Frank Smith Sims

1904 - 1955

The third child and eldest son of the Sims’ clan was Frank Smith Sims. Born December 4, 1904 in Washington, DC while his father Edwin Walter (EW) was special attorney to the Bureau of Corporations under the Roosevelt Administration. He was the son of a powerful and politically well-connected father and a doting and loving mother. He grew up in a Victorian household that valued personal effort and a strong social conscience. His father was a strong believer in standing up for oneself and being responsible for one’s actions. Frank took that to heart. He idolized his father and wanted to “Do him proud”.

Frank Sims as a 2-year-old with his grandfather Walter Sims, father EW Sims and Great Grandfather Edwin Sims in 1906

Initially attending Chicago schools in the Hyde Park area (southside), he moved on to Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, a well-known college prep school, where he was a 1924 classmate of his future brother-in-law Richard G. Coffin. From Mercersburg to the University of Michigan, Frank earned his BA in 1928 and returned to Chicago, graduating from Northwestern Law School in 1931. While in law school, he met and fell in love with the beautiful Betty McNair, whose father Frank was vice president of Harris Trust and Savings and uncle Harry was the horse commissioner of the Chicago Union Stock Yards. The June 17, 1930 wedding was lavish and all the family attended.

They settled in to their home at 73 East Elm and soon welcomed their first son Frank McNair Sims in 1932, then David Knowles Sims in 1935 and, much later, Sherry Sims in 1945.

In the early 1930’s the newly minted attorney worked as a Cook County prosecutor on criminal cases, and then was appointed assistant state’s attorney in 1932 and 1933. Frank ran for state representative from the 29th district in 1932. In 1934 he joined the law firm of Sims and Stransky; becoming a partner of Sims, Handy, McKnight and Carey in 1938. During this time, he represented estates, contested wills, and handled general law cases in the Chicago courts. As president of Young Republicans Inc (1935), he was as active as his father in the politics of the time and actively worked against the Democratic Machine then in control of Chicago. He sat on boards of directors and on numerous committees, and worked tirelessly for community improvement. Politically he backed Dwight H Green’s successful run for governor of Illinois and Charles S Dewey’s run for congress.

Frank Smith Sims as a young new attorney in Chicago – 1930’s

During WWII Frank joined the navy and became a lieutenant commander in the European theater.

Frank Smith Sims as aa WWII lieutenant commander in the European Theater – abt. 1944

After release from the navy in 1945, Frank and his family moved to their new apartment on Lake Shore Drive and Frank returned to business life in Chicago. He quickly resumed his position on the board of directors of the Association House of Chicago, a public service organization still active in Chicago, among others. Politically, he became an advisor to Martin H Kennelly, a democratic reformer, mayor of Chicago from 1947 -1955 as chair of the committee on city expenditures; quickly dubbed the “little Hoover committee” [this committee led to creation of the Chicago Home Rule Commission who tried, but finally failed, to adopt a modern charter for the city of Chicago]. In 1947, 15 Midwest companies engaged in bottling and merchandising Coca-Cola merged into the La Salle Coca-Cola Bottling company and Frank - became vice -president; by 1954 he became executive vice president and director of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Chicago Inc., elected president of the Civic federation, Chicago, and sat on the board of directors of the Upper Avenue National Bank of Chicago.

His true joy was to spend his free time at his large brown brick house at Sims Ranch. Fishing, hunting, sailing and enjoying the outdoors, he tried to imbue the same love in his children. The house had tennis courts, a guest house (called Stagger Inn) and was a center of social life among the 6 EW Sims’ children; he and Betty were instrumental in reviving the Sims Ranch hunt in 1951. Sadly, he developed laryngeal cancer and, soon after his 50th birthday, died in Chicago on Feb 12, 1955. After that, his family found a new summer house closer to Chicago and the house at Sims Ranch became a summer rental. Buried in Chicago, his heart is still at Sims Ranch.

Frank in his glory – a large catch of fish, spending the day with his father and other family members at the Ranch

But sailing was his favorite... His mother Charlotte Sims is seen on the right. Abt. 1935.