Frank Boynton competed at golf’s highest level, yet making people laugh was his life’s work

We read and publish every obituary that comes our way, and every so often, there’s a story we have to emphasize. The obituary of Franklin Boynton III, a longtime Kerrville resident who died Thursday at 86, got our attention for several reasons, including a long career on the PGA Tour.

It was the PGA experience that drew our interest. As we’ve mentioned, pro sports experience can sometimes be exaggerated, but not in the case of Boynton, who played in 191 tournaments and made the cut 160 times. It wasn’t necessarily lucrative; his career earnings were about $85,000 unadjusted for inflation, and he never had a tour win, but he competed.

More importantly, Boynton competed against some of the best, including Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Dave Stockton, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and many more of the sport’s greatest names. Golf wasn’t the only thing in his life; Boynton earned acclaim around Kerrville for his masterful storytelling and determination to make people laugh.

“He was a gentleman’s gentleman, a mentor to many and a friend to everyone he met,” wrote Kerrville City Councilmember Jeff Harris on The Lead’s Facebook page. “I will miss your stories of being on the PGA Tour and that of his life experiences.”

Boynton joined the tour in 1957 when he was 21. He had to take a break from the tour from 1959 to 1960 during a stint in the Navy, but golf was his life over the next decade. Boynton placed second twice, earned a third-place finish, had six top-five efforts and had 14 top-10 finishes. In 1969, he left the tour but continued as a teaching professional. The PGA Tour’s official website suggests his last tournament came in 1978.

It was golf that led to an introduction to his wife, Betty, who he met in 1980 when he was the general manager of Austin’s Great Hills Golf Course. The couple married in 1982, a union that lasted until his death.

“Frank got me started as a golf course rater for the Texas Golf Association,” wrote Bill Wood. “Really going to miss him. Radar was the smartest dog I ever met. They are together again.”

Frank and Betty moved to Kerrville in 1997, where they became involved in the First United Methodist Church. They enjoyed teaching Sunday School and were active in several dog-related causes.

“Frank was always so upbeat and positive,” wrote Kathy Sears Hall. “His bravery in facing his cancer was impressive. I will miss his smile. Betty, you have a new guardian angel in your corner.”

And it was Betty who said it best.

“Thank you so much for the kind words,” she wrote in response to Hall. “I will miss him sooooo much, but know that he’ll be looking after me from up there! Funeral services Saturday, 2 p.m. at KFUMC.”

That’s right, Frank Boynton’s memorial is at 2 p.m. on Saturday. It will be a memorable service.