FRANCES (GALUS) SEMPEK

Class of 1934
Merit Award

Fran was given the Merit Award at the SHSAA Packer Sports Greats in 2014.
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Frances (Galus) Sempek was involved in many sports activities including placing second in the city for running broad jump, third in the 50-yard dash, being elected basketball team captain in 1932, badminton YWCA champ in 1945, and playing first base and short stop on a softball team.

Raised in South Omaha during the Depression, Fran went to work at age eight cleaning homes and babysitting. At 15 she began a career at Arnold’s Photography as a cleaning lady and working her way up to become an award-winning photographer. She also danced in the chorus line at the Orpheum Theater at age 16. In golf she won the Omaha Women’s Invitational Tournament at Omaha Field Club in 1948 and 1949 and was runner-up in 1945 and 1950.

​Fran was inducted into the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. She also volunteered at Children’s Hospital and Social Services in the 1960s and 1970s. She passed away in April 2008 at age 92. Fran’s daughter accepted the award on her behalf.