Preview
Class Year
1914
Description
Frank Hereford Tomkies, B.S. '12, LL.B. '14
Lexington, Kentucky
Henry Clay Law Society; Patterson Literary Society; Horace Mann Society.
"In the course of human vicissitudes there are naturally many changes." When Tomkies graduated in 1912 his soul was burning with pedagogic curiosity, but the mum and hum of youthful interrogatives together with paper wads, erasers, books, etc., etc., which were often hurled at his back, was too much for the good nature of the youthful pedagogue, hence he soon found that to instruct was not his calling. He therefore forsook the teaching of children, fled from their prattling pranks and silvery peals of laughter, and decided to wrangle and jangle with the endless tongues of lawyers.
-The Kentuckian, 1914
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Frank Hereford Tomkies (November 24, 1887 - May 24, 1968) was born in Hinton, West Virginia to Morgan Douglas Tomkies and Clara Frances Jordan. Tomkies attended the University of Kentucky where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1912 and an LL.B. in 1914. He returned to Hinton, West Virginia and worked as a high school principal and superintendent. Later, Tomkies moved to Huntington and practiced law. During World War I, he served as Adjutant, 154th Aero Service Squadron of the United States Army Air Service. In April 1918, Tomkies began training for aerial combat at the School of Aerial Fighting in Ayr, Scotland. He was discharged and returned to West Virginia in August 1919. Tomkies re-entered service in the United States Air Force during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 having attained the rank of Major. He married Clara Clyde in 1926.
