Robert Franklin "Frank" Mensel

6/22/29 - 9/4/23

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Robert Franklin Mensel, 94, on September 4, 2023 in Denton, Texas. He was born on July 22nd, 1929 in Provo, Utah to Olive Christiane Syndergaard Mensel and Harry Bowman Mensel.

Throughout his career, Frank proudly served community colleges in national affairs, initially leading their strong support of Sen. Claiborne Pell in the 1972 enactment of the Pell Grant. He served as the lone Congressional liaison for both the Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees. Frank began his career at 18 as a reporter for The Salt Lake Tribune. He continued to write for many years as national policy advisor for the American Student Association of Community Colleges, the student-government network he cofounded, and as Senior Fellow with the Education Policy Center of the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa. His Washington career started as staff director for Utah congressman, David S. King. He then served as Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and later as Executive Director of the College and University Personnel Association. A graduate of Brigham Young University with an MS from the University of Utah, he also received as  an honorary doctorate from Salt Lake Community College and an honorary associate degree from Oakland Community College, Michigan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Dorothy Stratton, Laura Montori, and Marjorie Denny; first wife, Carol Adams Mensel; and grandson George Glissmeyer.

He is survived by wife, Bonny Franke, daughter Zenda Schwab (Paul); three sons: Fred Mensel (Jane), Darrell Mensel, Bob Mensel (Dale); three step-daughters: Carole Franke Bonner (Henry), Sandra Kim Lepley (Bob), Paula Franke Mears (Bruce); 14  grand children and step-grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

Dedicating 45 years to bettering the lives of students, Frank invested heavily in Community Colleges and was instrumental in the foundation of the Pell Grant. He strongly believed that education, and specifically Community Colleges were a springboard to achieving the American Dream.

Those who knew Frank knew his love for humor and thirst for knowledge, so we will leave him with a quote from his blog, "Always Frank":

"If our existence has taught us anything, it's that life requires discipline to work positively. Discipline in every phase: self, family, community, job, government, business, and the arts."