[BC] WMAQ's Jim Frank - All News 67

[Xmitters@aol.com]

hello:

I am posting the following on behalf of a friend and coworker of mine at WMAQ 
Chicago. 

With a very heavy heart, I have bad news to share with you.
     Jim Frank passed away Friday after a protacted battle with leukemia.
     I heard through a mutual friend that Jim's wife, Sandra, his children 
and grandchildren and a priest who is a close family friend were at his bedside
 
when the end came, about 2:30 p.m. Friday.
     Jim has been in and out of remission for some time, and it began coming 
back about two months ago.  Jim had lived to see his daughter's wedding on New 
Year's Eve and was really hoping to see this Easter as well.  A fall early 
last week while visiting with his grandchildren was the beginning of the end.
     Those of us who are native Chicagoans grew up listening to Jim as a 
newsman at Big 10, WCFL.  What people don't remember is that when WCFL Killed t
he 
Music (Top 40) in 1976, he became the program director of the beautiful music 
format that followed.  Imagine convincing Larry Lujack and Red Mottlow to read 
the liner cards and stick to them!  Only Jim could have done that.  He later 
helmed the effort at WIND to do news/talk using the Westinghouse all-news cock 
in drive time, and was WMAQ Radio's first all-news news director, rising to 
executive editor.  After Westinghouse bought CBS, Jim moved here to WBBM, where
 
he succeeded another WCFL/WMAQ veteran, Walt Hamilton, in one of the 
overnight slots.  
     Jim was a veteran and worked for the legendary Armed Forces Radio and 
Television Service at the age of 19.  He was a guy with a great wit and a 
boatload of stories.  As a boss, I found him fair and he rewarded superior work
 in a 
way that made him great to work for.  
     Jim worked here until his health wouldn't let him any more, and I'd like 
to think it was because he still loved the job, after all those years.    
     Arrangements are still being put together, but I'll pass them along as 
quickly as I can.    
       bob Roberts



Visitation is scheduled 3-9 p.m. Monday at Friedrich's Funeral Home, 320 W. 
Central Rd., Mt. Prospect. Funeral Mass will be said 10 a.m. Tuesday, following
 
visitation 9-10 a.m., at St. Raymond Roman Catholic Church, 300 S. Elmhurst 
Av., Mt. Prospect. Interment will be at All Saints Cemetery, in Des Plaines. 


Jeff Glass
Northern Illinois University
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