The Plant City Family YMCA announced last week George Banning as the recipient of its 2014 Strong Leader Award.
Banning will be honored at the 12th annual Strong Leader Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road.
After serving as a U.S. Air Force captain in the Vietnam War, Banning formed a real estate company, specializing in industrial and commercial real estate. In 1980, Banning partnered with Dave Thomas’ daughter and son-in-law to develop new Wendy’s restaurants in East Central Florida. In 1992, Banning and a friend bought Wendy’s restaurants in Lakeland and Bartow.
Banning has served on the Plant City Y’s Board of Directors and sits on the United Food Bank of Plant City’s Board of Directors. He also has served as president of the Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club and as district governor of Rotary West Central Florida.
Table sponsorships are available for $1,000 and include a table of eight. Individual tickets are $75 per person.