Baum, Franklin “Frank” F.

 

Franklin “Frank” F. Baum – (2001)

 

Among the three individual categories for enshrinement into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame, it would have been just as easy to have nominated Frank Baum for all three. He fits the Pre 1950 Era classification, having played his football at Lorain High School and Heidelberg College in the 1940’s. His football career as a player easily fits the Regular Categoery for those who excelled athletically.

But just as easily, he could have been nominated for the Special Category, for those who stood out other than for their own athletic ability. In Baum’s case, he served as one of the early spearheads for the Lorain CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). He also was widely acclaimed as an assistant football coach on area high school teams, as a physical education teacher, and as a parks supervisor for the Lorain City Recreation Department.

In his personal gridiron heyday, however, Baum was a member of the undefeated 1943 LHS team enshrined in 1974. The team’s head coach, Harold (Hal) Pryor, was inducted in 1996. Four other Varsity “L” letter winners on that team are already LSHOF enshriinees: Joe Bartos (1971), Harry Jabbusch (1976), Howard Jesko and Cliff Nolan (both 1992). Baum made honorable mention at offensive tackle on the All-Lake Erie League team in 1943.

Baum earned a football scholarship to Heidelberg College where he was a first string starting offensive tackle all four years. Upon returning to Lorain following graduation in 1951, he was a public school physical education teacher until his death on Feb. 13, 1977. He also served as offensive line coach at Lorain St. Mary High School under former head coaches Les George, Paul Amodio and Al O’Neill from 1954 through 1964, and that includes the 1957 Fighting Irish eleven also being inducted here tonight.

His work with the youth of Lorain County involved with the CYO was epitomized by his philosophical approach that “…winning the game was not as important as the example you set for the kids you coach.” Frank and his wife, Margaret, had three sons, twins Larry and Terry Sj. (a Jesuit priest who is headmaster at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill.) and Mark.