Merton McCann

Frank was a good friend in high school but like most we kind of went our seperate ways later. You could always

count on Frank and he was fun to be around. I recall seeing him at the reunion and he hadn't changed much. We drank too many beers at the Anchor but it was  just something we did then.

Rest in peace big guy, it was fun knowing you.

Mert

Jim Shanks

I remember Frank well and playing next to him and Mert for 3 years.  Just a great guy and I too loved visiting with him at the last reunion. REP Frank

Dave Trimmer

Frank you will be missed by many, always happy and compassionate to others.  Our hornet days were full of football and fun, but  after that you spread your smile to many others.  Your friendship through all these years was very important to me.  We miss you Dave and Paula

Roger Rule

I had several classes with Frank including junior class English under Miss Orsillo, but it wasn’t until we were both in the junior class play, The Thread that Runs So True, that I got to know and appreciate him. We both had parts in Acts One and Three with nothing in Act Two, but we had to hang around through all the play practices. At one of these, I brought a football and Frank joined me in the main hall of the old building running around playing catch. We did this a couple of nights until we were admonished for making too much noise so we went downstairs through the back of the stage into the girls gym. We found we really had romping room down there, but the play was full of girls, and several who were waiting for their parts too came down and joined us. Screaming girls did not help our noise problem, so that ended our plot for passing time. I found Frank to be a very fun guy and I wished fate would have had our paths cross again. I am sure he will be deeply missed by all who knew him well.

Ron Carpenter

Sorry to hear this news.  See you later Frank.

Larry Schmidt

My crystal clear memory of Frank (if not my fondest memory!) comes from a football practice.  Frank and I were paired off in a tackling drill.  Not so big Larry (running back) was paired with not so small Frank (lineman).  Frank beat me by a split second and swept me up in his bear-like embrace (I went in way WAY too high) with his shoulder against my shin bone and drove me backwards onto my back, thus driving my foot all the way up my butt.  I still remember the pain, and every day as my knee creaks and groans I  remember Frank.  A knee operation and a big sturdy leather and steel hinged brace later I returned to the gridiron, much worse for the wear.  Frank was a good guy, and whenever I think of Frank I smile.  The best man won that little skirmish in one of life's long series of skirmishes.  Rest in peace, Frank.  And thank you for the lesson:  "Keep your head down."  The lesson served me well on my remaining time in a Hornet uniform on the gridiron (except for maybe that time against Raytown when their big defensive end dumped my on my ass) as well as my time in the Marine Corps.  Thank you, Frank.  See you on the other side of the River.  Larry

Don Summers

Several years ago I was in a NKC barbershop, Frank and his wife came in. I was in the barber chair, he got in the chair at the other end and he was talking pretty loud and it went on for several minutes. Pretty soon I said stop your damn complaining and talking so loud.  Both of the barbers backed away thinking there would be trouble. Frank said who the hell are you!  When I told him he jumped out of the chair came over shook hands and we proceeded to talk about the good old days who we'd seen or talked to, etc. That was the last time I saw Frank, he was a good guy, a good ball player and he could throw a punch. I was sure sorry to hear of his passing.

Don Summers

Julie Skinner

The sparrow and the eagle.

To my knowledge, Frank did not have an impact on national policy, gain celebrity status or achieve a scientific breakthrough that changed the world.  In that regard he was a sparrow, somewhat ordinary. Yet, like a sparrow, he had a song. 

On another side of being an everyday person, I don’t have one bad memory of him.  I have read and heard stories of him being a good guy who got up in the morning, showed up when he was supposed to and was there for people. In that regard, he is an eagle. He soared with the best of them.

This is true of many in our generation.

I am thankful that Frank and each of you have crossed my path.

Patrick McCrite (McCrite)

Frank and I shared many adventures from playing high school football to the Anchor Bar to football at  Independence Community College.  I will always remember the rides back to KC in Frank's car. He would sing Christmas Carols in Sept. and when I asked why he said "the way I drive I don't think we'll make it until then". That was Frank!  One thing I do know is that Frank was a good teammate, good person and a good friend.  I will miss him.

Elmer McCall

When I finished my previous entry I knew it was insufficient homage to Frank and that I would have more to say about the role you played in my life.  So please indulge me.  I spent one afternoon in my car with the music of our time having a solo memorial service for Frank which I needed to do more than I had realized.  Just letting some emotions run loose.    

 We spent endless hours in our cars during high school.  We weren't going anywhere usually.    We were just discovering our little corner of the world.  I drove many of those same road we rode then, passed by the various places Frank had lived, through Northtown and around the high school, then the Anchor Bar, which is now a bank, a few other hang out and then buzzed the city.  At times I imagined he was along for the ride popping off about my driving.  

Frank was always a presence.   A strong force and I always felt safe in his company.   I know he covered for me a number of times and took the fall for me a few times.   

He owned me with his sense of humor (He told me I'd laugh at anything he said) and Sometimes that sense of humor had a sting to it, but he wasn't trying to wound you, but to fence with you.   No one was immune and he did crack me up a lot more than he gouged me.    

There was a winter we spent almost every evening trying to spit shine our wing tips and mastering the tying of Windsor and half-Windsor knots.   We didn't dress up often but we wanted to have it right if we did.  Preparing to be arrogant young kings who frequently fell off their thrones.   Mostly we were obnoxious.  That same winter we made Christmas cards using toilet paper and a homemade rubberstamp that said simply Merry Xmas in red and green Tempra.     We sent those to teachers and coaches and luckily for us no one expressed displeasure. A teacher asked Frank and I to be in a play.   I was in one scene and had one line and that line was in response to Frank's character asking me "You dry Ova?" and my line is "Right dry."   When Frank qued my line I was on stage but in my head I was off somewhere with Walter Mitty.   I didn't respond and Frank repeated the question several times and without my response he continued  "He must be so dry he can't even talk".

Frank often wore shirts that he called Birdlands.  I guess the right name is Hawaiian and or surfer shirts or whatever.    Colorful with exotic birds and foliage.   It was signature clothing for him, but sometimes it was a white shirt, and one evening on our way  To Kansas  Frank said have you ever noticed that every time I wear a white shirt to Kansas I end up in a fight.    And that's what happened that night as happened on many occasions.   The fight went like this,  there's a period of agitation as temper start heating up and then the throwing of hands and wrestling and blood flying and then the end of one kind or another followed by the shaking of hands, joking around and drinking a beer together and then the ride home retelling.  
 

Along the way I considered the numerous pranks and misdeeds we enjoyed through those years and I'll let the rest of the sleeping dog be still although I will think on them fondly in my remaining days.    
At the end of our annual phone call Frank would say "Luv ya brother,  gotta go"      
 

Luv Ya Brother