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HARRIS FRANK BEEMAN

Harris F. Beeman, 90, of East Lansing, passed away Sunday, surrounded by family and friends. Frank's years were filled with loving kindness and leadership.

Frank attended Royal Oak High School, received his BA from Michigan State University and his MA and PhD from University of Michigan.

He served as Athletic Officer of 508 Parachute Infantry.

When Frank was the [MSU] men's tennis coach, the team won the first Big Ten championship of any MSU varsity sport. As Intramural Athletic Director, Frank fostered an innovative open door policy, the Intramural IM West Building, the Intramural Administration Master's Degree Program, a co-authored text on Intramural Sports, and a tennis film. Frank was the first National Chair of Intramural Section of AAHPER1 and co-chaired the first National Conference on Intramurals for College Men and Women. He marched in Mississippi and actively broke down barriers to allow all students to play tennis. Frank continued to support student education at Rust College. He organized community, students and faculty in the South African Liberation Committee leading to the divestment of funds in South Africa from MSU and state pension funds.

Frank and his wife, Pat, received the first Peace and Justice Award from the Peace Education Center.

Frank is survived by his daughter, Katharine.

A memorial service was held Saturday, May 21, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, East Lansing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Frank Beeman Endowment fund for Men's Tennis, or the Frank Beeman Intramural Scholarship program both at MSU University Development, East Lansing, MI or to the Peace Center.

1 - AAHPER American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation


[courtesy of Bonnie Hoy]

Grave marker for Frank Beeman in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Ionia (Ionia county), Michigan.

Also known as just Frank Beeman or Frank H. Beeman, his records have proved elusive but a few glimpses intro his life follow.

Frank was an ardent tennis player and captained the Michigan state College tennis team.  He appeared in the 1942 Wolverine yearbook  wielding a racquet.

Joining the Army after graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. and was posted to the 508th PIR, probably in Service Company, in Frankfurt, Germany.

While stationed in the ETO he had the opportunity to play in

   Michigan will have two representatives in the ETO tennis championships opening Wednesday a Wimbledon, England.  Lt. Harris Frank Beeman, former Michigan State College tennis captain, will represent the XVI Corps, of Reims, France, while Buck Shane, former Michigan Open titleholder, will be playing under the Seventh Army banner.

[Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, Tuesday, August 14, 1945, Metro Final Extra, page 10]

   FRANK BEEMAN, twenty-five-year-old paratrooper stationed with United States forces at Frankfurt, was the only American to receive a double setback.  Beeman, captain of Michigan State's 1943 team, was knocked out of the singles by Ernest Wittman, of Poland, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

[Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, Wednesday, June 26, 1946, page 17]

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