A party fit for a King

Veteran, journalist and teacher Frank King celebrates a century

By Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

A birthday party is not the usual kind of event put on by the Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Department.

But Frank King is not the usual birthday boy.

We first met four years ago when I interviewed him for my column about inspiring people in the community. It wasn’t easy finding a time to meet, though, because his schedule was disrupted by a decision to begin piano lessons — at the age of 96.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, the community is invited to the Lincoln City Community Center to help friends and family celebrate King reaching a century.

The time has flown by between our meetings, but I’m happy to report that on the cusp of his 100th birthday, Frank is still sharp as a tack, hanging on to his mobility and his sense of humor.

He also still has a fiery energy when talking about things that are important to him, like voting.

“I just want people to always think about how important this birthright is,” he said. “To me it’s one of the most important things in life. When I was on Guadalcanal and almost getting my ass shot off, I couldn’t vote or go in a bar and drink and that pissed me off. When I got home, my dad had a voter registration form ready to go. I voted for Roosevelt for his fourth term, and I haven’t missed a primary or general election since. If you don’t vote you get kicked out of my club.”

It hasn’t been easy-street for the World War II veteran since we last spoke. At the age of 97, Frank lost the house he’d lived in since 1990, when it was destroyed in the Echo Mountain fire.

“We were watching the fire as it came toward us,” he said. “We knew it was time to go when we saw the transformer blow up. There were 12 family members here and at the house next door that I bought for my son. So all 12 of us evacuated together; five generations of us.”

And he proved that life’s lessons are always being learned.

“I lost everything: genealogical records, all the things I’d written for the Statesman Journal, all my darkroom equipment, all my photographs,” he said. “There was initial shock, of course, But it's just things — the fact that 12 of us got out without a scrape, that’s what I’m grateful for.”

Frank began to rebuild as soon as possible, not even considering leaving the area after experiencing such devastation.

“I was fully insured but we got a little help from the state agencies for things we lost that weren’t covered,” he said. “We are very fortunate — I love this place. I can sit out on my deck and look over the Salmon River estuary, it’s really neat.”

While we talk, Frank's granddaughter Sanie King-Haug, one of the 12 family members that were there during the fire, hovered lovingly nearby, a constant yet non-intrusive presence.

“I’m his first-born biological grandchild” she said. “He taught me how to read using the newspaper — I could read before I was in kindergarten thanks to that man. And he taught me how to drive.”

When she married, she took her husband's name but keeping King with the hyphenate was non-negotiable.

“I’m proud of that name,” she said. “I’m very grateful to be Frank's granddaughter.”

The sentiment is mutual.

“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Sanie,” Frank said, adding, “And she probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.”

As we took a break from the interview to take a walk outside, Frank very proudly showed me his new shop, including the work table he recently built with his own hands, and the tools he salvaged from the fire that he is attempting to restore.

Movement is very important to Frank and for a long while swimming was a favorite activity.

“I’ve quit swimming but now I’ve started doing water aerobics instead,” he said. “I also walk the track at the center. I always try to keep moving in some way”

Frank exudes a mixture of pride in reaching a century and modesty that people want to make a big deal about it.

“Everybody else is excited about the party but for me it’s just another day,” he said. “I’m grateful for my friends and family, but after this long birthday’s just aren’t that big of a deal — I live life one day at a time.”

But, his face still lit up when I asked who is coming to the party.

“It will be great to see everyone,” he said. “All my ham radio friends and senior center friends, a daughter is coming from Eastern Oregon and a granddaughter is coming from the south.”

Frank had a simple summation of his full and rewarding life.

“It’s been a good ride,” he said.

Frank King’s 100th birthday party starts at 10 am this Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Lincoln City Community Center, located at 2150 NE Oar Place.