Frank Bernard Cox D.D.S., Class of 1946

(June 30, 1925 - September 19, 2015) Frank Bernard Cox D.D.S., 90, departed this life September 19, 2015, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in the loving company of all his children and other family members.

Frank was born on June 30, 1925, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Beatrice Hawkins Cox and Frank Cox. He graduated Douglass High School in 1942 and followed his friend, Bobby Moon, to Fisk University in Nashville, TN.  While at Fisk, he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., played on various sports teams, sang in the University Choir and served in several leadership positions. There he met the love of his life, Martina Creuzot, from New Orleans, and began planning their future. 

He matriculated to dental school at Meharry Medical College and graduated in 1947 at age 21, the youngest ever Meharry graduate at that time. After an oral surgery internship in St. Louis, Frank established a general dental practice in Oklahoma City in 1948. He married Martina and started his new life as a dentist and family man.

After practicing two years, he was called to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. As a 1st Lieutenant Frank provided dental treatment in Japan for the troops. After his discharge in 1953, he returned to his Oklahoma City practice. 

Frank had a passion for making Oklahoma City a better place, especially for African-Americans. He spearheaded many desegregation endeavors through numerous civic and professional organizations. He championed urban renewal, serving twice as president and on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma City Urban League. Frank also served as president of the local and state chapters of the Med-De-Phar Society, a professional organization of African-American physicians, dentists and pharmacists. He was most proud that after finally gaining entrance to the prestigious Oklahoma County Dental Society, he was eventually elected president, and served on its Board of Trustees. Frank was not only a practicing dentist and civic leader, he was also an extraordinary entrepreneur.

During the era of segregation, when African-Americans were refused access to all golf courses in Oklahoma City, he acquired the lease to Eastern Golf Course which opened the sport to blacks. When his children had been denied access to segregated Catholic schools, Frank negotiated the desegregation of the Oklahoma City Diocese one year after the Brown decision, enabling his two oldest children, Kevin and Tobi, to enroll in Corpus Christi Catholic School in 1957.

His crowning business achievement was bringing cable television Oklahoma City in 1981. He was founding President and Chairman of the Board of Pan Oklahoma Communications, Inc., which through a partnership with Cox Cable, established the modern era of communications in OKC. Frank continued his entrepreneurship by developing and building Chaparral Townhouses in 1984. Additionally, understanding the importance of the financial world, he co-founded Lincoln National Bank.

Frank was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be especially remembered for his quick wit, generous spirit, and love of family and golf. Frank is survived by his wife: Martina Creuzot Cox; children: Honorable Kevin Creuzot Cox (Carless), Tobi Fae Cox, M.B.A., Kerry Christopher Cox, M.D., Kerwin Cedric Cox, and Thais Cox Goodwin, M.B.A. (Terry). Grandchildren include: Kenneth Creuzot Cox, Kerry Christopher Cox, Jr. (Candiss), Kyle Edmonds Cox (Shontell), Kevin Michael Cox, Keith Creuzot Cox and their mother Kathy M. Cox, Gavin Bernard Bowie (deceased), and Millicent Nicole Bowie. Great grandchildren include: Hunter-Aidan Kyle Cox, Kerry Christopher "KC" Cox III, Kameron Steele Cox, and Katherine Marie Cox. Surviving cousins include: Betty Hawkins Noakes, Wanda James Hutchinson, and Carl Lewis; and special loved ones: Debra Jones and Jacqueline "Jackie" Woffard.

He received a plethora of awards for his service to his community, his city, his state, his profession, and his country. His lifelong friends will remember his zest for life and his love of socializing when the business of the day had been handled. Oklahoma City is a better place because of his passion and determination. The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Corpus Christi Catholic Church or Fisk University. 

Published in The Oklahoman on Sept. 24, 2015