What were you like in high school?  I played basketball and football in a small Kansas town called Wellington. Back then, I wanted to grow up to become a basketball coach.

How about college?  I attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. I played on the tennis and basketball teams. I majored in science because one of the teachers was a big basketball fan. He suggested I become a science teacher/basketball coach. After college, I j oined the Air Force when I heard they were looking for science majors. The Air Force sent me to St. Louis University where I began training in meteorology. I later returned to Florida State University for graduate study.

What do you remember about your first day at KHOU-TV? I almost quit when they told me I had to wear makeup. I also had a hard time learning how to use the foot pedal that changed graphics live on the air. One day, I accidentally kicked it across the studio and saw someone out of the corner of my eye pushing it back to me.

Tell us about your family life? My wife Velma and I will celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary this year. We started dating in the 8^th grade. We have three children and 10 grandchildren.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy boating on Lake Conroe with the grandkids. When they're not around, I appreciate the quiet and a good book.

Footnote: From humble beginnings in that small town in Kansas, Dr. Neil Frank has become one of the nation's most respected experts on hurricanes.  

In 1961, Dr. Frank joined the staff of the National Hurricane Center as a forecaster and was named director in 1974.

He has published a variety of papers on tropical meteorology for professional publications and has been featured in such national magazines as Time, Newsweek and National Geographic.

He was awarded first place in the 1989 Texas Press Awards competition for Best Weathercast.