Louis Henthorn Banker was born on October 23, 1920 in Russell, Kansas to Louis Waldo ("Wog") and Bernice (Henthorn) Banker. He had one brother, Dean Chase Banker (1925-2012). After graduating from Russell High School, Louis H. received a bachelors in speech and a masters in speech and debate from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Banker's teaching career began at Great Bend, Kansas. He mostly taught in Missouri, including at Platt City High School from 1956-1960, West Plains High School from 1960-1962, and Fort Osage High School as a speech and debate teacher from 1962-1981. Louis Banker retired on May 17, 1981, after teaching for over 20 years.

Over the course of his teaching career, he received a number of awards and acknowledgements. These included a Distinguished Service to Education Award from Central Missouri State University in 1972; National Forensic League's double diamond award; the coach of Missouri State champion debaters from 1970-1971; being named Outstanding Teacher of 1972 by the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri; and being named Missouri State Teacher of the Year 1973-1974 by the State Department of Education.

Banker served in the South Pacific Theater with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He also served as a director of the family business, L. Banker Mercantile Co., in Russell. Louis H. Banker died on January 20, 1993 in Salina, KS.

[Information taken from accession file and findagrave.com.]

Theodora “Ted” Banker was born to Louis and Anna Banker in Russell, Kansas. She had three siblings: Louis Waldo “Wog” Banker, Dean Culbertson Banker, and Frances "Franc" (Banker) Baker. She graduated from Russell High School in 1923 before attending KU that same year.

Banker joined the Chi Omega Sorority in 1923 and participated in KU’s women’s rifle team before graduating in 1927. She began work at L. Banker Mercantile in 1928, retiring as a store manager in 1994.

Along with her work, Banker was an active member in the First Congregational Church in Russell. She helped establish the Russell Chapter of the American Association of University Women in 1943 and was a member of the Junior Cosmos Club.

Ted Banker died on December 21, 2003.

[Information from Theodora Banker's findagrave.com obituary.]