Roy K. Frick

FRICK, Roy K., PhD, age 78, died June 2, 2008 after a 2 year battle with cancer. He was born in Columbia, SC to Viola and Roy Frick (deceased). Dr. Frick was born July 13, 1929 in Columbia, S.C., and graduated from Spartanburg High School, Spartanburg, S.C., in 1946. He received a bachelor of science degree in engineering physics from Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., and an Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corp commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve in 1950. He received a master of science degree in industrial and systems engineering in 1966 and a doctor of philosophy in industrial and systems engineering in 1970 from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. He completed the Senior Executive Development Course at the Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va., and the National and International Security Program at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., in 1981.

Dr. Frick began employment with the Air Force in March 1951 as a physicist in the Propeller Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, serving as a control systems analyst. In April 1955, he entered the active Air Force as a first lieutenant, continuing his duties in the Propeller Laboratory.

Upon separation from the Air Force in April 1957, Dr. Frick became a physicist for the Mound Laboratory, Monsanto Chemical Co., Miamisburg, Ohio. He was a principal member of the team that made the neutron source for the second nuclear powered submarine, the Skipjack.

In March 1958, Dr. Frick returned to Wright-Patterson as an aeronautical power plant engineer in the Secondary Power Division of the Aero Propulsion Laboratory. In June 1959, he transferred to Aeronautical Systems Division's Aeronautical Research Laboratory as an aerospace research engineer responsible for calculating aerospace vehicle dynamics, and simulating flight conditions for such vehicles. Dr. Frick became an Aeronautical Systems Division operations research analyst at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in April 1962, analyzing mission capabilities of conceptual Air Force systems. He headed the study team that made the original design recommendations for the B-1 bomber.

In September 1967, he was assigned as a division chief in the Deputy for Development Planning at Aeronautical Systems Division, and was appointed director in February 1980. While assigned to this deputate, he was active in many planning studies for the Air Force, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and joint service programs. Dr. Frick assumed his current position in June 1980.

Dr. Frick was a registered professional electrical engineer and served as a part-time graduate faculty member at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and several other universities. He was the author of 28 published papers and over 30 Department of Defense and NATO internal reports. He was active on many panels and committees for the Air Force, Department of Defense, NATO, the intelligence community, and several technical societies.

Following his retirement in 1984 he served as professor of engineering at University of Dayton from 1984-1997 where he received faculty emeritus status. His retirement years were spent dabbling in art and playing in the Kettering Civic Band. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Lou. Other family members included his three children, Jeanne Harmeyer (Jerry), Janis Stratis (James), Eric Frick (Amy); eight grandchildren, Jennifer, Stephanie and Phillip Conners; Kari, Kelly and Mark Stratis; Eric and Alexandra Frick; great grandchild, Dominic Pirigyi; brother Dr. Thornwell Frick and his wife Dottie.

Roy and Mary Lou were long time members of the Lutheran Church of our Savior, 155 E. Thruston Blvd., Oakwood, where funeral services will be held at 11:30 am Friday, June 6, 2008. The family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 9:30 am until the time of service. Processional and burial at David's Cemetery will take place after the funeral. If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice or to the American Cancer Society.