Dr. Frank Pleasants, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home on December 14, 2019. Frank was born in Aberdeen, North Carolina on April 14, 1930, the son of Francis Pleasants and Ethel Maurer Pleasants. He graduated from Aberdeen High School, and from Catawba College in 1952, where he enjoyed a successful collegiate basketball career. Shortly after graduation, Frank enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, serving 27 months on the Chincoteague as a Radioman. He was released from active duty in 1956.
Frank continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a Master’s Degree in 1957, then pursued his doctorate at Florida State University where he met Margaret Dunn, who would, a short time later, become his wife. Margaret and Frank married in 1962, and he successfully completed his doctoral degree in 1963.
Frank’s first faculty position was at the University of South Carolina. In 1962, he joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, shortly after it became co-educational. He was the first male faculty member in the Physical Education Department. Because of his many contributions to the department and UNC-G athletics, he was inducted into the UNC-G Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 1973, Frank joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill as Professor and Director of Graduate Studies and Admissions in the Department of Physical Education. Under his direction, program enrollment increased and a new PhD program was approved. Frank retired from the University in 1995.
Frank is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margaret Dunn Pleasants; his daughters and sons-in-law Laura and Frank Gilliam, and Linda Pleasants and George Custer; and granddaughter Rachel Gilliam and grandson Ian Gilliam.
A private burial service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Freedom Service Dogs of America https://freedomservicedogs.org/donatefsd/ , 7193 S Dillon Ct., Englewood, CO 80112; or National Disaster Search Dog Foundation https://donate.searchdogfoundation.org/1170 , 6800 Wheeler Canyon Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home.
