Deepest sympathies to the family, friends and co-workers. A calm voice in any storm. He will be missed..., God bless...
Hours after a single-vehicle wreck on Interstate 20 took his life, Aiken County sheriff's Lt. Michael Frank was being remembered Saturday night by friends and co-workers as a dedicated public official, a former newsman and an avid hockey fan and official.
Lt. Frank, authorities said, was on his way back from officiating a hockey game when his vehicle, headed eastbound, veered off I-20 into a guardrail and flipped several times into an embankment in Greene County, Ga. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"The witness stated he thought he might have went to sleep," said Georgia State Patrol Trooper Larry Seabolt, who worked the wreck. "... You don't really know, but the guy that saw it said that's what it looked like."
Trooper Seabolt said the wreck occurred about 3 p.m.
"He had been officiating a hockey game and was on the way back," Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt said by phone, later adding in a news release that Lt. Frank "was a dedicated employee that technologically enhanced the communication between the media and the sheriff's office. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Michael's family as well as his sheriff's office family."
At 48, the North Augusta resident was a 13-year veteran of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, serving as its public information officer, the sheriff's release stated. Prior to that, he worked as a reporter in the early 1990s for local television station WJBF (Channel 6). WRDW (Channel 12) sent out an e-mail Saturday stating that Lt. Frank also worked as a reporter and anchor there in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
More recently, he was a fixture in Augusta's hockey community.
"He'll be sorely missed in the hockey community in the Augusta area," said Bill Jones, an official with the Augusta Lynx's Off-Ice staff who knew Lt. Frank as a fellow Off-Ice volunteer.
The group has about 20 volunteers that help keep statistics for the Lynx. "It will devastate our staff," he said. "I think he was headed back to do the stats tonight."
Mr. Jones said Lt. Frank often officiated youth hockey tournaments, many of which were in the Atlanta area. Lt. Frank's son, he said, has dressed as the Lynx mascot for games. A few years ago, Lt. Frank was a linesman for the ECHL, Mr. Jones said.
There was a moment of silence for Lt. Frank before Saturday's game.
Mr. Jones said he would miss spending time with Lt. Frank.
"He had a sense of humor," he said. "You couldn't match his sense of humor."
Lt. Frank is survived by a daughter, son and his parents, said Capt. Charles Barranco with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. Funeral arrangements are pending, according to the news release.
Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 823-3338 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Deepest sympathies to the family, friends and co-workers. A calm voice in any storm. He will be missed..., God bless...
I am very shocked and sadden to learn of Lt. Frank's death. He was always approachable and had heartfelt compassion for victims of crime. He will be missed not just in law enforcement but by the public at large.
Michael arrived in Augusta soon after I started working at WBBQ and we became instant friends. That friendship deepened and grew stronger over the years. As he changed jobs, married and became a father...he remained the same grounded, professional man I first met about 20 years ago. We kept in touch even after I moved to Atlanta. How appropriate the last time I saw him and his son was at a youth hockey tournament he was officiating up here. Michael loved his family and hockey and he cherished his friends and co-workers. Losing him leaves a void in many lives.
Yes, it is true Michael worked at NEWS 12 in the late 80's and early 90's. I was his cameraman for awhile and then a student of his in "on the job training as I got a chance to be in front of the camera. Getting a compliment from him was well earned.
He was impeccably precise with his words and how he carried himself--- always careful to be fair and to do a solid job. It carried over to his work for the Aiken County Sheriff's Department. Years later, our news crew followed Michael and his officers on a "Deadbeat Dad" police sting in Aiken County. He was just as steady and fair then as he was as a reporter.
We shared Northern roots and love of hockey, each time we bumped into each other at volunteer events.
Michael, God blesses you now in heaven and will look after your family.
Lt. Frank was a huge asset to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, and our community at large. May God bless his family, friends, and co-workers and help ease their grief in the loss of such a good husband, father, son, and friend. And may God bless Lt. Michael Frank. Our community has lost a great asset, but gained a wonderful angel to watch over us.
Michael and I were colleagues on the Augusta Lynx Off-Ice staff and skated together for several years, which is where I got to know him. Michael was a true professional and passionate about anything he pursued. This world will be less without him. I considered it an honor to be his friend. My sympathy and prayers go to his family; may he now rest in peace...
Ron Bielewicz
God's blessings to his family....
Michael, we will miss you.
Lt. Frank will be missed by all. God Bless,,,,,
My thoughts and prayers go out for the entire Aiken County Sheriff Dept. He was such a kind caring person that was so humble to people who did not know him. He will be surely missed by all. God Bless the entire family and friends of Mr. Frank. God be with his kids and confort them thru this time. Just know that your father loved you. I will be praying for you in months and years to come.
I am deeply saddened by this news...I went to school with his lovely daughter and also played on the tennis team with her at Midland Valley...one thing I always remembered was the closeness and the love of the family.
Michael Frank...I'll remember him as a valued customer and and a great asset to this community.....he will be missed..................
I got to know Michael while working for the Lynx. He was always nice, and never had a bad thing to say about anybody. He will definitely be missed by the community at large. Our condolences to his family.
Michael was a good person and a caring soul. I'll miss him deeply. I cried so hard this morning when I saw the articles in the paper. I was so shocked, and I kept hoping it was a mistake. He'll be missed by everyone who knew him, and the world will be a little less bright with him gone. God bless him and his family.
As a retired North Augusta Public Safety Officer, I got to know Mike when he was working for the WRDW Channel 12 and did a news interview with me after I was released from the hospital from gunshot wounds.
I had the pleasure to work with Mike in helping getting bullett proof vest provided for not only Aiken County Sherriff's Office but as well as other departments in the County.
We will miss Mike dearly. We pray for his family, friends, co-workers, etc.
His voice was "branded" as the voice of the ACSD. When you heard him report you knew you were getting the correct information; and by the tone of his voice, one could tell the severity of the situation. May his legacy be an example to others who persue his trade. I extend my deepest sympathty & kindest regards to his family and colleagues.
I met Mike while working in the media. He was a most reliable person. His reporting was always "perfect". I knew him while working with ACSD. He always reported facts, and you could always value his word as well as his opinion. Aiken County and the CSRA has lost a good man. My prayers are with the family.
Michael was incredibly nice and a super guy. I remember my last Langley Pond Triathlon when Lt. Frank (acting as the event safety officer) literally faced down a running locomotive on its tracks so that it would not interfer and hold up the triathletes on the run and bike course. After the race some triathletes in jest called him Super Man....He was definitely a true ironman in our community. In addition, I remember the days we ran together from Health Central; he was also an incredible athlete. My prayers are with him and his family and friends.
damn shame....he was a good guy and a great cop.
LT Frank was one the CSRA's finest. My condolences to the Frank Family. He will be missed!
Our family met Michael 3 days ago. Immediately we felt a kindred spirit. People who are in the family of God, secure in their faith, and walk close with Him will show it in their lives. May God's comforting Spirit stay continually with Michael's children, parents, relatives & friends, also with Karen. We will see Michael
again in eternity.
Michael’s passing is a very sad and terrible shock to me and my family. Our deepest condolences go to Michael’s family and friends. I will miss his sense of humor and the friendly, respectful and unflappable demeanor that was a mainstay of his personality. Although no one was counting, we probably refereed several hundred hockey games together at the amateur level. A scheduling snafu a few weeks after 9-1l with 15 minutes notice, we ended standing on the ice next to Lee Greenwood officiating our first professional ECHL game. Michael’s determination, love of the game and superior athletic ability eventually led him achieve the highest level in amateur hockey officiating. Whether it was refereeing, having an occasional lunch, attending seminars, off/on ice officiating or meticulously reviewing how we could improve after a game, I will always treasure his friendship. Larry Hendry
Despite my tears of grief, I'm confident Michael Frank was prepared to meet his Maker. He was in a tough profession but you could tell this was a man whose heart would not harden; you could hear his compassion in his voice and see it in his demeanor. I will miss you Michael.
Michael Frank will not only be missed by his family and friends, but by the community as well. Condolences to his family. His shoes will never be filled as he was one of a kind.
A great guy and "straight shooter", when working with ACSD. Michael will be missed dearly.
I met Michael a few months back and ended up being his girlfriend. Although our time together was very brief, it was an honor to walk hand in hand with this kind gentleman. I will be forever grateful for our time together, and the smiles we brought to each others' faces.
My thoughts and prayers are with his children, parents, church & work family, friends and all those who knew and respected him in the community. We are, and will continue to grieve the loss of Michael in our own respective ways. My heart is aching. I will miss his friendship, the plans we had made, and his handsome voice calling me "Sweetie". Mostly, I will miss the security and honor in holding the hand and heart of a man of such great character and integrity.
Karen Smith - Columbia, SC
Yes, Michael was divorced. God blessed many hearts and lives through Michael. Genuine compassion for others came naturally for him as he was a man of honor. I am confident that his first request when he arrived at Jesus' feet was to comfort the hearts of his two children and everyone grieving this tragic loss. He was loved and respected by ALL who knew him.
maybe a little too inappropriately "curious" curiouslooker!!!!!!!
As someone who had only a casual aquaintance, I am also saddened and can certainly believe that all these comments are straight on. I am also more than a little bit angry. A good reminder to live every moment.
why would th man fall asleep at 3 in the afternoon? was he drunk?
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
