Frank Chelf

Who was Frank Chelf?

Frank Leslie Chelf was a United States Representative from Kentucky. He was born on a farm near Elizabethtown, Kentucky. He attended the public schools as well as Centre College at Danville, Kentucky and St. Mary’s College. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee in 1931 and was admitted to the bar in 1931 and commenced practice in Lebanon, Kentucky. He served as an attorney of Marion County, Kentucky 1933-1944.

Chelf took leave of absence from his official duties on August 1, 1942, to volunteer in the United States Army and was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Air Corps and saw active service in World War II. He served as chief code designator, Intelligence Division, Air Transport Command, and later as executive officer, Plans and Liaison Division, and as assistant chief of Air Staff Training. He was discharged on August 10, 1944, due to physical disability, with rank of major in the Air Corps.

Chelf served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1936.