By Tim Farley, News Editor – had no idea the recognition he would receive last Friday before Yukon school Superintendent Jason Simeroth announced the longtime city manager as the winner of the annual H.B. Frank award.
The award, which exemplifies longstanding commitment to the community, was presented during the Jan. 26 Yukon Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala at The Palace Events Center in El Reno.
“It was a great surprise and a great honor,” Crosby said. “Every day, you do your best to make things better in the community and to be recognized for that effort is a great honor. I can’t believe I received it. It was quite a shock, but I appreciate the recognition and award.”
Simeroth said Crosby’s dedication to Yukon was noticeable on a cold winter day when the two met at a road construction site that impacted two Yukon schools.
“I called Jim and asked what was going on with this particular road. I was concerned about buses being able to run. It was during the Christmas break and we didn’t know if it would be finished when school started back up. He was willing to meet me at 7:45 one morning so he could show what they were doing. I was satisfied with what he said and we were able to run the buses like we had hoped,” Simeroth said.
Simeroth described Crosby as a man who is “willing to help citizens, schools and city departments.”
“He’s someone who’s willing to work to maintain and improve the quality of life in Yukon,” the superintendent said.
Public servants typically don’t think about community honors like the H.B. Frank Award, Simeroth said.
“People who jobs like this, whether it’s a city manager or a police chief, aren’t into it for the awards. They’re really not expecting it. It further speaks to what he does as city manager. It usually a surprise, often warranted, but rarely given.”
The H. B. Frank award is given to a person who represents the best that Yukon has to offer and who has endeavored to make the city a better place to live, work, and play.
Frank owned HB Frank Variety stores in Yukon and throughout the state before he became a director of the First National Bank of Yukon. He was a member of the Lion’s Club, the Kiwanis Club, and active in his church, First Christian Church, where he taught Sunday School with his wife Myrel.
In 1984, Frank received the Chamber Citizen of the Year Award. He died in October 1988 following a stroke. Soon after, the chamber voted to name an award after him.
