Washington University School of Medicine Oral Histories

William C. Banton Oral History

William C. Banton Oral History

William C. Banton

Interviewer

Edwin W. McCleskey, Ph.D.

Summary

William C. Banton was interviewed by Edwin W. McCleskey on July 5, 1990, for approximately 67 minutes.

Biographical Information: Interviewee

William C. Banton, II (1922-2016) was born in Washington, D.C. He earned his medical degree from Howard University in 1946 and then interned at Homer G. Phillips Hospital. He received a master’s degree in public health from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public health in 1970. He served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War. In 1973 he was promoted to Brigadier General. He retired from the reserves in 1979.

Banton served as Health Commissioner for the City of St. Louis from 1970-1972. He then designed the St. Louis County Department of Community Health and Medical Care and served as its first director from 1973-1979. He successfully advocated for the creation of the Missouri Department of Health and in 1985 was appointed as a medical consultant to the agency.

Banton also taught on the faculties of both Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis University School of Medicine. In 1987 he was elected president of the St. Louis Metropolitan Medical Society, the first African-American to hold the position in the society’s 150-year-long history.

Biographical Information: Interviewer

Edwin W. McCleskey, Ph.D. was an assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at Washington University School of Medicine from 1986 to 1993. His research addressed the biophysical properties of calcium-selective ion channels and the discovery of ion channels that trigger different types of pain. He also taught physiology and neuroscience.

Interview Date

1990-07-05

Collection Identifier

OH099 (PC054-S02)

Length

Approximately 67 minutes.

Restrictions

Users wishing to publish (in whole, or in part) content taken from the audio or transcript of this oral history interview must request, sign, and return a Statement of Use form to the Becker Archives. For detailed information regarding publication and use of this oral history, contact the Becker Archives (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).

Notes

Access to this oral history transcript is restricted. Contact the archivists at Becker Library (arb@wusm.wustl.edu) for terms of access.

Disclaimer

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William C. Banton Oral History
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