HOUGH, Franklin Scott "Frank"

HOUGH, PERGLER, RUNKLE, KNUTSON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/16/2016 at 01:27:42

Biography of Dr. Franklin Scott "Frank" Hough
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Franklin Scott "Frank" Hough was born on January 14, 1940 in Council Bluffs, Iowa [Pisgah, Iowa according to his obituary], the son of Scott and Effie Hough.

Known for his personable humor and financial savvy, Frank distinguised himself at Graceland from 1965 to 1985 as both an economics professor and president of the college. He received his A.A. in physical science from Graceland in 1959, and completed his B.S. in genetics, science, and economics from the University of Missouri in 1961.

While attending graduate school, Frank met Carol Pergler. They were married on August 25, 1962, in Oak Park, Illinois. They were the parents of three children: Scott, Cheryl and Amy.

Unable to finance enrollment in veterinary school, Frank applied for a three-year fellowship to study quantitative economic analysis of natural resources under the National Defense Education Act. He was one of six people in the U.S. to receive the fellowship, completing his Ph.D. in economic theory from the University of Missouri in 1966. While there, Frank was hired as Ray Kroc's first full-time employee after Kroc bought McDonald's restaurants, and was assigned to research the potential of selling 15-cent hamburgers in quantities large enough to build a chain. During an economic consultant forum for the company in 1963, Frank recommended that the restaurant focus on families. When asked how to do this, Frank suggested using a clown and calling him "Ronald McDonald."

Frank joined Graceland's faculty in 1965 at the invitation of Jerry Runkle and built a reputation for helping students learn through doing. Students in his Investment Analysis class regularly invested $10,000 of Frank's own money, and he split any profit with the students or accepted any losses himself.

Frank became vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty in 1975, was appointed acting president on April 1, 1977 following the resignation of Gerald Knutson, then was named president on October 2, 1977.

As president, Frank was involved in raising funds for Cheville Chapel and The Shaw Center, and was the first administrator to aggressively pursue non-monetary gifts for the college.

He helped launch the Friends of Graceland program, which was designed to defray students' costs.

Frank returned to the classroom after his resignation as president became effective on June 30, 1980. He was awarded Graceland's Excellence in Teaching Award in 1982, an award he was very proud of since it came from the students themselves.

In 1968, Frank was named both Outstanding Young Farmer and Outstanding Young Educator by the state of Missouri. President Richard Nixon named Frank to serve on his Task Force on Agricultural Policy in 1970, followed by receiving the Goodyear Conservation Award for the state of Iowa in 1972, and Cattleman of the Year by the National Cattleman’s Association in 1974.

Multiple Sclerosis forced the energetic Frank to end his teaching career in 1985, and he was granted the professor emeritus title in 1988, the same year he was awarded Graceland's Distinguished Service Award.

Off campus, Frank was involved in several bank and corporation boards, including Goodyear Tire and Rubber, and Weyerhauser Lumber. The former Social Science Division chairman spent his post-Graceland years maintaining 1,300 acres of horses and cattle and continued his activities in the stock market.

NOTE: Frank died at the age of 74 years on May 18, 2014 from complications arising from Multiple Sclerosis. Interment was made at Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa

SOURCES:
Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where . . . An Informal History of Graceland College." Pp. 39, 61, 67, 71-71, , 154-55. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.

Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” p. 417. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Franklin S. "Frank" Hough obituary

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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