Fran Welch Dies Following a Brief Sickness

     F. G. (Fran) Welch, 74, longtime athletic coach at Kansas State Teachers College, died early today at the K. U. Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., after a brief sickness with leukemia.
     Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Congregational Church, with the Rev. Stephen J. Williams in charge. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family requests no flowers. Contributions may be made to an athletic scholarship fund to be established at the Teachers College.
     Mr. Welch was a member of the Physical Education Department staff at the Teachers College from 1920 until 1965, when he retired. He was an internationally known track and field coach and an outstanding football coach and teacher. He had trained a number of Olympics athletes and he had coached many football players who went from college to professional football teams.
     He was elected in 1965 to the Kansas All-Sports Hall of Game, one of the many honors he received during his career, which included listings in the Track and Field Hall of Fame and the Chicago Tribune Century Club. And he had a distinguished record of service during World War II, when he entered the Army as a captain and special services officer at Fort Riley and left it of operations of the athletic branch of Army Special Services.
     One of Mr. Welch's last projects was the planning of a reunion in honor of H. W. (Bill) Hargiss. former coach at K.S.T.C. and the University of Kansas. The party was a complete success and few of the former athletes students and friends who attended were aware that Mr. Welch knew he was seriously sick.
     The son of George and Christina Rich Welch, Francis George Welch was born Aug. 21st, 1895, on a farm in the Hartford area. He came in 1914 to Emporia, where he enrolled at K.S.T.C., then Kansas State Normal, and was a star athlete during his undergraduate years. He won 11 letters in three different sports — football, basketball and baseball — while a student, and guided the football team, as the quarterback, to a record of 24 wins, 1 loss and two ties.
     He was awarded his Bachelor of Science Degree in education in 1918, served briefly in the Army, then completed requirements for a degree in agriculture at Kansas State University in Manhattan. In 1920, he returned to the Emporia college and started a career that continued until his retirement.

F. G. (FRAN) WELCH - Funeral Service

Born: August 21, 1895 Hartford, Kansas
Passed Away: June 19, 1970 Kansas City, Kansas
Services: 11:00 a.m. Monday June 22,1970; First Congregational Church Emporia, Kansas
Officiant: Rev. Stephen J. Williams
Soloist: Michael Lindeman
Organist: Vernon Sheffield
Casket Bearers: Keith Caywood, Durward Crooms, Bert Drake, Dr. John Gorman, Clarence Gladfelter, Gerry Hahn, Menzo Hainline, Bernard Taylor
Flag Folding: Ball-McColm Post No. 5, American Legion
Interment: Memorial Lawn Cemetery

Letter from his wife:

Emporia -- July 4, 1970

Dearest Bill and Gen:

     Have thought of you daily, but am too "numb" to write one note. Your presence here meant so much to me. Thank you for the delicious ham!
     I've worked (and am continuing to) on those thoughts, Bill, that you gave me before you left our house. Gen, you are always a joy!
     When Fran entered the hospital five weeks ago today with what we thought was a minor ailment, and then to think that he has been gone over two weeks -- I can scarcely comprehend it. Our loss is so great, and he was having such a wonderful time!
     "Greater love has no man" than he had for you, Bill (as you know), and Gen he not only loved you but would say, "Isn't she great?"
     We have many blessings, and I'm counting them. John stayed one week after the services which helped a lot, then Ann and her family came this weekend -- which all helps.
     I'm grateful for the happy times we had together -- Fran loved those!

My love, Esther