Frank Caffey, former head of the production department at Paramount Studios, and associate producer of the Academy Award winning film Patton, died in Eugene, Oregon, on 3 October 1983.
Frank was born in Decatur, Georgia, on 30 April 1902. On 13 June 1919, Frank entered West Point on a Senatorial appointment from Georgia as one of the youngest members of the Class of 1923. Jack Evans, a classmate and fellow member of “B” Company, was Frank’s roommate for all four years. They first met in Plebe summer camp. Jack recalls Frank as an “Army brat” who liked the Army, who had enjoyed life in Tientsin, China as a youngster when his father was stationed there in the 15th Infantry, and whose ambition was to likewise be commissioned in the Infantry and return to China for station.
Frank was an exemplary cadet in every respect. In addition, he had an excellent posture. It was not surprising, therefore, that he made cadet corporal Yearling year, cadet sergeant Second Class year, and cadet lieutenant First Class year.
Although he never went out for a varsity athletic team, Frank was keenly interested in all sports and was a good athlete. He liked to get embroiled in rough and tumble scuffles and usually came out on top. Frank was a consistent early arrival at athletic contests and could almost always be found in the front row of seats.
Academically Frank experienced no difficulties. He had attended a West Point preparatory school before coming to the Academy and so got off to a good start Plebe year. Because of his high grades, he wore stars in his Yearling year and, thereafter, maintained a high academic standing. As a result, on graduation he had his choice of branches and elected the Infantry.
He was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco for his first station. He served there with the 30th Infantry Regiment until January 1926, when he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He resigned his commission in March 1926, and took employment with the Foster and Kleiser Outdoor Advertising Company where he remained for several years.
On 24 February 1928, Frank married Verna Marguerita (“Peggy”) Johnson of Berkeley, California. Peggy’s father, Henderson L. Johnson, was well known in the field of gold mining in California. Peggy and Frank were married for forty-four years, until her death in 1972. They had two sons, Richard, born in 1928, and Michael, born in 1930.
In 1933 the Caffeys moved to Southern California where Frank became involved in motion pictures, an activity to which he devoted himself very successfully for the next forty years. In 1938 Frank joined Paramount Pictures Corporation as a unit production manager. In that capacity, during Hollywood’s “golden days,” the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, he worked on six Cecil B. DeMille films. He was executive production manager at Paramount Pictures from 1949 to 1968 and during those years oversaw production of all the studio’s films.
In 1968 he joined Frank McCarthy to produce the Academy Award winning Patton. Frank spent many months on location in Spain and North Africa where most of the picture was photographed. An enjoyable facet of his work on Patton was the opportunity it provided Frank to work closely with General Omar Bradley, who was the film’s technical director. Later that year Frank retired from Paramount. He then produced several pictures on his own, but in 1972 after Peggy’s death, retired completely from motion pictures. During his four decades in the motion picture industry Frank built for himself a solid reputation for ability and integrity. He was well liked and highly respected throughout the industry and left a host of friends behind when he retired.
On 17 May 1974 Frank married Frances Stacey whose husband of many years had died about the time Frank lost Peggy. As a surprise birthday gift in 1975, Frances had his West Point diploma framed and placed over Frank’s desk. He was proud and very pleased.
Frank’s sons, Richard and Michael, followed in his footsteps. Both served apprenticeships in film making at Paramount Studios. Richard became a television producer and Michael a director. They worked together on the “Combat” series which ran from 1961 to 1966, and on several subsequent series. At one point Richard was head of television production at MGM Studios. To this day Michael continues as a director and has completed more than two hundred television episodes. Richard died in 1979. Michael and his wife, Ann, parents of thirteen children, reside in Eugene, Oregon. Mike now divides his time between Oregon and Southern California.
Frank is survived by his wife, Frances, of Solano Beach, California, his son, Michael, of Eugene, Oregon, twenty grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.(Mary Cummins 48205043)
Frank was born in Decatur, Georgia, on 30 April 1902. On 13 June 1919, Frank entered West Point on a Senatorial appointment from Georgia as one of the youngest members of the Class of 1923. Jack Evans, a classmate and fellow member of “B” Company, was Frank’s roommate for all four years. They first met in Plebe summer camp. Jack recalls Frank as an “Army brat” who liked the Army, who had enjoyed life in Tientsin, China as a youngster when his father was stationed there in the 15th Infantry, and whose ambition was to likewise be commissioned in the Infantry and return to China for station.
Frank was an exemplary cadet in every respect. In addition, he had an excellent posture. It was not surprising, therefore, that he made cadet corporal Yearling year, cadet sergeant Second Class year, and cadet lieutenant First Class year.
Although he never went out for a varsity athletic team, Frank was keenly interested in all sports and was a good athlete. He liked to get embroiled in rough and tumble scuffles and usually came out on top. Frank was a consistent early arrival at athletic contests and could almost always be found in the front row of seats.
Academically Frank experienced no difficulties. He had attended a West Point preparatory school before coming to the Academy and so got off to a good start Plebe year. Because of his high grades, he wore stars in his Yearling year and, thereafter, maintained a high academic standing. As a result, on graduation he had his choice of branches and elected the Infantry.
He was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco for his first station. He served there with the 30th Infantry Regiment until January 1926, when he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He resigned his commission in March 1926, and took employment with the Foster and Kleiser Outdoor Advertising Company where he remained for several years.
On 24 February 1928, Frank married Verna Marguerita (“Peggy”) Johnson of Berkeley, California. Peggy’s father, Henderson L. Johnson, was well known in the field of gold mining in California. Peggy and Frank were married for forty-four years, until her death in 1972. They had two sons, Richard, born in 1928, and Michael, born in 1930.
In 1933 the Caffeys moved to Southern California where Frank became involved in motion pictures, an activity to which he devoted himself very successfully for the next forty years. In 1938 Frank joined Paramount Pictures Corporation as a unit production manager. In that capacity, during Hollywood’s “golden days,” the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, he worked on six Cecil B. DeMille films. He was executive production manager at Paramount Pictures from 1949 to 1968 and during those years oversaw production of all the studio’s films.
In 1968 he joined Frank McCarthy to produce the Academy Award winning Patton. Frank spent many months on location in Spain and North Africa where most of the picture was photographed. An enjoyable facet of his work on Patton was the opportunity it provided Frank to work closely with General Omar Bradley, who was the film’s technical director. Later that year Frank retired from Paramount. He then produced several pictures on his own, but in 1972 after Peggy’s death, retired completely from motion pictures. During his four decades in the motion picture industry Frank built for himself a solid reputation for ability and integrity. He was well liked and highly respected throughout the industry and left a host of friends behind when he retired.
On 17 May 1974 Frank married Frances Stacey whose husband of many years had died about the time Frank lost Peggy. As a surprise birthday gift in 1975, Frances had his West Point diploma framed and placed over Frank’s desk. He was proud and very pleased.
Frank’s sons, Richard and Michael, followed in his footsteps. Both served apprenticeships in film making at Paramount Studios. Richard became a television producer and Michael a director. They worked together on the “Combat” series which ran from 1961 to 1966, and on several subsequent series. At one point Richard was head of television production at MGM Studios. To this day Michael continues as a director and has completed more than two hundred television episodes. Richard died in 1979. Michael and his wife, Ann, parents of thirteen children, reside in Eugene, Oregon. Mike now divides his time between Oregon and Southern California.
Frank is survived by his wife, Frances, of Solano Beach, California, his son, Michael, of Eugene, Oregon, twenty grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.(Mary Cummins 48205043)
Frank Caffey, former head of the production department at Paramount Studios, and associate producer of the Academy Award winning film Patton, died in Eugene, Oregon, on 3 October 1983.
Frank was born in Decatur, Georgia, on 30 April 1902. On 13 June 1919, Frank entered West Point on a Senatorial appointment from Georgia as one of the youngest members of the Class of 1923. Jack Evans, a classmate and fellow member of “B” Company, was Frank’s roommate for all four years. They first met in Plebe summer camp. Jack recalls Frank as an “Army brat” who liked the Army, who had enjoyed life in Tientsin, China as a youngster when his father was stationed there in the 15th Infantry, and whose ambition was to likewise be commissioned in the Infantry and return to China for station.
Frank was an exemplary cadet in every respect. In addition, he had an excellent posture. It was not surprising, therefore, that he made cadet corporal Yearling year, cadet sergeant Second Class year, and cadet lieutenant First Class year.
Although he never went out for a varsity athletic team, Frank was keenly interested in all sports and was a good athlete. He liked to get embroiled in rough and tumble scuffles and usually came out on top. Frank was a consistent early arrival at athletic contests and could almost always be found in the front row of seats.
Academically Frank experienced no difficulties. He had attended a West Point preparatory school before coming to the Academy and so got off to a good start Plebe year. Because of his high grades, he wore stars in his Yearling year and, thereafter, maintained a high academic standing. As a result, on graduation he had his choice of branches and elected the Infantry.
He was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco for his first station. He served there with the 30th Infantry Regiment until January 1926, when he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He resigned his commission in March 1926, and took employment with the Foster and Kleiser Outdoor Advertising Company where he remained for several years.
On 24 February 1928, Frank married Verna Marguerita (“Peggy”) Johnson of Berkeley, California. Peggy’s father, Henderson L. Johnson, was well known in the field of gold mining in California. Peggy and Frank were married for forty-four years, until her death in 1972. They had two sons, Richard, born in 1928, and Michael, born in 1930.
In 1933 the Caffeys moved to Southern California where Frank became involved in motion pictures, an activity to which he devoted himself very successfully for the next forty years. In 1938 Frank joined Paramount Pictures Corporation as a unit production manager. In that capacity, during Hollywood’s “golden days,” the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, he worked on six Cecil B. DeMille films. He was executive production manager at Paramount Pictures from 1949 to 1968 and during those years oversaw production of all the studio’s films.
In 1968 he joined Frank McCarthy to produce the Academy Award winning Patton. Frank spent many months on location in Spain and North Africa where most of the picture was photographed. An enjoyable facet of his work on Patton was the opportunity it provided Frank to work closely with General Omar Bradley, who was the film’s technical director. Later that year Frank retired from Paramount. He then produced several pictures on his own, but in 1972 after Peggy’s death, retired completely from motion pictures. During his four decades in the motion picture industry Frank built for himself a solid reputation for ability and integrity. He was well liked and highly respected throughout the industry and left a host of friends behind when he retired.
On 17 May 1974 Frank married Frances Stacey whose husband of many years had died about the time Frank lost Peggy. As a surprise birthday gift in 1975, Frances had his West Point diploma framed and placed over Frank’s desk. He was proud and very pleased.
Frank’s sons, Richard and Michael, followed in his footsteps. Both served apprenticeships in film making at Paramount Studios. Richard became a television producer and Michael a director. They worked together on the “Combat” series which ran from 1961 to 1966, and on several subsequent series. At one point Richard was head of television production at MGM Studios. To this day Michael continues as a director and has completed more than two hundred television episodes. Richard died in 1979. Michael and his wife, Ann, parents of thirteen children, reside in Eugene, Oregon. Mike now divides his time between Oregon and Southern California.
Frank is survived by his wife, Frances, of Solano Beach, California, his son, Michael, of Eugene, Oregon, twenty grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.(Mary Cummins 48205043)
Frank was born in Decatur, Georgia, on 30 April 1902. On 13 June 1919, Frank entered West Point on a Senatorial appointment from Georgia as one of the youngest members of the Class of 1923. Jack Evans, a classmate and fellow member of “B” Company, was Frank’s roommate for all four years. They first met in Plebe summer camp. Jack recalls Frank as an “Army brat” who liked the Army, who had enjoyed life in Tientsin, China as a youngster when his father was stationed there in the 15th Infantry, and whose ambition was to likewise be commissioned in the Infantry and return to China for station.
Frank was an exemplary cadet in every respect. In addition, he had an excellent posture. It was not surprising, therefore, that he made cadet corporal Yearling year, cadet sergeant Second Class year, and cadet lieutenant First Class year.
Although he never went out for a varsity athletic team, Frank was keenly interested in all sports and was a good athlete. He liked to get embroiled in rough and tumble scuffles and usually came out on top. Frank was a consistent early arrival at athletic contests and could almost always be found in the front row of seats.
Academically Frank experienced no difficulties. He had attended a West Point preparatory school before coming to the Academy and so got off to a good start Plebe year. Because of his high grades, he wore stars in his Yearling year and, thereafter, maintained a high academic standing. As a result, on graduation he had his choice of branches and elected the Infantry.
He was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco for his first station. He served there with the 30th Infantry Regiment until January 1926, when he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He resigned his commission in March 1926, and took employment with the Foster and Kleiser Outdoor Advertising Company where he remained for several years.
On 24 February 1928, Frank married Verna Marguerita (“Peggy”) Johnson of Berkeley, California. Peggy’s father, Henderson L. Johnson, was well known in the field of gold mining in California. Peggy and Frank were married for forty-four years, until her death in 1972. They had two sons, Richard, born in 1928, and Michael, born in 1930.
In 1933 the Caffeys moved to Southern California where Frank became involved in motion pictures, an activity to which he devoted himself very successfully for the next forty years. In 1938 Frank joined Paramount Pictures Corporation as a unit production manager. In that capacity, during Hollywood’s “golden days,” the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, he worked on six Cecil B. DeMille films. He was executive production manager at Paramount Pictures from 1949 to 1968 and during those years oversaw production of all the studio’s films.
In 1968 he joined Frank McCarthy to produce the Academy Award winning Patton. Frank spent many months on location in Spain and North Africa where most of the picture was photographed. An enjoyable facet of his work on Patton was the opportunity it provided Frank to work closely with General Omar Bradley, who was the film’s technical director. Later that year Frank retired from Paramount. He then produced several pictures on his own, but in 1972 after Peggy’s death, retired completely from motion pictures. During his four decades in the motion picture industry Frank built for himself a solid reputation for ability and integrity. He was well liked and highly respected throughout the industry and left a host of friends behind when he retired.
On 17 May 1974 Frank married Frances Stacey whose husband of many years had died about the time Frank lost Peggy. As a surprise birthday gift in 1975, Frances had his West Point diploma framed and placed over Frank’s desk. He was proud and very pleased.
Frank’s sons, Richard and Michael, followed in his footsteps. Both served apprenticeships in film making at Paramount Studios. Richard became a television producer and Michael a director. They worked together on the “Combat” series which ran from 1961 to 1966, and on several subsequent series. At one point Richard was head of television production at MGM Studios. To this day Michael continues as a director and has completed more than two hundred television episodes. Richard died in 1979. Michael and his wife, Ann, parents of thirteen children, reside in Eugene, Oregon. Mike now divides his time between Oregon and Southern California.
Frank is survived by his wife, Frances, of Solano Beach, California, his son, Michael, of Eugene, Oregon, twenty grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.(Mary Cummins 48205043)
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