Lloyd E. Worner Award

David Banks '77 is the recipient of the 2023 Lloyd E. Worner Award.

At CC, David majored in sociology, joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, wrote for the Nugget, was a DJ on KRCC, skied part of Pikes Peak, and captained the men’s rugby team. In 1993, 16 years after graduation, David organized the first Homecoming student vs. alumni rugby match. Now an annual event, it often includes pre-game dinners and post-game celebrations. In 2007, fellow alumni, parents, and friends created the Rugby Club Endowment, which annually helps fund the CC Rugby Club. With the rise of women’s rugby, David’s alumni adopted the guiding principle of “One club, two teams,” whereby all fundraising supports both the men’s and women’s teams. In 2017, to mark the rugby club’s 50th year, David organized a golden celebration featuring players from the very first team and the telling of the official history of rugby at Colorado College. Nominators credit David’s “infectious enthusiasm,” “wit,” “commitment,” and “selflessness,” for “almost single-handedly” maintaining rugby as a viable club sport at CC. As rugby’s “biggest cheerleader,” he has been a friend and mentor to many individual rugby players. David is credited with promoting a welcoming atmosphere, putting student desire to be part of a team and to learn and play rugby safely ahead of other considerations. We honor David for his ardent and unflagging support of rugby and the physical, mental, fun, and social benefits it offers CC students.