Over the past 35 years, I’ve heard W&L students, parents, and alumni say that someone needs to write a book about “Baner”. What is this extraordinary emotion that he portrays to prospective students as they tour the campus during their senior year of high school? What is this “family thing at W&L” that he introduces to freshmen and their parents as they arrive to unload at Graham-Lees, Baker, Davis or Gilliam dorms? How can these little seeds of the W&L family grow within each student during their four years here and then be carried with them as they become alumni and start the next phase of their lives.
Over the past year, I have sent thousands of emails and 1st class letters to alumni across the United States about this amazing book that I have written. The response from the alumni has been phenomenal; not so much in the number of responses I received, but in the depth of emotion and sincerity as to how their college years at Washington and Lee were enhanced by Baner. To him, there was no great praise or acknowledgement needed! He was just fulfilling a promise he made to thousands of parents as they prepared to leave campus after freshman move in weekend: “Ya’ll go on home now, your son or daughter will be just fine here, ‘cause they’re part of our family now at W&L.”
Doris M. Bane (a.k.a. Mrs. Baner)
About Me
- Doris Bane (a.k.a. "Mrs. Baner")
- My desire is to honor Thomas "Baner" Bane as he has not only “spoken” of this family thing at Washington and Lee, but has “lived” it as he interacts with the students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff. This book will also honor the many students who have walked through the Colonnade on the W&L campus that is so rich in tradition, goals, and honor that was introduced by Robert E. Lee over 142 years ago.