Svetislav Milosavljević


Svetislav "Tisa" Milosavljević was a Yugoslav military architect and public officer. He was the first ban of the Vrbas Banovina, and during his rule between 1929 and 34 he significantly improved its capital city of Banja Luka, which today celebrates it as one of distinguished citizens. Afterwards, he was the Minister of Transport of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Biography

Svetislav was the eldest son of a wealthy Niš businessman, Toma Milosavljević. He planned to become an engineer, but his father's financial collapse forced him into the military profession. He became an authority on military traffic, while advancing at the end of 1925 to the rank of Brigadier General.
He arrived to Banja Luka on 8 November 1929. In a short time with a substantial state financial aid he helped develop the Vrbas Banovina, and in particular Banja Luka. His greatest accomplishments include the Banska palata, Banski Dvor, the Banja Luka Theatre, Public Health Institute, the facilities and the Teacher's School of Agriculture, the east wing of the then Grammar School, and seven residential buildings for public officers. He helped establish the Banate Museum, Association for Tourism and Craft and the Chamber of Commerce.
Although not a direct investor, builder or founder, Milosavljević was credited for the emergence of the Banja Luka town park with a monument to Petar Kočić, upgrading the hotel Bosna, paving and street lighting, and for the construction of Sokolski Dom, City Municipality and the Hotel Palace.
He left Banja Luka and the ban appointment on 22 April 1934 to become a Minister of Transport of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He would return to Banja Luka only once more, on 18 May 1939, when he accepted the invitation of the Banja Luka Orthodox parish and came to the cathedral shrine. He was greeted by a crowd of 20,000.