Frank Frederick Kowski (March 10, 1910, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa - February 3, 1975, Santa Fe, NM, age 64)

Frank's father's middle initial was "G", but all the censuses, etc. have Frank listed as Frank, Jr. No explanation, but the "G" for his father's middle initial was on censuses and draft registrations, etc.

Frank was born to Frank G. Kowski (Jankowski) (July 20, 1883 – 1954) IA/Germany/Germany, a Moulder at Murray Ironworks, and Nellie Viola Keller (Aug 1884, Des Moines Co, IA – May 27, 1954, Burlington, IA) IA/IA/IA, who lived with Nellie's parents when Frank, Jr. was a month old. Frank & Nellie had been married in Burlington, IA on October 11, 1906. In 1915, Frank (5) and his parents were still living with Nellie's parents, Charles Newton "Charley" (a Tinner) & Etta "Ettie" Keller, at 1328 N. Central Avenue, Burlington, IA. In 1920, Etta Jane (Lord) Keller (70), born circa 1850, was a widow, and Frank and his parents (his dad was a Factory Laborer) rented Etta's home. Also living with them was Nellie's brother, Charles Frederick "Fred" Keller (43), who worked on the railroad. On January 1, 1925, Frank's parents owned their mortgaged home valued at $5,000; Frank, Sr. (41), 5th grade education; Nellie (40), 10th grade; Frank, Jr. (14), 9th grade, & Fred Keller (48), S, 8th grade; Frank, Jr. (16-25) was still living with his parents in Burlington, IA, in 1926, 1930 & 1935, but at 1948 Sunnyside Avenue. In 1935, he was a Moulder at Murray Ironworks where his father had held that position in 1926 and before. His father was a Moulder for CB&Q in 1935 (listed as a Laborer there in 1951). In 1940, at age 56 (Nellie was 55, H-2), Frank's parents were still owners of the same house, valued at $3,500, and Frank's dad, 8th grade education, was a Moulder at MIW Company Foundry through 1945. Nellie was to have died in 1954, but she is listed in the 1957 City Directory as Frank's widow (same address).

At his retirement party Frank exclaimed, "Isn't it wonderful that a kid from the wrong side of the tracks could fall in with a great bunch of people like this." Three hundred friends were there. Wrong side of the tracks or not, clearly Frank was just what the National Park Service needed. He had energy, imagination, complete honesty, humor, a love for the parks, and a compassion for visitors all rolled into one.

In 1937 he left the Forest Service for the NPS "so he could be in the field all the time," according to his wife, Lois. He spent his first summer at Thorofare Ranger Station isolated in the vast backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. He met Lois Thoreson at Lake in 1937, and they were married three years later, but he was still a single Park Ranger on April 15, 1940, having lived at Sheridan, WY in 1935. Lois had been a school teacher and a summer employee in the park. Frank championed better training for the ranger force and other employees. In 1951 this initiative took him to Washington, D.C., to become the first training officer of the National Park Service. He was "Mr. Training" for young field people who descended on enormous Washington to attend the Departmental Management Training Program. His kind attention folded them into the seemingly cold city and the awesome halls of the Interior Building.

Frank received training at the FBI Academy. He began to formulate the idea of a National Park Service academy for park rangers. In Washington, he worked untiringly toward this goal. His enthusiasm and planning gained firm support for the Horace M. Albright Training Center which began in 1957 in Yosemite. Following a trial period, the center was moved to Grand Canyon, where it remains a force shaping the careers of Service employees. For outstanding work in employee development, Frank received the Distinguished Service Award. Many viewed "Kowski Kollege" days (he hated the name) as the high point of Frank's career. He was demanding, fun, and innovative, but he exercised great care and affection for the students and staff at Albright.

He became superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon in 1966. Only one year later, he moved to Southwest Region as regional director. He was a key figure in consolidating into one NPS region the parks in the Navajo lands, thus greatly diminishing confusion and increasing cooperation with the Navajo Nation. He appointed American Indians to superintendentcies and provided training and employment opportunities for hundreds of Indian young people.

Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton best described Frank with these words: "someone who never lost sight of the goal of service to the people" and with "a quality somewhat rare in many circles. . . . a willingness to speak the truth when all about you others are ducking for cover." That was Frank. -- David O. Karraker

Kowski Hall, Albright Training Center

Frank's residence as a single Park Ranger, age 30, C-5 education (college grad is C-4), earning $1,860 in 1939, renting for $10/month on April 15, 1940, was East Gate, Yellowstone NP.

Frank's father, who was tall, medium build, brown hair and grey eyes, was already working as a Moulder at age 16 in 1900, at 1802 Mt. Pleasant in Burlington. His parents were still living at the same address at ages 70 & 66 in 1920, and his dad was still a Laborer in the Ironworks at age 70. In 1926, "John Kowski" was living at that address (1802 Mt. Pleasant). Frank's father was the son of German immigrants, Stanislaus Jankowski (b. April 1849 - 1850 on grave marker) and Amalie (aka Amelia) Harmer Jankowski (b. April 1852 - 1853 on grave marker). He had two younger brothers: Albert M. (Vincie) Jankowski (b. Aug 1885 - 1886 on gravestone) & George R. (Elsie) Jankowski (b. Aug 1895). George was married to Elsie and was a Baker in 1926 & 1935. George, Jr., lived with them in 1935.