NORMAN — Frank S. Coulter, long-time Norman educator and community leader, passed away on January 23, 2013. He was 75 years old. He was born on May 10, 1937, in Eldon, Mo., to Oscar and Nora (Schaffer) Coulter.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 3939 W. Tecumseh Road in Norman.

He attended elementary school in Kansas City, Mo., and high school in Humboldt, Kan. He graduated in 1955 having been active in sports and theater. He lettered in baseball, basketball and track at Humboldt High School.

Frank enlisted in the Army in 1956. After basic training at Fort Carson, Colo., he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Regimentat Fort Myer, Va. The 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” is responsible for ceremonial duties in the Washington area, particularly at Arlington National Cemetery. After initially serving in support of funerals for soldiers and veterans, Frank was chosen to serve as a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On May 30, 1958, Frank had the honor of serving as a member of the Guard for the ceremony for the entombment of the World War II and Korean War Unknown Soldiers. President Eisenhower laid a wreath at the ceremony to honor the Unknown Soldiers. Frank remained a member of the Tomb Guard until his honorable discharge in 1958.

Frank earned a BS in industrial education and an MS in guidance and counseling from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. His administrative certification hours were granted by the University of Oklahoma and Wichita State University.

He taught and coached for eight years in various high schools in western Kansas. In 1969, he moved to the Liberal Area Vo-Tech Centerin Kansas as director of Student Services. In 1974, he moved to Norman to be the assistant superintendent at the Moore Norman Technology Center. In 1979, he was selected to be the superintendent and served in that capacity for 24 years until his retirement in 2003.

Under his leadership, Moore-Norman gained a national reputation as a premier technology center. It developed an educational curriculum that met the needs of career and college-bound students, as well as providing technical and management skills training for hundreds of local businesses. During his administration, the center’s enrollment regularly topped 20,000 annually. He oversaw five major expansions of the physical plant at the center’s main campus, more than tripling the facility’s size. He also initiated the purchase and development of the South Penn campus in Moore. Frank was a leader statewide in the maintenance and growth of the Oklahoma Technology Centers throughout the state, having many positions in the statewide organization.

Frank was very active in the community. He was campaign chairman of the United Way of Norman, president of the Norman Rotary Club, district governor of Rotary District 5770, chairman of the Cleveland County Chapter of the American Red Cross and president of the Norman Chamber of Commerce.

He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Bernard.

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Sheryl (Breaux) Coulter. The marriage produced three sons, Michael (Debbie), John (Kay) and Kelly (Lori). He is also survived by five grandchildren, Josh, John, Brady, Devin and Christian.

Contributions may be made to the Frank S. Coulter Foundation Scholarship at the Moore Norman Technology Center, P.O. Box 4701, Norman, OK 73070, Attn.: Debi Waldroop.

Arrangements for Frank and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.

Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.

Norman Transcript, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013

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