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,
What a terrible news to hear that your husband died. You lived but also worked together so the loss will be even bigger.
I wish you a lot of strength in the coming period and whenever Peter and I can travel to Florida again, probably in the fall, we can hopefully see you again.
Warmest regards, Annette Schokking-Swartberg
Im so sorry for your loss as well as mine. Words cant do this Mans life justice. RIP Sir. You did good.
Dear Valerie, I had the pleasure of interviewing Frank on my radio broadcast ( On The Fringe )a number of times years ago. I also learned a great deal from you and Frank through your website and videos. I send you my heartfelt sympathy -along with thoughts and prayers. You will find your way through this heartbreaking and difficult time Valerie. Remain strong and carry Franks teachings and love with you. With affection, Ron Gerrard
I am from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I have subscribed to Frank’s Frankly Golf for a long time and have learned a lot about putting, golf balls and golf equipment. I always enjoyed his commentaries with Valerie. Although I have never met him, he seemed like a very nice person who enjoyed to share his knowledge
I’m so sorry to hear this sad news. While I never met Frank, I always felt a certain kinship with him. I had the feeling that he was on the side of us “struggling” amateurs. He will be missed.
Valerie, sorry for your loss. I enjoyed the Frankly Golf emails and greatly appreciated Frank’s expertise and vast knowledge of the technical history of our game. Take care.
Frank will be missed dearly. Although I never had the privilege of making his personal acquaintance, it was so easy to see that he was a true gentleman. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and watching your informative and helpful articles and videos about putting. God bless to you, Valerie, and to his family, and thank you for carrying on his legacy.
While I never met Frank, I thought of him as a trusted friend, and took his comments and instructions seriously. I am saddened to learn of his passing.
My deepest sympathies to you and family. He was a wonderful man that I had the highest respect for and honor to meet.
So sorry to hear of Frank’s passing. He was a great source of knowledge especially in the field of putting which is my interest. He was always ready to help with my queries and shared his knowledge in easy to understand ways. The golfing world has lost an icon. To you Valerie my heartfelt condolences.
Valarie, I’m saddened to hear of Frank’s passing. I enjoyed our chats at the PGA Show and his contribution to golf cannot be measured. I’m pleased to read you are keeping The Frog going.
My condolences to you and the Thomas family.
So sorry to hear of Frank’s passing. He seemed like a very nice guy and would have loved to have met him and chatted. I lost my first wife 37 years ago so I feel your pain. I remarried a few years later but there is a hole that never got filled. But it’s all part of the deal. Take care Valerie.
Valerie, i am so sorry for your loss. I never met Frank but I have read his books. I loved his adventure and tales aboard the Banshee. What an experience that must have been. Of course I have the putting book and refer to it often. I own an original Frankly Frog that he helped me choose a few years ago and love telling the story of the inventor. I felt like I knew him and will miss his Q and A’s that always added delight to my days. God bless you and the family.
Tony
Valerie,
So sorry for your loss. I was fortunate enough to have a few interactions with Frank through email and also a special equipment q and a phone opportunity. He was extremely gracious and yes also humorous with his answers.
I pray that you receive great comfort from all the well wishes that you will no doubt receive.
So sorry to hear, you two were a terrific team with your followers’ best interests at heart. Will raise a glass to Frank tonight, and wish you all the best as you carry on.
Valerie, my heartfelt condolences. I met Frank when I joined the USGA staff as a regional manager in 1990. He gave me my first tour of the USGA test center, which at the time was quite advanced, but became much more so during his tenure. He was a constant and open source of information regarding golf equipment regulations, testing procedures, an the evolution of golf implements and balls that I took with me on my travels as I met with golf administrators and volunteers in my region. I believe it was Frank’s relationship with John Solheim, and their mutual respect as engineers and lovers of the game, that ultimately led the settlement of the infamous Ping law suit of the USGA in 1988.
Frank predicted the challenges the game would face as drivers became bigger and more expensive. He likened it to the tennis craze of the seventies, when rackets got bigger, more powerful, and easier to use, tennis clubs sprang up everywhere seemingly overnight, and suddenly the game was too expensive, exclusive, and boring. And that happened to golf beginning in the 2000s.
Frank always had the best interests of the game at heart. I am fortunate to have known and learned from him.