Frank Leslie Breedlove was born in Austin, Texas on April 6, 1933, to Marlon and Lula Breedlove. He was the fourth of seven Breedlove children. The Breedlove family was held in high esteem as owners of three barber shops and two grocery stores, an entrepreneurial phenomenon not common in that day.
Frank began his formal education in the Austin Public School System. He played the clarinet in the high school band under the tutelage of band director B. L. Joyce. He graduated from the original Anderson High School in 1950. He received a 4-year college scholarship in music. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry at Huston-Tillotson University, where he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, and met the love of his life Donnie Collins. He graduated from Huston-Tillotson in 1955 then went on to receive a Master’s of Science in Chemistry from Prairie View A&M University, a Master of Public Administration at Southern Methodist University, and completed all coursework for a doctoral degree in Urban Administration at the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas.
On June 12, 1955 Frank married his college sweetheart, Donnie Collins, and moved to Dallas. Frank started his professional career in 1955 in Dallas, Texas as a Medical Research Technician in the Department of Experimental Medicine at Southwestern Medical School. He was drafted to serve in the U. S. Army in 1957. From 1963 to 1968, he was a science teacher in the Richardson ISD and Dallas ISD. He was employed by the city of Dallas in 1968 and was the first African American Executive in the city’s history. During his career of 26 years as a Department Head, he served as organizing Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, which was the first community-based center in this region of the country. He served as Assistant Director of the Department of Revenue and Taxation, was the Municipal Courts Administrator, Assistant Director of Aviation at Love Field and Red Bird Airports, and Director of Risk Management and Human Resources. Frank also served as an Adjunct Professor, University of North Texas Graduate School – Pubic Administration. Frank retired from the City of Dallas in 1995.
Frank was very active in his church and in the community. He served the local church in many capacities including, Bible Study and Sunday School teacher, and choir member at Hamilton Park United Methodist Church; and Finance Committee Chair, Pastor Parish Committee Chair, Chair of the Pastoral Transition Team, Member of the Administrative Board and Church Council, Chair of the Risk Management Board, Lay Member to the Annual Conference and member of several ministries at St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church under the pastoral leadership of Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. and Dr. Michael Bowie, Jr. He received the Timeless and Tireless Service Award from St. Luke ‘Community’ United Methodist Church. He also served at the District and Conference levels of the North Texas Conference United Methodist Church as a Metro District Member at Large to the Annual Conference, the Conference Committee on Recruitment and the North Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
His community service involvement included serving as the first African American President of the Dallas Rotary Club, Board Chair - Dallas Can!Academy, State President- Texas Court Clerks Association, Board Member - Senior Source, Director of the Rotary Club Camp Enterprise, Goals for Dallas-Trustee, Leadership Dallas-Member, American Society of Public Administration-North Texas Chapter President, El Centro Junior College Mid-Management Advisory Council – Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity-Life Member, and numerous other community engagements. Frank was noted for his leadership in acquiring funding for the Martin Luther King Jr. Statue which is located in front of the MLK Center.
The recipient of many awards, Frank received many from the Rotary Club of Dallas, Hamilton Park United Methodist Church, St. Luke ‘Community’ United Methodist Church, the coveted Alpha Phi Alpha Humanitarian Award, and many, many more. Frank truly lived as a servant to all.
Frank leaves to mourn his loss, his wife of 62 years, Donnie Collins Breedlove, his daughter, Cheryl Breedlove Wright, his granddaughter Whitney (Phillip) Hawkins, his great grandson William Hawkins, his sister Carolyn Williams, a hosts of nieces, nephews, and other relatives, numerous neighbors and friends throughout the country.
We praise God for the life of Frank Leslie Breedlove. Well done, good and faithful servant!
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