“Time is of the essence.”
How often have you heard that expression? Well, time was of the essence for Benjamin Banneker, who in 1751, at the young age of 20, borrowed a pocket watch from a neighbor, took it apart, reassembled it from the drawings he created and returned it, fully functional, to its owner.
Still using his drawings, Banneker carved large replicas of the original watch out of wood and constructed a wooden clock in 1753 that kept accurate time for more than 50 years. It is regarded as the first fully assembled clock in America.
A farmer of modest means and the son of former slaves, Banneker nevertheless lived a life of unusual achievements. Besides being a clockmaker, he was an astronomer and a publisher. He was also instrumental in surveying the District of Columbia in 1791.
Banneker Watches CEO Derrick M. Holmes incorporated the company in 2004, creating a likeness of the Benjamin Banneker clock. Holmes, who also owns Marquee Watches, designed and created his first watch in 1999, a Terrell Davis signature watch. While reading a Black History trivia poster, he discovered the history of Benjamin Banneker.
“I got chills when I read how he always laid wood in his clocks,” said Holmes. “For months, I had been thinking of doing that with my designs.” 
The Banneker team is comprised of a select group of experienced business professionals and athletes including former NBA guard Tim Hardaway, who serves as co-ounder, president and company spokesperson. On the local level, Len Murray serves as the chief operating officer and Brian Dale is the director of operations.
Other Banneker supporters include Denver Nugget Kenyon Martin, entertainment mogul Russell Simmons, actors Vivica A. Fox and Brad Pitt, Otis Williams of the Temptations, and attorney Willie Gary. Gary lends his support with promotional advertising on the Black Family Channel, while Williams is penning a song dedicated to Banneker that should be ready for release in 2007.
Last month, Holmes, Hardaway and Martin launched Banneker Watches in Denver with a press conference and a kick-off party. Holmes explained that beginning in February for Black History Month, he wants to distribute Banneker clocks in every school.
“This is a very ambitious project, but collectively with corporate sponsors, the business community, churches and professional athletes, it can happen,” he said. “Our goal is to put a Benjamin Banneker clock in every school – from elementary to college – in the United States.
“Ninety-eight percent of people don’t know that Benjamin Banneker, a Black man, made the first clock in America. We want to change that. We want the name Banneker to be as common in the English language as Xerox.”

Editor’s note: For more information or to purchase a Banneker timepiece, visit www.bannekerwatches.com or call 720-435-5528. If you are interested in participating in the Banneker Clock Black History program, call Bee Harris at 303-292-6446.