Tom Donovan grew up in Erlanger and attended various schools in the Erlanger-Elsmere School System. He attended college at West Point and graduated in 1986. He served as an infantry officer in a variety of assignments in his career to include Ranger Rifle Platoon Leader for Operation Just Cause (Panama, 1989-1990), executive officer of an airborne brigade of the 82d Airborne Division in Fallujah, Iraq (2003-2004), battalion commander of a battalion in the 82d Airborne Division in Afghanistan along the Pakistan border (2005-2006), and Senior Advisor to the Chief of General Staff of the Afghanistan National Army (their senior general) from 2009-2010. He also served abroad in South Korea and Russia during his 28+ years of service. He retired from the Army in 2014 and lives in Maine.

Banner is on display in Erlanger, May – September 2024 – 2026.