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REFERENCE TITLE: Frank Kush; death resolution |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018
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HCR 2005 |
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Introduced by Representatives Shope: Allen J, Cardenas, Coleman, John, Leach, Livingston, Mosley, Nutt, Senator Yee
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
on the death of Frank Kush.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Frank Kush, the winningest coach in Sun Devil football history, passed away on June 22, 2017 at the age of 88.
Born on January 20, 1929 in Windber, Pennsylvania, Frank was one of fifteen children. After graduating from Windber High School, Frank attended Michigan State University from 1950 to 1952, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and played football as a defensive lineman. During Frank's college football career, he was a three-year letter winner and All-American. His teams went 26-1 during those three years and were undefeated in 1951 and 1952.
After college, Frank married the love of his life, Frances Marie Theroux, whom he met at Michigan State. The couple moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, where Frank admirably served in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant and took on his first head coaching position with the Fort Benning football team. Two years later, Frank was offered an assistant coaching position at Arizona State University and he moved his family to Tempe, Arizona.
Three seasons later, on December 22, 1957, Frank became the 15th head football coach in Arizona State history. He went on to pilot the Sun Devils to 176 wins across 21.5 seasons, the most in school history, and coached the team to an impressive 16‑5 record against rival University of Arizona, including a winning streak from 1965‑1973. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995, Coach Kush led his team to seven Western Athletic Conference Championships and guided the Sun Devils to winning seasons in 19 of his 22 years. The Hall of Famer also holds the Arizona State University football record for the most postseason victories.
Frank led the Sun Devils to six victories in seven bowl games, including the 1970 Peach Bowl and 1975 Fiesta Bowl in which the team capped off two undefeated seasons. With Frank's 1975 team finishing second in the national rankings, he was named the National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association and the Walter Camp Foundation.
Aside from producing winning teams, Frank helped guide 38 college players to All-American honors and 128 players into the National Football League. During his tenure, Frank coached and mentored three College Football Hall of Fame inductees and three Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees.
Frank left Arizona State University in 1979 and went on to coach the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1981 and the National Football League's Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts from 1982-1984. In 1985, he left the Colts and returned to Arizona to coach the United States Football League's Arizona Outlaws. In 2000, Frank returned to Arizona State University to serve first as a special assistant to the athletics director and later as an ambassador for Sun Devil Athletics.
During his career, Frank received many honors, including induction into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame (1967), National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame (1998), Michigan State University Athletics Hall of Fame (2000) and Arizona Sports Hall of Fame (2015).
Despite the demands of his work, Frank gave selflessly of his time, energy and abilities to various community organizations. He served as the executive director of the Arizona Boys Ranch and hosted many football clinics for adolescents.
A devoted family man and loyal friend, Frank will be deeply missed by his sons, Daniel, David and Damian, and his grandchildren, Jenna, Jordyn, Dane and Blake. He is preceded in death by his wife, Frances.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:
That the Members of the Legislature sincerely regret the passing of Frank Kush and extend their sympathies and condolences to his surviving family members and many friends.