Neil Frank, the beloved grandfather of Christian artist Forrest Frank, passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 94. Neil was not only a family figure but also a significant presence in the field of meteorology.
A seasoned meteorologist, he was instrumental in advancing hurricane forecasting while serving as the director of the National Hurricane Center for 13 years. Following his tenure there, he was the chief meteorologist at KHOU 11 in Houston for over two decades, where his insights were a dependable source during major Gulf Coast storms.
While Forrest Frank has gained recognition for his music and performances, Neil Frank was a familiar name to many Texans.
During a recent concert, Forrest included a segment featuring Neil’s speech from the 1985 Billy Graham Crusade. Neil’s voice also made its way into some of Forrest’s albums.
On Instagram, Forrest expressed, “Today my grandfather went with Jesus,” sharing a clip from Neil’s ’85 sermon. He reflected, “I loved being on stage after this because it shows that I am a result of prayer, promise, and blessing. We named our newborn son after him. We will meet again someday. Until then, I’ll continue to do what you did for me: spreading the name of Jesus.”
In 2024, Forrest talked about his grandfather at Liberty University, calling him his role model and emphasizing his deep love for Jesus. He shared that his grandfather had a unique way of engaging people that often led to prayer, saying, “You just couldn’t leave a conversation without him wanting to pray for you.” He smiled reminiscing about how people would greet Neil at restaurants, “Dr. Neil Frank, how are you doing? He’s just a local guy from Houston.”
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Forrest Frank and his wife Grace celebrate the birth of their son Sonny.
