(James) “Harold” Banville

Class of 1923: Brigadier General

As a brigadier general in the U.S. Army, (James) Harold Banville received the Legion of Merit, an award of the United States Armed Forces, for exceptionally meritorious conduct during the Cold War era. He had risen from a private in the Wisconsin National Guard to brigadier general in the regular Army.

He was born May 27, 1902, on a farm in Pickett, Wisconsin. His military career began as a private in the 32nd Division, Wisconsin National Guard, in 1919. At Ripon, he majored in biology and history, participated in Men’s League and the pre-medic club, and was commissioned through ROTC.

He earned a master’s degree in administration from the University of Wisconsin in 1934. From 1923 to 1940, he worked in the Ripon public school system as a high school biology and physical education teacher and coach of the girls’ basketball team, and then a junior high school principal. He also established the Scouting program in Ripon, became Director of Scouting and led several troops.

In the U.S. Army Reserve, Banville received his officer’s commission in 1923. In October 1940, during World War II, he was called to active duty and transferred to the regular Army in 1942. He first served as assistant adjutant general, Headquarters, Army Group Forces, in Washington. D.C.

From 1946 to 1949, he served as Adjutant General U.S Army Forces Far East with the Joint U.S. Advisory Group to the Republic of China. He was one of the American officers advising the government of Chiang Kai-shek in reorganizing its ministry of national defense. Later assignments included chief of personnel in the adjutant general’s office at the Pentagon and assistant chief of staff for Army personnel department, stationed at camp Zama, Japan. He was promoted to Brigadier General of Army Ground Forces.

He received the Legion of Merit “for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1 January 1947 to 30 June 1957.” He also received numerous other military medals and honors, including the Chinese Order of Yum Hui.

After retiring from the service in 1957, he served as secretary and then executive vice president of The Retired Officers Association (TROA) from 1965 to 1971. Under his leadership, the membership of the association increased from 25,000 to 149,000.

He remained committed to furthering Ripon College’s ROTC program and stated: “Ripon helped us all and it is my sincere hope that Ripon College continues the superb progress she is making and the great contributions she has and is making to the youth of America.”

He established the J. Harold Banville ’23 Endowed Scholarship, and his son, Robert R. Banville, was a member of the Ripon College Class of 1958.

James Harold Banville died Oct. 20, 1981, at the age of 79, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.