Frank Cloud dedicated his life to the education of students, serving 11 years as a high school biology teacher and 18 years as the Director of University Housing at Sam Houston State University.  How did Frank make this switch in careers?  As the Dean of Students was looking for someone to join his staff and combine the men’s and women’s housing departments, he discovered that he might just have the person he needed in one of his neighbors. The Dean interviewed students, teachers, and administrators at Huntsville High School and then quickly set about convincing Frank that he should accept this new challenge.  His trust was rewarded with 18 years of dedicated service to Sam Houston State University.

Frank was known as an innovator with a quest for excellence.  Among the most notable accomplishments of his tenure were numerous renovation projects to SHSU’s 34 residence halls (little work had been done for many years); creation of an in-house maintenance staff; the combination of the housing, dining, and vending departments; outsourcing of custodial services (first school in SWACUHO to do so); and creation of area coordinator, facility manager, and interior design coordinator positions.

Although Frank was an excellent administrator in the facilities and business aspects of his job, his greatest strength was in caring for the individual student and staff member.  Early in his career, he sought every opportunity to learn about housing and residence life through SWACUHO, ACUHO-I, and from the many friends he made quickly because of his warm demeanor.  He then turned his attention to teaching others what he had learned, sharing his passion for education and for excellence.  Because of his mentoring, many of his staff took on leadership positions in our profession and also decided to make residence life a career commitment.

In 1983, Frank was diagnosed with leukemia, a disease he fought with grace and dignity for more than 10 years.  His gentle ways and quest for excellence in all areas of life quickly made him a favorite of the doctors and staff at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, TX.  To spend a day with Frank at the hospital was an education in itself in what one life can mean to so many others, no matter how difficult the circumstances.  Frank served as Vice-Chair of the Anderson Network, a patient support group he helped found.  Traveling extensively in south and central Texas, he helped set up many local support groups.  His most rewarding involvement was in providing support and encouragement for other patients and their families, especially bone marrow transplant patients.  Having undergone chemotherapy, interferon treatments, and a bone marrow transplant, Frank’s example, courage, and advice were accepted gratefully.

Through Frank’s diligence and leadership, the residence life program at Sam Houston State University developed to the point that his program received the 1990 SWACUHO Excellence Award.  He served SWACUHO in several capacities including President in 1981-82.  Frank was personally honored with the SWACUHO Distinguished Service Award in 1983 and the Jim Gibson Exceptional Service Award in 1989.

In 1990, Frank took medical disability retirement.  He remained active with the Anderson Network until his death on January 7, 1994.  Recognizing the importance of Frank Cloud’s leadership and contributions to SWACUHO, the 1993-94 Executive Committee voted to honor Frank by naming the Award of Excellence in his memory.  Fittingly, the theme of the first Frank Cloud Award of Excellence was “Developing Leaders Through Residence Life.”