12 Facts About Kate Frank

Kate Frank was a Missouri-born, Oklahoma teacher who taught for nearly 50 years.

Kate Frank was instrumental in the founding of the Oklahoma Education Association, served as its first president, and later, donated the initial monies for the trust that became a legal defense fund for educators.

Kate Frank served as vice president of the National Education Association in the 1940s and was the first national Retired Teacher of the Year recipient.

Kate Frank received a bachelor's degree from Southwest Teachers College in Springfield, Missouri, in 1924, and later earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri.

Kate Frank was elected to serve as vice president of the National Education Association in 1942, and though re-elected to the post in 1943, she was fired by the Muskogee School Board.

Kate Frank took the case to court and was backed by the NEA, which raised funds to pay her salary while suspended.

Kate Frank was reinstated in 1945 and returned the unused money collected in her behalf to the NEA.

Kate Frank retired from teaching in 1956, having taught for 47 years, but continued her advocacy, arguing for senior citizens' rights.

That same year, she attended the White House Conference on Aging and began promoting a teacher's retirement home while in Washington, DC The following year, Kate Frank obtained a loan from the Federal Housing Administration to build the first high-rise apartment building in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as a residence for retired teachers.

Kate Frank received multiple awards and recognition at the local, state, and national levels.

In Muskogee, there is a street named after her, "Kate Frank Drive"; "Kate Frank Manor", the apartment high-rise for which she lobbied bears her name; and the OEA annual award for service excellence is named in her honor.

In 1972 Kate Frank was the first honoree to receive the National Retired Teacher of the Year Award, which she accepted from first lady Pat Nixon.