Reginald Hull Frank, Jr

Reginald Hull Frank, Jr., Age 85, of Norman, OK, born in Oklahoma City and raised in Guymon, OK during the Dust Bowl Days, died Wednesday, May 27, 2015.

Beloved husband of Loraine Serwin Frank, son of the late Reginald and Louise Frank.

Loving father of Liane Ozmun and Lisa Hooper; grandfather to Jake and Michael.

Survived by his sister, Barbara Inamoto, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Reggie was a graduate of Kemper Military School, and received Degrees from OSU in Biological Science (BS), Petroleum Geology (BS), and a MS in Physical Sciences and Education. He received his PhD in Water Resources Management (Environmental Science and Public Health), with postdoctoral work in groundwater hydrology and pollution control.

Never afraid to enjoy life to the fullest, he spent his 20^th year in Alaska as “Sajuh”, the adopted son of Athabascan Chief Sam Joseph of the Tanana Indians. Chief Joseph carried the typhoid serum to Nome by dog team, which was the basis for the Iditarod race. Reggie spent the year racing sled dogs, trapping, making a canoe, floating it down the Yukon River, and performing other tasks required of the Chief’s son while the son was away fishing.

An avid sailor and windsurfer throughout his life, he received many trophies and awards. He also received many awards for his expert marksmanship, and as Captain of the 22^nd Infantry Division shooting team, won the coveted international LeClerc Championship. He was a charter member of the Oklahoma Solar Energy Association and the Thunderbird Sailing Club, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Thunderbird Boathouse. Reggie was a master gardener, and his compost pile was the inspiration for the Norman compost facility.

Reggie had a varied career involved in initiating and development of new and untried programs, coordinating at high levels in industry and government, training and public relations, solving problems and optimizing products. At the Oklahoma State Health Department, Reggie procured and optimized new projects, upgrades and training programs for water and wastewater plants. While there, he created the Qualitative Hydrographic Model of the Oklahoma River Basin System, which is still the basis of water quality engineering in Oklahoma. He also performed the Heavy Metals Pollution Study in Tar Creek Area of NE Oklahoma, which resulted in the most comprehensive EPA Superfund project for its cleanup. He headed a seismic field crew for Conoco in Oklahoma, Colorado, Louisiana and Kansas.   Reggie taught at Chilocco High School (OK), was an adjunct professor at OU, and trainer for the FAA. He was an engineer at Curtis Wright in New Jersey, as well as Boeing in Wichita, where he optimized instrumentation for the B-52.

He did it his way.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Thunderbird Sailing Club, LTEF, Box 1756, Norman OK, 73070-1756.