Ohio State mourns passing of Frank Howard

Frank Howard, a two-sport athlete and All-American at Ohio State, passed away Monday, Oct. 30 in Adie, Va., at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke.

In basketball, Howard was a three-year letterwinner from 1956-58 under head coach Floyd Stahl. He held career averages of 17.4 points as well as 13.9 rebounds per game, which is second-best in program history.

Howard still holds the single game rebound record with 32 against BYU on Dec. 29, 1956. The 6-7 Howard was an All-American in 1957 when he averaged 20.1 points and 15.3 rebounds, leading the Buckeyes to a 14-8 record and a third-place finish in the Big Ten.

The Columbus, Ohio, native was a two-year letterwinner in baseball (1956-57). During his first season in 1956, he led the Buckeyes with 27 RBIs and five homeruns. He had a standout season in 1957, leading Ohio State in batting average (.366), hits (26), RBIs (13), doubles (six) and stolen bases (six). He earned an All-American honor following the 1957 season.

Howard signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958 and went on to have a stellar career in Major League Baseball.

Howard was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982.