Frank J. Nappi

Winner of a record 15 letters in four sports at Portland High Special Education, Frank Nappi followed his old running mate, Willie Greenlaw (l986 Maine Sports Hall of Fame inductee), to Nebraska to add football and baseball honors in the stiff Big Eight competition.

At Portland, Nappi earned four letters in both track and baseball, three each in basketball and football.

He quarterbacked Portland's 1952 state Class A football championship team and with steady control and as a solid third baseman captained the Blue's 1953 Telegram Baseball League champions and Western runners-up.

Mixed in with his strong two-way accomplishments in the baseball season, Nappi was state and New England javelin champion for the Blue track team.

At Nebraska after polishing at Milford, CT Prep, the versatile Nappi rejoined his buddy, Greenlaw, in the Cornhusker backfield under former Michigan great Pete Elliott. He was a star halfback on the 1954-'56 football team and 3rd baseman and leading hitter on the baseball team. He joined the U.S. Army in 1956, and became an all around star athlete at Fort Dix. Some of his achievements resulted in his making the All-Army First Team at halfback; All-Army Javelin Champion; All-Army 3rd Base Baseball. Offered contract in football with the New York Titans.

Frank taught special education in Trenton, NJ School system. During his teaching career he taught at the Outward Bound School, Boulder, Colorado. He left the school system to work for the U.S. Army.

Upon his retirement from the Army, Frank returned home to Portland. He is presently chairman of the State Juvenile Advisory Group and on the Board of Visitors at the South Portland Youth Center. Nappi is married to the former Sally Perry of Rumford.