Dr. Franklin R. Fronek
Dr. Frank Fronek was raised on a small fruit and vegetable farm near Gary, Indiana. Included in the vegetables grown, were of course potatoes. After high school and following his military service, Frank enrolled at Michigan State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Soil Science.
During his senior year, he brought some potatoes from the family farm to Dr. W.J. Hooker, Plant Pathologist at MSU for a disease diagnosis. As part of their discussion, Dr. Hooker convinced Frank to enroll in graduate school to continue his education and to work with potatoes in Plant Pathology. During graduate study, Frank worked with Dr. Hooker in several areas of potato disease development including common scab, PVX and PVY. During this time he also worked with Dr. R.W. Chase in evaluating potato disease resistance in potato breeding programs. Frank did his thesis work on management of Verticillium Wilt disease of the potato. Frank received his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from MSU in 1965.
Following graduation, Frank became employed with Grower Service Corporation, a Michigan based agricultural chemical distribution firm where he conducted potato pesticide research and consulted with company customers on trouble shooting and assisting potato growers when production problems arose. Frank’s work with Grower Service Corp. involved travel, speaking and service contact throughout 18 Midwest and Eastern states.
After 17 years with Grower Service Corporation, Frank was transferred to United Agri Products (UAP) headquarters in Greeley, Colorado where he has remained and continued to work for the past 20 years. At UAP, Dr. Fronek’s responsibilities have included potato research with fungicides, nematicides, insecticides, herbicides and sprout inhibitors conducted in cooperation with numerous University based researchers and consultants. This area of work has encompassed involvement with potato disease research in the US, Mexico, Canada, parts of Europe and South Africa. Over the years, Frank has been frequently invited to speak to potato growers, processors, University and industry groups sharing his expertise on crop management, crop protectant use and pest management systems.
During the early 1990’s, Frank played a significant role in assisting US potato growers sharing his knowledge and experience grained in working with the aggressive A2 strains of Late Blight in Mexico and Europe. He played a key role in assisting industry leaders and university researchers form the National Potato Late Blight Task Force. He traveled to many states to help research and industry groups develop special local needs labeling and alternative management strategies as metalaxyl resistance of Late Blight evolved. Frank has also been invited to work with and address the “Academy of Sciences” in Sophia, Bulgaria, the “Department of Agriculture” in Budapest, Hungary and the “Ministry of Agriculture” in Moscow, Russia. Frank has also attended and participated in many meetings and conferences with various potato organizations around the world.
Frank has maintained membership in many professional and technical societies over the years including the Weed Science Society of America, Plant Growth Regulatory Society of America, Entomology Society of America and the American Phytopathological Society. Frank also served on the legislative liaison committee of the National Agricultural Chemical Association from 1965 to 1970. In 1977, Dr. Fronek was given agriculture’s “Spokesman of the Year” award by the Ortho Division of Chevron Chemical Company. Frank is a long-term member of the PAA and has been active in the Pathology, Breeding and Genetics, Entomology and Crop Protection sections. He is a member of the National Potato Council Environmental Committee and has assisted in many of its fund raising and seminar events. Dr. Fronek is also serving on the ‘Advisory Committee’ representing North America to the World Potato Congress.
~Ed Plissey, Nominator
