Frank Roelandt, 84
8/30/1924 - 5/13/2009

Published in The Oregonian on 5/19/2009

Frank Roelandt, husband, father and coach, passed away May 13, 2009, at the age of 84.

Frank Emiel Roelandt was born Aug. 30, 1924, in Beveren-Waas, Belgium, the only son of Adelaine. He met Leone Garrow growing up in their Southeast Portland neighbor-hood. They were married in 1947 after Frank was discharged from the Navy.

After their marriage Frank returned to Oregon State College with Leone, where he resumed playing baseball and basketball. His first season of college baseball was 1943, before he shipped off to the Navy. He went through naval training at Notre Dame in Indiana and served in Guam and Florida, earning the rank of ensign.

Frank was a multi-sport star at Franklin High School, graduating in 1942. He earned letters in basketball, football and baseball.

In basketball, he was first team All-Portland Interscholastic League, and was the fourth-leading PIL scorer. He was also first-team All-PIL in baseball. He was inducted into the PIL Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

At Oregon State, he was a four-year baseball letterman and two-year basketball letterman. He was a 1949 All-Coast baseball selection. Frank was one of the first inductees into the Oregon State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

His Oregon State basketball career included being a member of the 1947 "Thrill Kids," a team that won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Western Regional Tournament and competed in the NCAA Tournament in Kansas City. He graduated in 1949.

Frank spent summers playing semi-pro baseball in such cities as Bismarck, N.D.; Minot, N.D.; and Boise. After graduation, Frank turned down an offer of professional baseball to become a teacher and the head basketball coach at Medford High School.

He took the Black Tornado to 18 state tournaments, winning the state title in 1960 and finishing second three times. He concluded his career with 492 victories.

A funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2009, in Zeller Chapel of the Roses, 2107 N.E. Broadway St., Portland.

A graveside service will be held in Siskiyou Memorial Park in Medford at 1 p.m., Friday, June 19, 2009. There he will join Leone, his wife of 47 years, who died in 1994.

Frank is survived by his only son, Tim Roelandt, and many nieces and nephews.

Remembrances may be made to the Beaver Athletic Student Fund, c/o OSU Foundation, 850 S.W. 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333.