FRANK ABBOTT MCBRIDE was born on the family farm in Fox Township, Carroll County, Ohio on July 15, 1930.  Named Frank after his paternal grandfather and Abbott for his Mother's maiden name, he was single-handily raised in the heart of the depression by his mother, Annie May Abbott McBride, along with his four siblings, Mary Eileen, Lloyd George, Robert Emmet and Joan (of Arc), none of whom survive him.  He attended High School in Harrisburg, SD and received his BS from South Dakota State University, in Brookings.  He went on to receive his MS from Michigan State University and his PHD from Wayne State.

He excelled at sports, particularly running, and missed making the Olympic team at the Los Angeles Coliseum by a few seconds.  He went on to coach the Army Track and Field team in the Helsinki (1952) and Rome (1960) Olympics.  He held an indoor mile record of 4 minutes and 13 seconds for many years in South Dakota, and was present when Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile in Helsinki.  

He served in the Army in post-WWII Berlin, where he met his wife, Angela Muller, to whom he was married for 62 years until she passed away in August of last year.   He taught philosophy and coached athletics for Wayne State University, where he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

A gentle and thoughtful man, he loved music, poetry, and his dogs.  As an athlete, teacher, coach, philosopher, song writer and inventor Frank was a Renaissance man, who will be remembered fondly by his neighbors, friends and family.  He went to his rest on Wednesday, October 16, at 12:17 in the afternoon and the world is a poorer place for it.  An April 2020 memorial serviced is planned.

"But O for the touch of a vanished hand,

And the sound of a voice that is still!"

    - Alfred, Lord Tennyson.