Frank Downing

After graduating, Frank served in the Army where he was the athletic director for the ordinance department and also played for the Camp Lee football team. Upon his discharge from the Army in 1947 Frank enrolled at Lafayette College where he picked up right where he left off at Tech. He was a 3 year starter at quarterback. In his senior year he was named the freshman team coach. Frank was also vice president of the student council at Lafayette. At his graduation ceremony he received the “Wharton Pepper Award “ which was given to a graduate who best exemplified the ideal Lafayette student. Frank was later inducted into the Lafayette Athletic Hall of Fame. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English.

Following his graduation Frank took a teaching position at Camp Hill High School in Pennsylvania. He was also named head football coach. During the several seasons he at Camp Hill he built a legacy as a mentor and inspiration to his students and players. He became fondly known as “coach “or “Doctor D”. After relocating to Florida, he continued his success as a teacher and football coach at Miami’s Coral Park High School. Throughout his life Frank Downing emphasized the importance of education. He went on to receive Doctorate in Education and became an academic athletic adviser at both Penn State and the University of Kentucky. He volunteered his time to tutor children and adults to enhance their reading and writing skills. Frank was also the co-founder of the National Association for Academic Advisors of Athletics dedicated to assisting student athletes in earning their college degrees.