In Fond Remembrance of David P. Behrens, India 55 (1968-1970)

David P. Behrens passed away from complications of lymphoma on Tues., Nov. 6, 2012, in Pittsburgh, PA. David was born November 13,1945 in Sibley, Iowa. He was a graduate of Augustana College, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and University of Iowa School of Law. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in India. David is survived by his sister, Ronnie Voll of AZ; many friends in PA; three nephews; a niece; and ten great-nephews and nieces.

To leave a condolence note for the family, click here.

A memorial service is planned for Dave's hometown of Sibley, Iowa on Saturday, June 1. Several RPCVs are planning to attend. For more information about the memorial, click here.

In Fond Memory of Roger Ware Banks, Returned India 3 Peace Corps Volunteer who died on October 18 in Minneapolis, MN at the age of 76.

After moving to the Twin Cities from his native New Mexico in the late 1960s, Roger Ware Banks worked tirelessly towards the goals of understanding the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area's diverse populations and applying that knowledge to empower its families and organizations. Roger stated that his life's work focused on "reducing the social, economic, and political disparities experienced by populations of color, particularly the poor."

Roger was born on August 27, 1936, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Robert T. Banks and Violet Houston Banks. After graduating from Carver High School in Phoenix, Arizona in 1954, Roger joined the U.S Army where, between 1955 and 1958, he said he was "introduced to the philosophy and scope of community organization and involvement" through training with the 77th Special Forces Airborne Group and 82nd Airborne Division.

After completing his military service Roger earned BA and MA degrees in History and Political Science at the University of New Mexico. There he was he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, the National Student Association, and a fellow in NASA's Program for the Advanced Study of Public Science Policy and Administration. While an undergraduate Roger was active in the civil rights movement. In 1959 he conducted a housing discrimination research project for the University of New Mexico and, in 1960, conducted the first statewide Public Accommodations Survey in the nation. Roger stated that both projects were done with the purpose of "proactively developing legislation/ policy and changing systemic and individual behavior."

Roger completed course work for a Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Minnesota while the recipient of a NIMH grant for the Study of Policy Evaluation and Methodology and as an American Political Science Association Black Fellow. He was always eager to share his knowledge and experience with others.  From 1974-2000 Roger taught courses in American public policy, ethnic politics, cultural competency, among others, for the Afro-American and African Studies and Political Science Departments at the University of Minnesota, the Political Science Department at Macalester College, and the Center for Non-Profit Management at the University of Saint Thomas. For almost 50 years Roger designed, developed, implemented and evaluated numerous programs and initiatives aimed at reducing disparities experienced by populations of color and the poor.

Roger served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Punjab, India from 1963-1965. He was in India 3, the third group of over 130 going to India.  In 2006 Roger received the Franklin H. Williams Award in Washington, D.C., one of eleven returned Peace Corps volunteers who made careers of giving back to their communities. According to the official press release, "the award honors Peace Corps volunteers of color who continue the Peace Corps mission through their commitment to community service and who support the agency's...goal of promoting a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans."

Roger held positions with the New Mexico Peace Corps and VISTA Training Center, 1965-1968; the Economic Opportunity Board of Bernalillo County, New Mexico (U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity), 1965-1969; the New Mexico Intergovernmental Seminar for Government Executives, 1969-1970; the Minneapolis Area United Way, 1979-1993; the Minneapolis Urban League, 1993-1996; the Children's Initiative of St. Paul/Ramsey County, 1996-2000; and the State of Minnesota Council on Black Minnesotans, 2002-2012. In addition, Roger served on many committees and boards including the Junior League of Minneapolis; Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency; Minneapolis Area United Way; Minnesota Department of Health's Advisory Group on Race and Ethnicity, Office of Minority Health; Minnesota Council on Black Aging; Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program; Minnesota Parenting Association; Minnesota Elders Coalition, ELDERS Senior Center; Minnesota Department of Planning; Urban Communities Association of Minneapolis; Salvation Army; the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, Minnesota and Washington, D.C.; among others.

Roger was also very active in local politics. Since 1971 he was a delegate to every city, county and/or state DFL Party convention and was a delegate in both 1975 and 1979 to the National Democratic Party conventions on Policy and Party Organizations. Roger is listed in Who's Who in American Politics. 

His son Logan and grandchildren Robert Tyler and Madison of Minneapolis survive Roger. Brother Robert Banks, Jr., formerly of Phoenix, Arizona, died in 2001. His marriage to Caroline Giles Banks ended in divorce. Roger's family and friends remember him for his gentle, generous, and steadfast spirit, critical intellect, and love of ethnic foods, music, and arts. A celebration of Roger's life will be held Saturday, November 10 at 11 a.m. at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4343 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, with visitation at 10 a.m. Memorials preferred to the Minneapolis Area United Way.

Source: U of Minnesota Memorial Site: Notable Deaths & Obituaries; Minor edits by JSlattery, Friends of India. Oct 2012

In Remembrance of Dan McDougall

Dan McDougall 

POCATELLO - Dan's time began 1-28-42 in Pocatello, born to Dr. Dan and Catherine McDougall.

Dan lived four complete seasons of life. The 1st season began in Pocatello with 9 years of wonderful childhood. After Dan's father died, he spent his formative years in Beaumont, Texas, graduating from St. Anthony Catholic High School and Lamar University. After graduation, he was inspired by President Kennedy to "ask what you can do for your country." He joined the Peace Corps and was sent to India in 1965 for a two year teaching assignment. His next service was an invitation from LBJ to join the Army. Dan arrived in Vietnam in 1967 for a one year tour of duty. On Valentine's Day, 1970 he married his wife Jan, and recently celebrated his 42nd wedding anniversary.

The 2nd season of his life began in Oklahoma where he attended the University of Tulsa Law School. After passing the Bar, he returned to military service as a Captain in the JAG branch, achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel. Dan returned to Pocatello to serve Bannock County as the Chief Deputy Prosecutor. In 1981, Dan served the city of Pocatello as the City Attorney and in 1983 was selected to serve the state as a Magistrate Judge for the Sixth District. This position leads to the next season of his life.

Dan was the Juvenile Judge for 10 years. He was proud that he helped create the Juvenile Justice facility for Bannock County, and implementing the Drug Court program. The CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program was established under Dan's leadership. Dan was honored by the Idaho Supreme Court in 1994 when he received the prestigious Kramer Award that recognized his involvement in the creation of CASA. After 10 years Dan decided to leave the Juvenile Court and return to the responsibilities of a magistrate judge.

The last season began when Dan retired after 21 years of service in 2004. He and his wife loved traveling to visit his children. He enjoyed spending winters and springs in Arizona, especially watching MLB spring training. He loved the history of the Vietnam and Civil Wars. Dan loved talking sports with his son, and current events with his daughter. His love of the outdoors took him to the Tetons, Yellowstone and Sun Valley every year.

The family would like to thank the caring personnel from Access Hospice Care who provided loving support in the last three months. If you so desire to honor Dan, memorials may be given in Dan's memory to CASA, 836 E. Center, St., Pocatello, ID 83201.

Dan is survived by his wife, Jan, son Eddy and daughter Cathy (Daniel Georget, son-in-law), sisters Kathy Orr, Ann McDougall and Janie Wilkes. He is preceded in death by his brother Peter McDougall. His grandson Henri blessed him with endless joy and he always asked if Dan was happy. Dan can truly say that he is happy as he enters paradise. YOU will ALWAYS be a part of our life - Posted March 14th, 2012

In Memoriam: Gerald V. Upholt

Gerald V. Upholt was born on 5 April 1912. He graduated from U.C.L.A. in 1937 with a B.S. degree in Subtropical Horticulture. After a 25-year career, he retired from the Imperial-Yuma Production Credit Association, an organization that provided credit to farmers in the Imperial Valley of California. He was an avid bicyclist and backpack camper, hiking in mountains in the U.S. and Mexico. He and his wife were both interested in the Peace Corps, and he joined India-80 (Village Level Food Production) in 1969 after his wife died. He worked in a village not far from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu, where India-80 was involved with the Intensive Agriculture District Program (IADP), largely funded by the Ford Foundation. After completing his service in 1971, he became a United Nations Volunteer working near Jiroft in Kerman Province of southeastern Iran, a very hot, dry region that somewhat resembled the Imperial Valley climatologically. 

Despite being his late 50's while being a Peace Corps Volunteer, Jerry proved himself at least equal to those of us in our 20s when going on long bicycle trips. Surprisingly, even though he had difficulty learning Tamil in India, he did achieve an ability to communicate in Farsi while in Iran. He took some vacations with other India-80 members, going to Sri Lanka, Kerala, and Kashmir and returned to India and traveled with another former I-80 member in India and Bangladesh, and later on in Japan and east and west coast areas of the USA. He was an inspiration to some of us who, having much less life experience than Jerry, thought that Peace Corps life was difficult. 

After his return to California from Iran, Jerry lived on a large plot of land with daughter Theresa, her husband Ron and their girls near Sebastopol, not far from Santa Rosa north of San Francisco. There he was the main agricultural and general advisor for the land and other things. He continued to be active with bicycling (he completed a 100 mile bicycle road race near Santa Rosa with an I-80 travel companion) and hiking and helping his two daughters (Gretchen and Theresa) and their families. When he was unable to help his daughters and family in the same manner, he retired to Santa Rosa, spending all his time with a female friend who shared his interests until his death at age 85 on 12 February 1998. 

Contributed by Dan Berkowitz and Jim Emery, former members of India-80 - Posted August 2011

In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Posted August 2011 

Clarence Pickard (1982) 
Terry Thomas Alliband (1996)