1996 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE | FRANK SPRAKER
A native of Cripple Creek, Virginia, Spraker attended Wytheville High School before entering Milligan in January 1939 to play football, baseball and track. His college career was briefly interrupted in March 1942 when he joined the United States Army. After leaving the Army in November 1945 with an honorable discharge, Spraker returned to Milligan where he received the Virgil L. Elliot Award for Academics and Athletics.
In 1947, Spraker earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, and later did master's work at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. After teaching at St. Paul High School in St. Paul, Virginia, for a year, Spraker returned to his college alma mater to teach laboratory sciences. He served as Milligan's assistant football and basketball coach under Hugh Yancey and Eddie Old and was head coach of the Buffaloes baseball team.
In 1952, Spraker returned to his hometown of Grundy, Virginia, to teach and coach at Grundy Senior High School. He later served as athletic director and principal at Garden Elementary School and Grundy Senior High School before retiring in 1983.
Spraker recently passed away on September 19, 1996 after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Boatwright of Coeburn, Virginia, three children and three grandchildren.