Bataan Death March Survivor Bert Bank to Receive Honorary Degree During UA’s Winter Commencement Ceremonies Dec. 13

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Bert Bank, Bataan March survivor, former Alabama legislator and broadcasting executive, will receive an honorary doctorate during The University of Alabama’s winter commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 13 at 9 a.m., in Coleman Coliseum.

Bank, now 94, served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and survived the torturous Bataan Death March. After his discharge, Bank returned to Tuscaloosa where he founded radio stations WTBC-AM and WUOA-FM, and he initiated The University of Alabama Football Network.

He served two terms in the Alabama House of Representatives and one term in the Alabama Senate. He is a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2003, Mr. Bank was named the National Veteran of the Year and was inducted this year into the Alabama Military Hall of Honor.

About 1,000 degrees will be awarded at Saturday’s ceremonies, which will be broadcast live over the Internet. The webcast will be archived on UA’s Web site, http://www.ua.edu, and it will be available for viewing until Dec. 31, 2008.

UA holds commencement ceremonies three times a year — in May, August and December.