Frank Daly taught American history and world geography to seventh and eighth grade students for 25 years.  Twenty three of the years he taught at Bemis Junior High School in Utica.  Frank was a true history buff.  He was a teacher committed to excellence, to American ideals, and to his students.
Frank's educational background began with his graduation from Onaway High School in Onaway, Michigan.  Frank received his bachelors degree from Michigan State University in American history, his masters degree in secondary education from Saginaw State University, and his specialist degree in educational psychology with emphasis on American history from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  He completed this last degree in 1987.
Frank's community involvement include serving on the Utica Historical Commission in 1988 - 89.  He served on the Utica Police and Fire Boards. He also served as a city councilman starting in May 1989.  Frank also served as president of the Utica Lions Club in 1985- 86 and was awarded
"Lion of the Year" honors in 1986-87.
In 1992 Frank was nominated for "Teacher of the Year" by Mrs. Joyce A. Spade, Principal of Bemis Junior High School, and Ardis Johnston, Bemis Junior High Social Studies Chairwoman.
Frank family consisted of wife Susan, three daughters, and seven grandchildren, four girls and three boys.
Frank loved teaching American history, with a special interest in the Civil War.  He once belonged to a Civil War re-enactment group and marched in parades as a Civil War soldier.
Elementary schools used Frank as a resource during Heritage week.  He would dress and act like a Civil War soldier and answered questions from students and parents about what life was like during the Civil War.  He also managed to convinced students he was 150 years old.
In the mid 1980's Frank became interested in tombstone rubbing.  The equipment for this hobby is inexpensive and consists of a stiff bristle brush, large sheets of rice paper, and colored wax rubbing crayons.  The brush is used to clean lichens and moss from the stone.  The rice paper is taped over the lettering on the stone, and the writing is outlined by using the colored wax crayons.  He also included the written history of the person and photograph of the actual tombstone when he laminated the final product.  He had a collection of forty tombstone rubbings hanging in his classroom.  Twelve U.S. Presidents, eight Civil War heroes, four Revolutionary War figures, and twenty famous Americans accounted for the collection.  In class when students read history, they could look up and see that these people truly existed.  He encouraged his history students to do further research in locating the burial site of these famous Americans. (Example of a list his students would compile to do research). He would ask students who vacationed to climb over cemetery fences to do rubbings. One student who vacationed in Buffalo, New York brought back a tombstone rubbing from the grave of President Millard Fillmore.
Frank's seventh grade students would link history and geography by using AAA tour books.  In groups of four they charted trips to the various cemeteries.  They where required to chart mileage and identify the best values in motels and restaurants along the way.  They would also write letters to cemetery officials requesting permission for Frank to visit and do a rubbing.
Click here to view Harry S.Truman Library Letter.
The Macomb Daily and the Utica Source also interviewed Frank about his method of using tombstone rubbings as a tool to inspire students in American history.
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Franklin passed away March 18, 1994 at the age of 59, after he lost his fight against cancer. 
Frank's wife Sue also has passed away after losing her battle with cancer. 
They are survived by three adult daughters.
Utica Official Remembered Article