the South Pacific during World War II. He joined the Merchant Marine because he wanted to enter the war effort as soon as possible; also Frank’s uncle, Tom Williams, was a sea captain and had told him of all the exotic places he had sailed to.

In September 1946 he returned to Napa and enrolled at Napa Junior College where he met the love of his life and future wife, Analee Jordan. They were married at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on August 22, 1948. Frank was an active Napa High and Napa JC athlete, playing football and basketball, and in more recent years was inducted into both the Napa High and Napa College Athletic Hall of Fame. Frank transferred to UC Berkeley where he played for Pappy Waldorf’s legendary football teams.

Frank was part of the 1950 Rose Bowl team that played against Ohio State and he nearly blocked the field goal that won the game. He was offered a tryout with the Los Angeles Rams but declined. He graduated in January 1950 with a BA in history and spent the ensuing months earning his secondary teaching credential. He completed his credential on a Friday, moved back to Napa, and the following Monday started his teaching career.

Frank’s career in education spanned 37 years which included 20 years at Silverado Junior High School and 8 years at Napa High School. He has the distinction of being the first Napa High graduate to return as the principal. Frank’s military career began as a Private when he followed his brother Robert into the US Air Force Reserves. His first year of teaching (1950) was interrupted

in April 1951 when his unit, the 349th Troop Carrier Wing, was activated during the Korean War. By March 1952 he had completed the USAF Officer Candidate School in San Antonio, TX. Within 6 months Frank had arrived in Tripoli, Libya. Fortunately the 60th Troop Carrier Group needed an intelligence officer in Rhein- Main, Germany and Lt. Humpert was selected. Analee and their young daughter Sheri joined Frank in Germany. During this tour of duty their daughter Holly was born.

The Humpert family returned to the US in 1955 where Frank taught ROTC in Butte, Montana before moving back to Napa in 1956. Frank served 21 months of active duty during the Vietnam War. He left active duty serving in the USAF Reserves, working his way through the ranks, retiring as a Major General in 1986 after serving as Vice Superintendent of the USAF Academy. In 1956 he taught at Ridgeview Junior High, followed by Napa High School in 1957. That year they welcomed their son, Frank Edward Humpert III. When Silverado Junior High opened in 1958 Frank was named Dean of Boys and in 1965 he became the principal. After 20 years at Silverado Frank transferred to Napa High where he assumed leadership as the principal. In 1980 he requested a change in assignment, becoming the Dean of Boys for a year before serving as a guidance counselor. Frank retired as an educator in 1986.

In addition to his educational responsibilities, Frank balanced his Air Force duties and family life with the countless hours he contributed to the Napa High football program while serving as a paid coach or volunteer trainer/water boy over the course of 55 years. While applying analgesic to the football players Frank also subtly counseled them on life and used miles and miles of adhesive tape along the way! His faithful, well known ’59 red Volkswagen convertible took him all around town and throughout the Napa Valley. On more than one occasion he

came out of Memorial Stadium to find it up on the sidewalk, courtesy of football players! Frank and Analee were active members of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Napa, serving on the Vestry throughout the years.

After retiring at age 60 Frank worked for General Foods and Boboli International as a representative. He and Analee traveled throughout the US and the world demonstrating Boboli pizza crust at food shows. Frank also worked as an interim administrator in the Napa Valley and in Lodi until he was 75. When Frank actually retired he and Analee traveled to the far reaches of the world with his brother Bob and sister-in-law Mona.

Frank is survived by Analee, his wife of nearly 68 years, their three children Sheri (Mike), Holly (Mark), and Frank (Andrea), 9 grandchildren and 15 greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by his nephews, nieces, sister-in-law Mona Humpert, and cousins, Doris Westbrook and Ruth Sharp.

The Humpert family would like to express heartfelt thanks for the capable, kind and insightful members of Callabria Care of Napa and Mercy Hospice of Sacramento, especially Julius, Jay and Tina, who helped carry them through a difficult period. Their gift of time, knowledge, service and love were invaluable and are deeply appreciated. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Episcopal Endowment Fund, Napa High Alumni Association, or Napa College Humpert Family Scholarship.

Article by Marty James, Napa Register Sports Editor

Frank Humpert, a member of the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame and Napa Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame, passed away on July 8 in Sacramento after a brief illness. He was 90.

Humpert was a starting line-backer for the University of California, coached by Pappy Waldorf, and played in the Rose Bowl game on Jan.2, 1950. Ohio State beat Cal, 17-14.

Humpert had a long history with Napa High and its athletic and academic history. He started as a “B” football and basketball player in the 1940-41 school year, and maintained a connection with the school. He played basketball and was on the track team in high school and was a member of the 1942 football team and a start on the Indians’ North Bay League co-champion team of 1943.

A 1944 graduate, Humpert is in the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.

“The things that we know about our day is all the time he spent trying to help other people, being an influence to kids, driving them home,” said Holly Meaker, one of Humpert’s daughters. “He just loved being involved with the youth especially and gave his heart to that for a long time.”

Sheri Wiley, one of Humpert’s daughters, said: “He was a wonderful father. He had a very full life. My dad used to bring students over to the house that needed a little extra love. He bought shoes for kids.

Humpert served as principal of Napa High. He also worked as an assistant coach to Ken Casanega, Bob Covey, Pete Rivers and Al Vidaurreta, as well as a volunteer trainer to a number of coaches over a 56-year period.

Humpert was recognized for his lifetime commitment of work for Napa High and the community at the 2015 NHS Athletic Hall of fame awards dinner. He was the guest of honor at the 19^th annual every.

“A great man. This community certainly lost one of its greatest citizens with Frank’s passing,” said Les Franco, a former Napa and Vintage head football coach. “He was a big party of everything that I was able to accomplish. Frank was the guy that put me in position to do so.”

“I spent some great years with Frank mentoring me,” said Franco. “He would come out on the coaching field – he never missed a day hardly. Even though he was principal, he found time to get out on the football field.”

After two years of football and basketball at Napa Valley College (1946-47), Humpert went on to UC Berkley, where he completed his college career.

Humpert had a 37-year career with Napa Valley Unified School District. He taught at Napa Junior High, Ridgeview Junior High and Napa High. He became dean of boys at Silverado Junior High, then principal for 20 years and then became principal at Napa High for two years and a dean at the school for six more years.

“A longtime friend and colleague, he will be missed by the literally thousands of Napa students that he nurtured and cared for over many generations of service to our community. Literally, a ‘one of a kind’ person that we were fortunate enough to count as a citizen of our community,” said Travis Rogers, Napa High choral music instructor. It was Humpert who hired Rogers as the choir director in 1980. “As far as I’m concerned, he was ‘Mr. Napa High,’” said Rogers.

Humpert was also as assistant football coach at Napa Valley College. At NVC, he started a scholarship endowment program and served on the college Foundation board for 21 years.

Frank and his brother, Bob, were honored by NVC as “Men of the Year” in 1996.

In 2008, Humpert was honored by the Napa Valley College Foundation with a reception and dinner program at the Meritage Resort, celebrating his many accomplishments in academics and athletics.

In 2011, Humpert was indicted into the Napa Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame.

“Frank did so many good and positive things for our country and this community throughout his entire life that the virtually impossible to comment on all of his contributions and accomplishments,” said Roger Ashlock, a former NHS assistant principal. “Maybe what stands out the most for me is the total and unselfish generosity he demonstrated to all of us with regard to his time, the use of his home, his monetary resources and his loyalty as a friend.

“Frank’s involvement with the high school football programs is legendary. Frank demonstrated values as a coach, principal; and as a person. When the game was over, it was over. Grudges did not exist. Frank was the first person to attend to an injured player regardless of which team they played for. Football did not end with retirement. Frank stayed with the program until health issues ultimately required him to stop.

“We are all so blessed and fortunate to have had him in our lives.”