Awards

IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award - 2008

About Frank Feigl

Education didn’t always come easy to Frank Feigl. In high school he was a talented athlete, student leader, and

popular, but his studies weren’t a priority. His parents, who were unable to attend high school or college, always stressed to him the importance of education. Eventually Frank heeded their words. He earned a gymnastic scholarship that assisted briefly with his books and tuition while he attended the Normal College of the American Gymnastic Union. Frank started at the Normal College in 1950, where he competed nationally in gymnastics, as well as met his future wife, Loretta Thompson. After a mock job interview at school, Feigl turned into a deans-list student. He eventually went on to earn a doctor of physical education in 1974.

In 1957, Frank was called for a gymnastics coach interview. From Indy, his journey as an educator took him to The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he eventually retired in 1989. Without the possibility of recruiting athletes into his program, Feigl had to teach his gymnasts everything they knew. This process was very rewarding for Feigl, and he was immensely proud of coaching the team to a third-place in conference one year. He received coach of the year for his efforts that year.

His late wife, Loretta Feigl, attended Indiana University’s Normal College for two years on scholarship. Later, she received another scholarship, which helped her earn a master’s degree from Indiana University. Her passing in 2006 prompted Feigl to consider a way to honor her legacy. Her lifelong love of and dedication to education convinced him to start multiple scholarships to support students at IUPUI and from his local church. Feigl established the Loretta and Frank Feigl Scholarship, an endowed scholarship benefiting physical education

students, in December 2006.