Editor's Note: This column was co-authored by Dr. Kent MacDonald.
On Saturday, February 12, 2022, at the age of 72, legendary WJR radio broadcaster Frank Carl Beckmann, with his loving wife and family by his side, entered the gates of heaven.
Not even a year earlier, on March 26, 2021, and to the dismay of millions of listeners, Frank retired from WJR to spend more time with his loving family and close friends. Frank's versatile career covered all four Detroit professional sports teams (Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons). He served as the voice of the University of Michigan football team, reported on the horrors of 9/11, Detroit’s bankruptcy and rebirth and thirteen presidential elections.
Born November 3, 1949, in Kiel, West Germany, Frank grew up and spent his early high school years attending Osborne High School in northeast Detroit. Later he transferred to Warren Cousino (Beckmann's parents moved the family to Warren so Frank could attend a high school with a student-run radio station). Beckmann thrived as a student and a broadcaster at Cousino, as he pursued his dream of becoming a Detroit Lions broadcaster.
After studying broadcast journalism for two years at Macomb Community College, Frank began his professional career in 1969. Beckmann attributed much of his success to his wife, Karen, his family, WJR leadership, his broadcast team, and the mentoring from renowned WJR broadcaster J.P. McCarthy. He achieved national stature as a radio broadcaster and was a friend and frequent guest host on “The Rush Limbaugh Show.”
"Frank Beckmann became a radio legend because he does everything right … at full throttle," Steve Finateri, Vice President and Market Manager, Cumulus Detroit, noted at Frank's retirement. As a mid-day talk show personality, Frank prided himself on having the support of "the best broadcast team," providing "the best research" and the "best-informed audience." He was always dedicated to delivering a quality, timely, and up-to-date show, often expressing his love for America and his belief in freedom, free enterprise, and the American Dream. His guests always felt welcomed and respected – whether they agreed with him or not. His topics usually reinforced his fundamental optimistic premise: no matter how difficult life gets, if you worked hard enough, with courage and conviction, the best was yet to come.
Over his 48-year career, Frank interviewed a “who's who” of guests, including legendary Michigan football coach, Bo Schembechler; acclaimed broadcaster Ernie Harwell; Red Wings Hall of Famer, Steve Yzerman; Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer, Al Kaline; Houston Texans owner, Bob McNair; and 66th U.S. secretary of state, Condolezza Rice, to name a few.
In 2011, Beckmann seriously considered a run for the U.S. Senate. As a libertarian at heart, he decided against it, as he would have needed to register as a Republican and abandon his broadcasting positions.
Throughout Frank's esteemed career, he helped raise tens of millions of dollars for Michigan-based charities, including the March of Dimes, The Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, Dutton Farm, which serves those with Down Syndrome, The Autism Alliance of Michigan and numerous other non-profits whose organizations are far better off because of Frank's kindness, time and generosity.
Frank was recognized numerous times for excellence, including:
- "Best Mid-day Personality" (numerous times by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters).
- Member Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (2008).
- Member Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
- Member VIP Mentoring Coaches Challenge Hall of Fame.
- "Top Michigan Sportscaster" (multiple times).
- 2014 Recipient of the Chris Schenkel Award by the National Football Foundation, which included membership in the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Honorary Doctor of Laws from Northwood University (May 2012) for exemplary lifetime achievement for his career and philanthropic accomplishments.
At the time of his retirement, Frank said, "I will be forever grateful to WJR for helping make all of my boyhood dreams come true. As a youngster, I always imagined announcing Lions and Tigers games. It was surreal for me to have been able to do that, along with experiencing other great opportunities this radio giant known as WJR provided me. I only hope I've met their expectations, and I thank every person I have worked for or with at WJR. It's been an amazing ride, and I know I will deeply miss the very best business professionals I have worked for these past 48 years. This includes my co-workers and our clients, many of whom have become friends, and especially our loyal and dedicated audience, who often gave me wise advice and support while making it among the most listened-to shows in the Midwest. I look forward to spending more time with my beautiful wife Karen, son Jon, and daughter Tori, and our three wonderful grandchildren, Pierson, 4, Sawyer and Brooks, 2, my golf clubs, an occasional cigar, and a glass of scotch."
Less than a year after he made those upbeat remarks, Frank unexpectedly lost his life to a vicious form of Vascular Dementia.
Frank's loving wife Karen, the family he adored, and many close friends were there for him through this incredibly difficult time, providing support, attention, and love.
In the 1971 made-for-television movie, Brian’s Song, the movie opens with the famous quote from Ernest Hemmingway, “every true story ends in death. Well, this is a true story.” The movie honors Brian Piccolo, a 26-year-old Chicago Bears running back and beloved figure to many in Chicago. Piccolo lived a full and meaningful life but died much too young after a short and valiant battle with lung cancer.
There is no doubt Frank Beckmann led an exceptional and meaningful life and like Piccolo, died much too young after a short, unexpected, and valiant battle with an insidious disease. We cannot help but draw parallels to Beckmann and Piccolo’s lives even though Piccolo was 26 and Beckmann 72; they both died too young from tragic health ailments and left many in the cities they loved grieving. At the end of Brian’s Song, the movie’s narrator closes with “Brian Piccolo died of cancer at the age of 26, he left a wife and three daughters, he also left a great many loving friends who miss him and think of him often and when they think of him, it’s not how he died they remember, rather, how he lived. How he did live.”
Like Brian Piccolo, in the weeks, months, and years ahead, no doubt all who were touched by Frank will join his loving family and think of him often. And when we do, we must focus not on how he died, but rather how he chose to live. We encourage all who loved Frank to find a way to emulate the ideas he championed and the causes he supported, for if they do, the city and state he loved so much will be far better off as a result.
In celebration of Frank’s life well-lived, let’s pick up a glass of scotch (or your favorite libation) and for some, a cigar, and offer a toast and a fond farewell.
Frank Beckmann will be missed. That is a certainty. So, when you’re missing him most, look to the sky and listen attentively. You might be able to hear him broadcasting the Frank Beckmann Show from heaven in a station with a tower unimaginably higher than his beloved WJR. He will be interviewing many great guests he never had enough time to interview while debating the issues and solutions that will make Detroit, Michigan, and the United States freer, better, safer and more prosperous places to live.
Dr. Timothy G. Nash is director of the McNair Center at Northwood University and Dr. Kent MacDonald is president of Northwood University
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