterfly Design.

On Monday, speakers highlighted Banks' extraordinary impact on the city of Milwaukee as an athlete, coach, mentor, and leader. Speakers included Jordan, Dee, and J.C. Banks (Banks' sons); Christopher Perceptions (Banks' nephew); Megan O'Halloran (Milwaukee Board of School Directors, 8th District); Wendell Willis & Rob Harrington (representatives of the Friends of Jimmy Banks); Bobbie Kelsey (Commissioner of Interscholastic Athletics & Academics); and Alex Erdmann (emcee).

Funding for the mural was made possible by the Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium, a group formed in 2019 after Banks’ passing from cancer. Since then, the group raised over $40,000 to support the project, including a $25,500 grant from Bader Philanthropies, a $20,000 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and $7,600 in individual donations. Among the generous individual supporters were Tim Alioto, Joel Haubrich, Chris Knowlton, and John Scott McCrary, who played a pivotal role in bringing this tribute to life.

On Monday, June 9, the Milwaukee City Conference, Milwaukee Public Schools, and the Friends of Jimmy Banks unveiled a new mural to celebrate the life and legacy of Jimmy Banks!

Banks, a Milwaukee native and former University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and Milwaukee Wave standout, made history ...as the first Wisconsinite and one of the first two African-American players to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team in a World Cup (1990). Banks later founded the Milwaukee Simba Soccer Club and coached at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), dedicating his life to youth development and community outreach.

On Monday, community members, dignitaries, and family and friends gathered at Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium (4300 W. Fairmount Ave.) to honor Banks' values and spirit. The 12’ x 50’ mural, which spans multiple columns on the stadium’s exterior, was designed by renowned local artist Tia Richardson of Cosmic Butterfly Design and is entitled "Reaching Your Potential." Richardson worked closely with the local soccer community as well as Banks’ family, friends, and former colleagues, to create a piece that reflects his legacy. The final artwork is a dynamic and powerful tribute to Banks, capturing the spirit of his life through imagery that celebrates the values he championed: teamwork, perseverance, and community service.

Funding for the mural was made possible by the Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium, a group formed in 2019 after Banks’ passing from cancer. Since then, the group raised over $40,000 to support the project, including a $25,500 grant from Bader Philanthropies, a $20,000 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and $7,600 in individual donations. Among the generous individual supporters were Tim Alioto, Joel Haubrich, Chris Knowlton, and John Scott McCrary, who played a pivotal role in bringing this tribute to life.