The Marine Corps Marathon: A Running Tradition

TSgt. George Banker, U.S. Air Force Reserves (retired), serves on the Ad Hoc Publicity Committee of the Marine Corps Marathon as the historian. He is a journalist and photographer. He received 14 military decorations, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was raised in a Marine Corps family.

Banker is currently the Operations Manager for the Army Ten-Miler, the largest 10-mile road race in the United States. He coordinates the race site logistics at the Pentagon and sets the race organizational plans. Banker is an avid runner who completed 65 marathons, including 23 Marine Corps Marathons and the JFK 50 Miler. He is a senior writer for the Runner’s Gazette, a correspondent and photographer for the National Master News, the Running Journal, and the Washington Running Report.