Frank Waller

Who was Frank Waller?

Frank Laird Waller was an American athlete who specialized in the 400 metres.

He competed in the early twentieth century. He won two silver medals in Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics in the men's 400 metres and 400 metre hurdles behind gold medalist Harry Hillman in both events, while a student at the University of Wisconsin. He was U.S. Champion in the men's 440 yards in 1905 and 1906, and the 220 yard hurdles while competing for the Milwaukee Athletic Club.

He graduated from Menomonee High School, and later the University of Wisconsin in 1907. After his college graduation, Waller went on tour with the singer Lillian Russell as her pianist. When he lived in Chicago he knew William T Purdy and Carl Beck, who together wrote the University of Wisconsin fight song "On Wisconsin." Waller told Purdy about a contest and $100 prize to write a University of Minnesota fight song. Carl Beck convinced Purdy it should be presented to the University of Wisconsin as their fight song.

He later served as a voice coach and headed the voice department at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music.