SR-150, As Adopted by Senate, February 20, 2008

            Senator George offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 150.

            A resolution of tribute honoring Richard C. Frank.

            Whereas, It is with deep sadness that we have learned of the passing of Richard "Dick" C. Frank. Today we honor the life and work of this great Michiganian with genuine respect for his distinctive accomplishments. Through his work as one of our country’s first and foremost preservation architects, Dick Frank was ultimately responsible for the historic preservation of countless buildings and sites in Michigan, including the Michigan State Capitol, and numerous historic buildings across the United States; and

            Whereas, Dick Frank was born May 17, 1930, in Louisville, Kentucky, to parents William G. Frank and Helen Calhoun Frank. He graduated cum laude from Louisville Male High School, was a member of the Delphic Literary Society, and a devoted member of the High School Men’s Glee Club. His passion for singing never subsided, and he continued to sing with many different choral groups right up until his death. Dick graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in architecture in 1952. His fifty-five years of practice as an architect were dedicated to saving Michigan and United States history through the preservation and restoration of numerous buildings, including projects in Washington, D.C., the Library of Congress, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Press Club, the Old Post Office, the Treasury Building, and the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building; and

            Whereas, In Michigan, Dick Frank was the implementing architect or served as a consulting architect on hundreds of buildings and historic preservation projects. What he considered, however, to be the highlight of his career was his work on the master plan for the restoration of the Michigan State Capitol. He was a very early supporter of the effort to restore the Capitol and worked tirelessly toward that goal. He eventually received the very prestigious American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for his work on the Capitol restoration; and

            Whereas, In a interview with Dick in the early stages of the Michigan Capitol restoration in 1988, Dick stated that he went into architecture originally because his father "being very, very German, decided for me because he wanted one of his sons to become an architect and he picked on me and it worked." Dick’s sense of humor was always evident, and when he formed his first architectural firm in Lansing in 1961 with his good friend Mr. Stein, the firm naturally had to be named Frank and Stein. Dick said, "Of course, it was deliberate. I was a year older and I wasn’t going to put his name first"; and

            Whereas, Dick Frank is survived by his brother William Frank, six children: Richard, Jr., of Woodbridge, Virginia; Scott of Shaker Heights, Ohio; Elizabeth DeLyria of Katy, Texas; William of Romeo, Michigan; Philip of Seattle, Washington; and Jennifer of Tampa, Florida; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Surviving him also are the hundreds and hundreds of historic buildings across this state and the nation that he helped to preserve and restore for future generations. He and his legacy truly live on in these grand and glorious historic places; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we proudly join in offering our words of praise as a memorial for Richard "Dick" C. Frank and pay tribute to his extraordinary contributions to the people of Michigan; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Frank family as evidence of our highest esteem and heartfelt gratitude.