Legacy Tributes

RAFE BANKS, JR., M.D.
Born: November 23, 1918, Gainesville, Georgia
Died: October 21, 1981

Dr. Rafe Banks was one of the most respected physicians in Northeast Georgia. In fact Atlanta urologists often asked when a patient from Gainesville was presented, “Why would you come here when you have Rafe Banks in Gainesville.”

His colleagues throughout the Southeast recognized his excellence in the breadth of knowledge within his field and for the warm and mutually trusting relationship that he enjoyed with his patients. During his career he served as president of the Southeast Section of the American Urological Association, the Georgia Urological Association, the Ninth District Medical Society, the Hall County Medical Society and the Grady Clinical Society. In 1961, he served as Chief of Staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (then Hall County Hospital).

GENERAL SANDY BEAVER
Born: October 5, 1883, Chesterfield County, South Carolina
Died: December 7, 1969, Gainesville, Georgia

Sandy Beaver had every intention of becoming an international lawyer, even studying several foreign languages to prepare himself. After starring in baseball and football at the University of Georgia (during his senior year, he was selected All-Southern Player), he was named, upon graduation in 1903, the University’s first Rhodes Scholar and began preparing to study at England’s Oxford University. While waiting for the scholarship to begin, he took a position teaching at the University School at Stone Mountain, Georgia. But by the end of the year, he discovered that he loved teaching so much, he forfeited the scholarship to continue teaching. He later purchased the University School. When it closed in 1913, he was asked to become president of Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville.

Riverside was founded in 1907 by Haywood J. Pearce and A. W. Van Hoose. After one year as president, Gen. Beaver purchased the school and moved his family to Gainesville. The school grew steadily under his leadership. His goal was to provide an environment where students could succeed in every aspect of life through education supported by rich military discipline.

When Beaver came to Riverside, he took the title of Colonel. Twenty years later, Gov. Eugene Talmadge appointed him a Brigadier General in the Georgia Militia. His active duty was in the early 1930s at Ft. McPherson. While there, he developed an instructional course for the US Military Academy’s preparatory school.

Gen. Beaver was a legendary figure and a commanding presence. He was well respected throughout the country. He founded the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States and served on the staffs of four governors of Florida and Georgia.

He was married to the former Annice Lowery of Columbia, South Carolina, and they had five children: John; Betty, Dorothy, Louise and Lucile.

Gen. Beaver remained president of Riverside until his death in 1969. During his tenure, he brought the Academy renowned status as one of the country’s most prestigious college preparatory military academies.

In 2004, the Sandy Beaver Center for Teaching and Learning was dedicated on the campus. It is an area dedicated for professional development. Included in the building are a 40,000-volume library and a theater for lectures, plays and other events in the 86,000 square feet, three-story building.