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Larger Than Life Conservationist Passes Away

HOLLIS, C. Frank (Bronco) III, 65, passed away peacefully in his Varina, Virginia home on December 19, 2009. Frank was an active member of the Old Dominion chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation as well as the Fort Lee Baptist Church, Varina Masonic Lodge 272, and Virginia Claremont Lodge 177. He was a retired member of the Carpenters Union Local 388 and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. He rode the rodeo circuit in the United States and Canada for over 20 years, capturing 36 championships. He was an avid hunter of deer, elk, and bear. He loved God, his family, life, friends, and telling jokes to, even the occasional stranger; although he never met a stranger.

Bobby Hughes, of the RMEF Old Dominion chapter remembers Frank with these words: “Frank wasn’t the type of man to leave things undone. When I spoke with him approximately a month ago, he donated to the Elk Foundation, 19 consecutive Big Game Banquet knives. He collected them for 19 years for a special purpose; He has instructed that the proceeds of the sale from his collection be used to put elk on the ground in Virginia. At the same time he was rememberinghis gift tothe RMEF, he was also reroofing, residing and repainting his home so his family wouldn’t have any worries after his passing. This is the type of a man that gifted the RMEF and that we are honored to call “friend”.

Tinker Frazier, Virginia RMEF State Chair remembers Frank: “Time spent with Frank always left you breathless with laughter. Never before have we met such a man who was truly larger than life. With his priorities always arrow straight and true, and a booming voice powered by a chest full of pride in his love of God, family and country, you never messed with Frank unless you were sharing a really good joke. Buddy Smith shared with me fond stories of long drives to elk camp with Frank keeping him in stitches for the entire trip. Frank was to go on safari with us, but his health had taken a downturn. We couldn’t have asked for a better friend to join us on one of life’s adventures. He dreamed of elk in Virginia and lived to see his dream come true.”

A conservation memorial has been created in memory of Frank at the headquarters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in Missoula, MT. If you would like to honor Frank and his legacy by making a memorial gift to support wildlife habitat then please contact, Michelle Tucker, Major Gifts Coordinator, at 1-800-CALL ELK, ext. 479 or mtucker@rmef.org.20100106_Untitled

Kevin Paulson

Kevin Paulson is the Founder and CEO of HuntingLife.com. His passion for Hunting began at the age of 5 hunting alongside of his father. Kevin has followed his dreams through outfitting, conservation work, videography and hunting trips around the world.

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