Recognizing the life and legacy of a local sports icon, Milwaukee Public Schools and the Milwaukee City Conference honored Jimmy Banks and his family with the unveiling of a new mural on Monday, June 9 at Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium (4300 W. Fairmount Ave).

Banks was a graduate of Custer High School (now Obama School of Career & Technical Education), starring at UW-Milwaukee before making history as the first Wisconsinite and second African American player to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team in a World Cup. After Banks’ time in the limelight on the pitch, he founded the Milwaukee Simbas, a local youth soccer club, where he emphasized youth development and community outreach. He later coached at the Milwaukee School of Engineering from 1999-2019.

The piece, designed by Tia Richardson of Cosmic Butterfly Design, was created to capture Banks’ work on and off the field. To cover a striking 12-by-50-foot area outside the stadium, Richardson relied on Banks’ family, friends and former colleagues to create the captivating mural, incorporating elements of teamwork, perseverance and community service to represent the Milwaukee legend.

“This project really touched my heart, and it started with meeting those of you who were involved in Jimmy’s life, his legacy and his work,” said Richardson during the event’s press conference. “When I look at this mural, I see the faith, hope and promise that each of us has to fulfill our potential, inherent in every individual.”

Richardson, who had yet to reveal the name of her piece previously, also shared that she titled the mural “Reaching Your Potential,” in honor of Banks’ commitment to community service and outreach.

In light of the artwork’s installation at Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium, which was renamed in Banks’ honor in 2022 and serves MCC student-athletes throughout the year, MPS Commissioner of Athletics and Academics, Bobbie Kelsey also shared her remarks at today’s unveiling.

“This mural reflects the values he lived by: teamwork, perseverance and service – values which we certainly uphold in the athletic space of Milwaukee Public Schools,” said Kelsey. “It reminds our student-athletes that greatness includes lifting others up as we succeed.” 

Other speakers at the event included members of the Banks family and representatives from MPS, the Jimmy Banks Academy, and the Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium organization, who all spoke to Banks’ greater impact on the community. 

Megan O’Halloran, Milwaukee Board of Schools director from the 8th district, shared: “In a nation where youth sports is often a pay-to-play structure, making high quality coaching and mentorship available to young people from all backgrounds was truly a radical act of love for the community.”

Wendell Willis, a representative of the Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium organization, also added: “At a time when soccer was dominated by players and coaches that never looked like us, Jimmy gave us the inspiration to play and continue as part of the soccer landscape as coaches, referees, spectators and administrators.”

“This mural is a testament to my uncle and the impact he had on the game of soccer, as well as the Milwaukee community,” said Christopher Perceptions, Banks’ nephew. “He inspired kids across the country but also had a direct impact on youth here in Milwaukee through his soccer camps, the Simbas Soccer Club, and coaching at MSOE. He was happy to do the work and believed soccer was a sport for anybody and everybody. I know if he saw this mural today, he would be incredibly touched.”

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 has 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.

Earlier this spring, Milwaukee PBS highlighted Banks’ accomplishments on and off the field in its ‘Black Nouveau’ series.

TMJ4 and FOX6 also had coverage from the mural unveiling event.