Frazier Reams, Jr.

Frazier Reams, Jr., a lifelong Toledoan, was born in the Fall of 1929 at the old Toledo Hospital in downtown Toledo to Crystal and Frazier Reams, Sr. He died peacefully at the age of 90 on July 20, 2020, surrounded by his family who loved and adored him. Throughout his life, Frazier was inspired and compelled by the big idea that the community, indeed the world, can be a better place and that it was incumbent on him to leave a legacy for those who came after him. His life was a true reflection of that concept, from the small details and acts of kindness to the big initiatives, including running for public office, becoming an attorney, and later, developing himself as an entrepreneur. His insightful wisdom and vision over the years made him a sought-after mentor to both family and friends; consequently, he provided those who knew him with a lifetime of amazing experiences that helped them to see the world through his eyes. Frazier was fortunate to have enjoyed the love of education, service, adventure and love of his family; all of these played out in ways that created quite a rewarding and well-lived life. He attended primary and secondary school in Toledo area public schools and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in 1947. From an early age, Frazier learned the importance and value of giving back to others in and around his community. His profound love of service was evident early on when he worked his way through the levels of Boy Scouts, ultimately earning the coveted Eagle Scout award. During the summers, he developed a lifelong love of water (particularly the Great Lakes), maps, and sense of adventure while working on Great Lakes freighters. After his first year of college, he was enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and aboard the USS Kearsarge – air operations, before returning and completing his undergraduate education at Washington & Lee University. Frazier’s unique ability to connect and communicate with others – especially his ability to type – propelled him quickly to the role of Leading Seaman of the Kearsarge. Throughout the rest of his life, Frazier connected deeply with others and was always happy to connect with hand-typed letters, and eventually emails, to family, friends, colleagues and those who sought his valuable advice. He went onto study law at the University of Michigan. Frazier had a great capacity for and lifelong interest in learning. He was an avid reader and even long after his schooling, he enjoyed taking courses that would help him further his ability to connect with others, whether it was a CLE course to help advance his law degree or a computer course to learn the latest tools. He also valued helping others along in their own educational journeys. Following law school, Frazier entered the practice of law as Assistant General Counsel for the Toledo Legal Aid Society and joined the law firm of Reams, Bretherton and Neipp, then became Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Lucas County. Influenced greatly by his father’s participation in politics, Frazier once commented that “the day I sought entry into the political arena was the day I was born.” Frazier’s father, Frazier Reams, Sr., was quite active in politics during his formative years, serving as a U.S. Congressman for several terms. So Frazier followed a natural progression into the political realm when he was elected in an upset victory over the Republican incumbent to become a Member of the Ohio State Senate. As an active State Senator, he was a co-sponsor of the Ohio Arts Council and numerous bills and amendments that impacted the community. Soon after, he became a sought after candidate in the Democratic Party and was the unanimous Democratic nominee for Governor of Ohio in 1966, the youngest in the State’s history, running unsuccessfully against Republican incumbent James Rhodes. During his campaign, he garnered the interest and support of such political luminaries as Robert F. Kennedy, Walter Mondale, John Glenn, who would visit the Reams home for dinner and just talk with Frazier and his family as if they were friends from down the street. During his campaign, Frazier was intent on getting to know his constituents and traveled to every single one of the 88 counties in Ohio. While his gubernatorial bid was unsuccessful, his sense of humor and service never wavered. In a prevalent theme throughout his life, Frazier always took his work seriously, but rarely himself. He always made people feel valued and valuable; even complete strangers would feel like life-long friends after just one conversation with Frazier. Frazier continued his political inclinations when he was selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1964 in Atlantic City, NJ, with his mother, Crystal who also was a delegate, 1968 during the infamous riots in downtown Chicago, and 1972 in Miami with his wife, Susan, also a delegate. In 1968, he was the coordinator of Hubert Humphrey’s campaign in Ohio, and served as co-chair of the Hon. John Glenn’s first campaign for the United States Senate. Even before his political inclinations kicked in, he was already becoming actively involved in numerous boards and organizations around the Northwest Ohio region. Over the years, he served on the boards of Huntington Bank, Easter Seals, Bowling Green State University, Flower Hospital, Toledo Zoological Society, Ft. Meigs, the Black Swamp Conservancy and the Little Harbor Club. He was also very active in various civic groups such as Toledo Rotary, Toledo Bar Association, and Toledo Lucas County Port Authority. Frazier was proud of the experiences and adventures he enjoyed throughout his life, whether serving as a Park Ranger in Estes National Park in Colorado, trying his hand as a staff announcer for WTOL-AM after college, in 1952 or being the first in the region to acquire a cell tower license, or even to install the region’s first platform “paddle” tennis court in his yard for many to enjoy. In addition to growing up in politics, Frazier was naturally drawn to entrepreneurship forming Reams Broadcasting Corporation in 1964 after he purchased the assets of WTOL- AM/FM, which were started by his father in 1937. Upon the acquisition, he changed the call letters to WCWA (AM) and WIOT (FM). Even the names for the radio stations he acquired over the years were a true reflection of Frazier’s sublime wit and self-expression. For example, the nickname for WCWA was “Seaway” because of Toledo’s proximity to the Maumee River and Lake Erie. When he decided to change the FM station to AOR (album oriented rock, or rock & roll), he thought that owning a rock station would be a riot, so he chose the closest name he could get, and WIOT was born and went on to become Toledo’s best rock station.  He also owned radio stations in Muskegon and Flint, MI and Cincinnati, OH. For a short time, he even owned a radio station in Cumberland, MD which he cleverly named WUOK. Above all of his career endeavors, though, family was at the core of Frazier’s life.  From the moment he was introduced to his future wife, Susan, while on a blind date by mutual friends in Ann Arbor, he saw his future path with her and knew he wanted to raise a family. They had a tremendous amount of shared interests and created a lifelong love affair. His sense of adventure and wry sense of humor made family life very entertaining. Frazier loved being on the water, so naturally, he taught his family the joy of sailing. Frazier and his family enjoyed many years in Harbor Springs, Michigan and enjoyed the very best of that area: sailing and boating in the summers, and skiing in the winters. Over the years, Frazier and his crew, often including his three sons, raced in dozens of races, including 15 Mackinac Races, dozens of Northern Michigan races and regattas, and numerous Mills Races. Winning the race was never the goal, it was the sheer love of adventure and teaching those on board that appealed to Frazier. Frazier always showed the best possible version of himself, even when in the midst of strenuous competition. During one Port Huron-Mackinac race, a man on another boat was injured and fell overboard. It was the middle of the night during a particularly harrowing storm, and yet Frazier and his crew of family and friends dropped everything, abandoning any hope of winning the race and dropped out to save the man’s life.  This earned Frazier and his boys and crew a well-deserved Good Samaritan Award from the City of Toledo. Over the years, Frazier’s career pathway was varied, but never without purpose. We could not have navigated this entire phase of life without an exceptional team of caregivers who helped transform an ordinarily sorrow-filled time into a powerful, meaningful and loving experience. Elizabeth Ackerman from Hospice of Northwest Ohio visited every week during this transition; Right at Home - we are so fortunate to have had the best of the best provide such loving care and support from Kay Waggoner and Carol Burnett. And Kelly Ewbank, STNA, who provided support, love, care and expertise for nearly four years. Finally, thanks go to Rev. Dr. Stephen Swisher, Sr. Pastor at Epworth United Methodist Church, for his friendship, fellowship and support during this transition. We are forever indebted to all of you and countless others for your selfless service, care and support. Frazier was pre-deceased by his sister, Martha Lee, and his parents, Crystal Petree Reams and Frazier Reams, Sr. He is deeply loved and missed by those who have survived him: Susan, his wife of nearly six decades (As Frazier was well known to say “you know what we call that? A good start!”); children Ed (Barb), David, John (Kara), and Molly (Scott). In addition, his legacy lives on in his twelve grandchildren (Rusty, Casey, Christy, Mickey, Laila, Hunter, Catherine, Meryl, Hanna, Jeff, Avery and Jack) and three great grandchildren, as well as countless friends. In lieu of flowers, the Reams family welcomes donations to three of Frazier’s favorite organizations: The Frazier Reams Public Affairs Scholarship Fund at Bowling Green State University was established by Frazier Reams, Jr. and his mother, Crystal Petree Reams, for the purpose of supporting rising seniors who intend to pursue public affairs careers in the public sector. BGSU Foundation, Inc. 1851 N. Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH 43403 National Museum of the Great Lakes. Frazier’s lifelong love of sailing, his participation in the US Navy and his love of the Great Lakes, in general, made the Great Lakes Museum a natural choice. National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front Street, Toledo, Ohio 43605 Epworth United Methodist Church – Frazier was a lifelong member and was the longest-serving member at Epworth, the church where Frazier’s parents met and married and helped to rebuild (at the current location).  Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 Central Ave, Toledo, OH 43615 The Celebration of Life Service was conducted by family friend Rev. Dr. Stephen Swisher, Senior Pastor, at his home Church.  The service may be viewed in its entirety by visiting epworth.com/sermons. A public celebration of life will be held at a later date.