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He opened a health-care consulting firm, Bankston and Associates. With the return of Governor Long in 1956, Bankston was appointed the director of the newly established Department of Hospitals, where he served until the 1959 dispute over Long's mental health. At that time, Bankston returned to his consulting business, which he maintained until 1990, when he turned eighty-three.<ref name=obit/>​

He opened a health-care consulting firm, Bankston and Associates. With the return of Governor Long in 1956, Bankston was appointed the director of the newly established Department of Hospitals, where he served until the 1959 dispute over Long's mental health. At that time, Bankston returned to his consulting business, which he maintained until 1990, when he turned eighty-three.<ref name=obit/>​

==Political affairs==​

 

==Political life==

Bankston was the longest-serving elected member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (1968 to 1996). He represented the [[Baton Rouge-based 6th congressional district on the board. As a BESE member in 1990, he joined a group that attempted to oust Dorothy Garrett Smith of Springhill, the first woman president of the board. The dissenters fell one vote short of their goal, but Smith died of heart failure a month after the move against her.<ref>"Heart Attack Claims Dorothy Smith," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' August 9, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

Bankston was the longest-serving elected member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (1968 to 1996). He represented the [[Baton Rouge-based 6th congressional district on the board. As a BESE member in 1990, he joined a group that attempted to oust Dorothy Garrett Smith of Springhill, the first woman president of the board. The dissenters fell one vote short of their goal, but Smith died of heart failure a month after the move against her.<ref>"Heart Attack Claims Dorothy Smith," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' August 9, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1982, Bankston was unseated, 56 to 44 percent, from the BESE board by his fellow Democrat, former State Representative Lillian Walker Walker (1923-2016), also of Baton Rouge.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 2, 1982.</ref>​

In 1982, Bankston was unseated, 56 to 44 percent, from the BESE board by his fellow Democrat, former State Representative Lillian Walker Walker (1923-2016), also of Baton Rouge.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 2, 1982.</ref>​

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==Bankston on the Democrat future==​

===Bankston on the Democrat future===​

In a printed interview in 1980, Bankston said that the Louisiana Democratic Party apparatus was in excellent condition despite having lost the governorship for the first time since 1872:

In a printed interview in 1980, Bankston said that the Louisiana Democratic Party apparatus was in excellent condition despite having lost the governorship for the first time since 1872:

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In addition to BESE and LPB, Bankston served on the boards of the [[Boy Scouts]],  [[Salvation Army]], [[YMCA]], and the [[United Way]]. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the American Hospital Association and its state equivalent. He was a member of the trustees of the Broadmoor [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church in Baton Rouge.​

In addition to BESE and LPB, Bankston served on the boards of the [[Boy Scouts]],  [[Salvation Army]], [[YMCA]], and the [[United Way]]. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the American Hospital Association and its state equivalent. He was a member of the trustees of the Broadmoor [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church in Baton Rouge.​

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==Legacy and honors==​

==Honors, books, and legacy==​

* 2002, Bankston was inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield, the traditional home of the Longs.<ref>[http://www.cityofwinnfield.com/museum.html Winnfield, La - Old L&A Depot, LA Political Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

* 2002, Bankston was inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield, the traditional home of the Longs.<ref>[http://www.cityofwinnfield.com/museum.html Winnfield, La - Old L&A Depot, LA Political Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

* 2007, he received the first annual "T. J. Jemison Race Relations Award" from the Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, named for the black minister and [[civil rights]] advocate Theodore Judson "T. J." Jemison (1918-2013). Bankston was recognized for "working to bring people together regardless of their race, ethnicity, or religious backgrounds."<ref name=obit/>​

* 2007, he received the first annual "T. J. Jemison Race Relations Award" from the Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, named for the black minister and [[civil rights]] advocate Theodore Judson "T. J." Jemison (1918-2013). Bankston was recognized for "working to bring people together regardless of their race, ethnicity, or religious backgrounds."<ref name=obit/>​

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Bankston wrote a book about Earl Long and a memoir entitled ''Memories of a Country Boy,'' an account of his boyhood in Washington Parish.<ref name=obit/>​

Bankston wrote a book about Earl Long and a memoir entitled ''Memories of a Country Boy,'' an account of his boyhood in Washington Parish.<ref name=obit/>​

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After his death, services for Bankston were held on December 3, 2010, at Greenoaks Funeral Home Chapel in Baton Rouge. He is interred at Greenoaks Memorical Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62612923/jesse-homer-bankston|title=Jesse Homer Bankston, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref>​

Bankston's services were held on December 3, 2010, at Greenoaks Funeral Home Chapel in Baton Rouge. He is interred alongside his wife at Greenoaks Memorical Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62612923/jesse-homer-bankston|title=Jesse Homer Bankston, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref>​

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