FRANK D. VONDRA SR.

Merit Award Recipient
​Honored in 2023

Frank D. Vondra Sr. was honored posthumously with the Merit Award at the SHSAA Packer Sports Greats ceremony in 2023.

Frank attended South from 1934 through 1937. While there he played football, wrestled and ran track.  He was known as Iron Man, was part of the intercity champs football team and captained the team his senior year.  He played both offense and defense which meant he played every play in every game.

After graduating from South, Frank attended Omaha University for one year and later worked at Wilson Packing as a head machinist.  He served in the US Navy during World War II from 1940 to 1948 and was at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Along with being stationed in San Francisco, he was also stationed at multiple bases across Australia and at Manilla Bay, Philippines. 

He was awarded a Battle Service Star, Combat Action Ribbon, American Defense Service Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Engagement Stars (Pearl Harbor), and World War II Victory Medal.

Frank was a member of DAV Chapter 2 (deputy and lifetime member), VFW Post 2704, American Legion Post 331, 40 & 8 Club, F.O.E. Post 38 and a union rep at Wilson Packing.  He was married to his wife, Margaret (Whitney)-1938, for almost 50 years. They had one son: Frank Jr. 

Frank Sr. passed away in 1991 at the age of 72.