Dear Frankly Friends,
It is with profound sadness that I share the news with you that my beloved husband, Frank Thomas passed away peacefully on the 17th March 2021 in Celebration, FL, USA, having suffered a heart attack on our daily walk.
It was 58 years earlier, to the day, that he set sail from his native South Africa, to head across the Atlantic toward America in his 25-foot sailboat Banshee with his friend Malcolm Maidwell in an incredible adventure that shaped his life and his enduring philosophy.
Frank lived the American Dream. He loved America and the freedoms and the opportunity that this country provides to everyone. He was an innovator and in America he was able to follow his dreams.
He invented the graphite golf shaft as Chief Design Engineer with Shakespeare Sporting Goods, an invention that was not only was a milestone in golf, but also in the manufacturing of consumer products where strength and lightweight is important.
He then joined the United States Golf Association (USGA) as Technical Director, where he developed the Research and Test Center. He directed the development of almost all the performance standards for golf equipment now used to maintain the integrity of the game enjoyed by so many people around the world. He directed the development of the Indoor Test Range (ITR) to measure golf ball aerodynamics, which is now used industrywide. He also directed the development of GHIN (golf handicap system) as well as redesigning the Stimpmeter now used internationally to measure the speed of greens.
Upon leaving the USGA, Frank started Frankly Golf, a company dedicated to helping golfers. Specializing in putting, he used his years of experience in science and research to design the Frankly Frog Putter and create the Certified Putting Instructor (CPI) Course, now used by eight PGA’s around the world for ongoing education.
Frank loved to help people. He wrote a regular column on our website and in Golf Digest, and had a segment on Golf Channel, answering golfer’s equipment questions for many years.
He loved innovation, nature, adventure, the beauty and evolution of life. No challenge was too great, and he believed that everyone should “Follow their dreams and never give up.”
He is survived by his sister Nora Hill and his children from his first marriage to Wendy Thomas: Joanne Thomas, Ginny Zimmerman, Will Thomas and his grandchildren Colin and Jordan Zimmerman and Alli and Ryan White.
Frank had an amazing life. He was a very kind person and was truly a gentleman. He always saw the good in people. As his wife, I would like to let you know that Frank appreciated and enjoyed all your questions and correspondence through the years and your loyalty and support of our business, Frankly Golf, as we took our dream and made it real.
I will miss Frank terribly. He was the love of my life and my best friend. However, I look forward to working hard to continue Frank’s legacy and helping golfers into the future, which is what I promised him.
If you would like to leave a message below, it would be so nice to hear from you. I will be reading them all individually. Thank you.
Valerie Melvin
franklygolf 
Dear Valerie,
I am shocked and saddened by your news and my heart goes out to you and the rest of your and Frank’s family. With doing your wonderful CPI course and then receiving regular emails I felt like I knew Frank though we never met. He was an amazing person and we will all miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Yours,
Katie.
A beautiful letter, lassie. May you know the Lord’s presence and comfort in these days ahead.
My Frankly Frog putter – that saved me from the yips – plus my lesson from you at Champions Gate – will be the way I remember.
I’m so sorry to learn of Frank’s passing. I’ve appreciated the Frankly Frog putter, website and all the advice you and he have provided over the years. His sage advice will be missed. My heartfelt condolences to you and his family and friends. May his memory be a blessing to all.
Dear Valerie,
So sad news . I had the chance to meet Frank an you in Munich – on the golf show. Frank did so much for the game of Golf and the technical evolution.
Franks, and than your videos about putting are a “must look” .
I will miss Frank.
To you sincere condolences
Peter
Berlin (Germany )
Valerie,
I had the honour of first meeting Frank and yourself in your old studio at Champion’s Gate about 2007. He was a charming man with whom I enjoyed chatting and listening to his life stories. He was also a silken tongued salesman as I bought my treasured Frankly Frog putter after a fitting from both of you. I will miss speaking with him the next time I go to the USA. To Valerie, my deepest condolences. Frank was a true gent and a wonderful human being and the world is a poorer place for his passing.
Bob Lawrence, Hampshire, England
I’m Sad to hear this….I’ve followed Frank on his website for many years… As a class “A” duffer I have enjoyed hearing his Philosophy as well as many tips to make tha game of golf more enjoyable…may he rest in peace playing his favorite hole.
Bill West – Illinois
I was shocked to hear about Frank leaving us. We never met but did some E-mail communication with both of you. I always enjoyed watching on the site the real and true feelings you both express on things that really relate to more than golf as a game but life in general. I bought “Just hit it” years ago, and still feel it is relevant today. I am looking forward to soon receiving my copy of “Banshee” in the mail. I know that at this time you are still so confused about what has happened, but know that a lot of us are praying for you to hold onto all the strong good memories you’ve had together. God be with you, Gary
I’m very sad to hear this terrible news.
I met the team at Orlando in 2008 and you were so interesting, kind and helpful.
My sincere condolences to you Valerie.
Valarie and family,
Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of a great man.
Although I do not know you and Frank personally…….I have all of Frank’s books and look forward to your weekly tips. I do feel like I know you all.
It is hard to describe how bad I felt when I read your letter, earlier this week, advising of Frank’s passing. It affected me deeply.
I can only speculate that the Lord needed some tips and had a few questions on graphite shafts……..so He called the greatest home.
Thank you for all you do and I look forward to you carrying on Frank’s legacy.
Tom Campbell
Augusta, WV
So sorry for your loss, he will be in our prayers.
Valerie
My sincere condolences to you and all of Frank’s family.
Frank was a most interesting man, who truly loved the game of golf and did everything he could to help people enjoy it
I much enjoyed meeting him fir a putting lesson when we were in Florida a few years ago. He was just so knowledgable about the mechanics of putting.
He will be sadly missed by family and fans.
Dearest Valerie,
Gary And I are so sorry to hear the sad news.
Frank had a amazing way of sharing his knowledge and love for the game of Golf.
I remember the day we met you and Frank. We were playing number 2 of the Palmer at Reunion. We were waiting on the tee box. You pulled up behind us. ( Gary recognized Frank right away ). We asked if you like to join us. You said yes. We had so much fun. We played against the guys. ( of course we beat them) ( I had the best partner ever)
You both were terrific. I learned a lot that round. You fitted me for a new putter. The next day I putted the best ever. I shot a 67. Gary and I still play with our frogs.
Gary is always telling Frank and Valarie stores.
You and Frank were a amazing couple. You both helped to grow the game.. your love for each other was seen in your eyes.
Your love will keep him close to you . Your memories of Frank will give your heart smiles forever…
Our hearts are with you. We were blessed that our paths crossed with Frank and Valerie . Two of the kindest people in Golf.
Dear Valerie, We were shocked and so very sad to to hear of Franks passing. He was more than a colleague and business associate to us here at The Golfworks, he was a friend. Our deepest and heart felt condolences go out to you and all of Frank’s family. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and if there is anything we can do to assist you during this difficult time, please let us know.
Sincerely, Britt Lindsey and The Golfworks Team
Like many other international followers of the Frankly Frog website, and its videos and advice on the many facets of golf, I too am very saddened to learn of Frank Thomas’s passing. His inputs to the game and its regulation have been very significant and I personally have greatly benefitted from using graphite shafts in my clubs. Frank’s advice was always considered, clear and to-the-point. My condolences to Valerie and his family, with the wish that Frankly Frog will continue to provide golfing wisdom and guidance
Ken Elvery London 10/1936 > Dordrecht, Nr. Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Valerie – I feel like I have lost a friend, even though the three of us met several years ago in a small group putting lesson. Since then I have followed the two of you through your emails and even ordered a custom made putter, which I still use. Bless you and the rest of Franks family. Golf has lost a giant. RIP Frank.