STEAMWHEELERFANS.COM SPECIAL FEATURE

Article:   Remembering Coach Rick Frazier Date:  November 18, 2007 By:  Gary Stibolt, Staff Writer

..... As we head into the 2007 holiday season, an unexpected tragedy strikes the hearts of many Arena Football fans, family members, and close friends upon learning of the passing of Coach Rick Frazier.  The former Quad City Steamwheelers Head Coach suffered the greatest defeat of all when he passed away Friday, November 16, 2007 in Hartland, Wisconsin. Coach Frazier had been battling a nuisance type of infection for several weeks that developed into pneumonia which eventually took his life. Coach Frazier led the Quad City Steamwheelers in 2005 and 2006.  He also coached in Norfolk, VA (af2), Milwaukee, WI (AFL), Grand Rapids, MI (AFL), and most recently was the defensive coordinator in Bakersfield, CA during their 2007 arenafootball2 season.  Coach Frazier lived his legacy on the sidelines from Texas High Schools through colleges and into the pros for over thirty years.  He spent half of his coaching career in Arena Football. Coach Frazier was originally from Texas where his kids and grandchildren reside.  He and Shelly lived together in Hartland, Wisconsin.  A Memorial Service for Coach Frazier will be held Monday, November 19, 2007 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Luko-Evert Funeral Home in Hartland, Wisconsin.  Funeral Services & Burial will be held on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 2:00 PM in Cisco, Texas. Coach Frazier was an easy going man who lived football and loved people.  Everywhere he coached, he developed new friendships, fans, and acquaintenances.  It was not uncommon to have fans travel to see his teams play.  While coaching the Steamwheelers, it was almost automatic that coach Frazier would be greeted with fans from other places where he had coached before during both home and road games.  The Steamwheelers fan club had a great relationship with coach Frazier.  He was always willing to help out with functions, arrange for players to appear, or just hang out during the limited down time he had.  His untimely passing leaves many of us very numb, sad, and shocked.  He was one of the more personable members in the Steamwheelers family and he will be missed. For those of us who knew him best, he was a dear friend but for all of us who supported the Steamwheelers, he was our coach.  A plant has been sent on behalf of the Steamwheelers fan club and a memorial fund has been established to help with necessary expenses.  If you would like to contribute to coach Frazier's memorial fund, please do so online.  You can also mail checks to the Steamwheelers fan club - 2827 Greenway Drive - Bettendorf, IA 52722.  Payable to Steamwheelers Fan Club (funds will be forwarded with a card from those who contribute). Additional Coverage: Grand Rapids Rampage - Release (11/19/07) Quad City Times - Story (11/19/07) Argus Dispatch - Story (11/19/07) Luko-Evert Funeral Home - Obituary (11/18/07) Arena Football League - Story (11/19/07) ArenaFan.com - Message Board (11/19/07) af2.com - Message Board (11/19/07) Photo Gallery - (01/23/08) - End ..... .....

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