Athletic Accomplishments
“In Ourselves Our Future Lies,” a speech by Frank Curtiss in 1925 epitomizes Frank’s life. The devotion Frank gave to the development of thousands of youth had its roots in Ravenna. Born in 1907 to Ralph and Mary Curtiss, brother to Walter Curtiss and Katheryn Stump, Frank graduated from Ravenna High School in 1925 where he played football, basketball, and ran track. Highlights included playing for the state basketball championship and winning six varsity letters. Frank graduated from Kent State University. He won eleven varsity letters in basketball, baseball, and football and captained the 1928 baseball team. For forty years, Frank was teacher, coach and athletic director at Brush High School in Lyndhurst, Ohio. His track team won six championships (five in a row) and won twenty-seven straight dual meets. Frank was head basketball coach for five years, served as Lyndhurst recreation director (1932-1969), began Brush Night Relays and served as athletic director from 1950 until his 1969 retirement. Honors bestowed upon Frank include: Kent State University Award of Merit in 1969, Brush High School Hall of Fame in 1976, all weather track dedicated and named CURTISS TRACK in 1975, Ohio High School Athletic Directors’ Hall of Fame in 1978, and Kent State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980. Frank Curtiss died in 1993. Survivors are his beloved wife, Esther Giesler Curtiss, son and his wife Jack and Judy Curtiss, daughter and her husband Jean C. and Raymond Britt and brother, Walter Curtiss, six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.