Frank

How it all began.......

The idea of carving a decoy was sparked while on a fishing trip with good friend and fellow carver Bill Raynal. After spotting some mallards on Lake Huron, Frank mentioned to Bill that a decoy for the mantle would be nice.  Bill’s reply was “well then, let’s carve one”. That was in the spring of 1993.... the rest, as they say, is history.  Frank and Bill soon paid a visit to Art Kaherl, an established decoy carver/teacher and began learning the basics of turning a piece of wood into a decoy.  After several years of creating a few "masterpieces" and a whole lot of “kindling”, Frank studied under the guidance of Jon Jones, the 1994 World’s Champion carver. The very first decoy Frank carved was a Mallard for the mantle, which is still one of his favorites of a growing collection.  Since Frank's carving has significantly improved over the years, the "mallard on the mantle" has been  periodically replaced  with his latest duck du jour.

 1st Competition Decoy - 1994

Paul Foytack Congratulates Frank on BOS Win 1996

Frank went on to carve other species and with great urging from Bill Raynal entered a Hooded Merganser drake into the 1994 St. Clair Flats competition. Much to Frank’s surprise, he took a blue ribbon for Mergansers, beating out four other decoys, and went on to take a second place ribbon in Goose and Confidence for the novice class. Up until that time, Frank never realized he had a competitive bone in his body.  The following year, with no coaxing, Frank again entered his decoys in  competition. This time Frank took Best Confidence with a Hen Merganser, and second Best Of Show.  In 1996, Frank swept the North American Championships by winning First, Second, and Third Best of Show, Novice Division. He also won Best Of Show at the O.D.C.C.A. Westlake Ohio show in 1996 and 1997, and in 1998 won Best of Show in the Decorative Decoy class.

1st Open Class Best of Show  -  2000

Frank quickly moved up to the Open Class division.  Since then, his decoys have consistently finished near the top of the ranks.  Frank’s first Open class victory came in California’s Pacific Flyway Decoy Association, February 2000 decoy show, where he won First and Second Best of Show. The following year, Frank went on to win the East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival’s “Pamlico” Hen contest with an Oldsquaw Hen.

In the classroom

Frank and students at 2002 Livonia show

After one of the shows, Frank was approached by several carvers to give a “few” lessons.  Those "few" lessons have stretched out for the last couple years and the classes have grown in size.  Every Monday and Tuesday evening, carvers meet in Frank’s work room to carve decoys and share “duck tales“.  Most of his students have entered their decoys into competition and won numerous ribbons.  His youngest student, a talented young lady of fifteen (at the time), won the 2000 World’s Junior Division in Ocean City Maryland.

 

Frank’s decoy carving is not always about competition.  He also uses his skills to generously support Ducks Unlimited and Waterfowl U.S.A.   By donating his decoys to these organizations, thousands of dollars have been raised for the research and preservation of wetlands.  Frank has also donated his decoys as raffle prizes to help raise funds for various carving clubs that help promote decoy carving.