Frisbie, A.L. 1877-1958

FRISBIE, CROSBY, SCAMMON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 8/1/2018 at 18:38:20

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
March 3, 1958

EDITOR A.L. FRISBIE DIES HERE FRIDAY

He Served
Grinnell Over
Half Century

Stricken With Heart
Attack Thurs. Afternoon;
Dies At Hospital Friday

Editor A.L. Frisbie, 80, died here Friday afternoon.

Stricken by a heart attack at his home shortly after noon Thursday, he was taken to a local hospital where death came just about 24 hours after the initial attack.

Lowrie Frisbie was a Grinnell institution.

OVER 50 YEARS

For more than 50 years, he has faithfully chronicled the news of Grinnell and the surrounding area and adopted the position of Grinnell's number one standard bearer.

He was the principal ambassador for both town and gown in constantly striving to improve town-gown relationships.

Lowrie Frisbie was a man of many interests but primarily, his interest lay in helping to make a better Grinnell.

ACCORDED HONOR

Perhaps it was best stated in the Iowa Master Editor-Publisher award which he received in 1953 . . . "he worked hard, lived honorably, thought carefully and influenced unselfishly." These things Grinnell knows to be fact.

STATEWIDE RENOWN

His editorial work brought him statewide renown. Many of the newspapers throughout the state quoted from his writings, frequently. And to Grinnellians, his humorous and provocative editorials about the rabbit and the talking birds were almost legendary.

Drawing from a vast storehouse of knowledge and endless readings, Lowrie Frisbie's editorials showed aggressive and progressive thinking over a span of more than five decades.

COLLEGE, CHURCH AND MUSIC

Apart from his newspapering, his major interests lay in three areas: Grinnell College, music and the First Congregational church.

A graduate of Grinnell College (class of '00), he later served as alumni trustee on the College board, was active in college alumni work and was invariably present at college theatricals, convocations, music events and athletic contests.

For many years, he sang in college oratorios and cantatas and was also a longtime member of the Congregational church choir.

DEVOTED CHURCH MEMBER

Devoted to the Congregational church, he was a moderator in the church and served many years on the church board.

Active in many community and civic affairs over the past half-century, he served as president of the Kiwanis club, member of the Elks, director of the Chamber of Commerce and Community Chest, and director and past president of the Poweshiek County Red Cross.

MANY ACTIVITIES

A member of the Poweshiek Club, a discussion g group, he served as president of that organization. He also headed the Grinnell Oratorio Society.

In 1950, he received an alumni award from Grinnell College for service to the college.

HONORED

Also, during Grinnell's Centennial year, 1954, he was accorded the title of Honorary Pioneer.

He was a member of many other civic and community groups.

During World War I he enlisted in the American Red Cross camp service in 1917 and spent a year at Camp Custer, Battle Creek, Michigan, being discharged in 1918.

BORN IN DES MOINES

Alfred Lowrie Fisbie was born November 18, 1877, in Des Moines, son of the Rev. A.L. Frisbie and Martha Crosby Frisbie. His father was pastor of the Plymouth Congregational church in Des Moines.

Following his graduation from Ds Moines West high school in 1896 he attended Grinnell College, graduating in 1900. While at the college, he served as editor of the college paper, was named to Phi Beta Kappa and played football for the Pioneers.

After a three year stint as city editor of the Fort Dodge Messenger, he went to Des Moines where he served as city editor on the old Des Moines Register and Leader until 1907.

RETURN TO GRINNELL

It was in 1907 that A.L. Frisbie returned to Grinnell and in 1909, was named as editor of the Grinnell Herald, a position that he held until 1936 when the Herald and the Register combined, naming Frisbie as editor. He was a partner of Publisher W.G. Ray at the time of consolidation.

For the next 17 years he served as editor of the combined papers, retiring in 1953 but continuing to write for the Herald-Register until the time of his death.

MARRIED IN 1908

Mr. Frisbie was married to the former Margaret Scammon of Northwood, on October 28, 1908, also a Grinnell College graduate (class of 1902) and like her husband also a Phi Beta Kappa.

The Frisbies have one son, Alfred Lowrie, Jr., who is presently on the staff of the Omaha World Herald.

SURVIVORS

Survivors include: his wife; a son A.L., Jr., of Council Bluffs; three grandchildren, Victoria Ann and twins, Mark and Stephen; and a sister, Mrs. Homer J. Clark of Des Moines.