Frank S. Bissell Explained

Frank Semple Bissell (22 February 1913 – 9 September 2012) was an American wrestler and wrestling coach.

Bissell was born in Pittsburgh^[1] and was raised in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts^[2] and graduated from The Hill School in 1933. At Michigan, he was a National AAU Champion in 1936, and Big Ten Champion in 1937. He competed at the U.S. trials for the 1948 Summer Olympics.^[3]

Bissell served as head wrestling coach at The Hill School from 1947 to 1973, where he amassed a career record of 243-66-5 and guided the wrestling team to 17 Prep National Championships. He retired from coaching in 1973.^[4] During his tenure, 44 wrestlers claimed individual national championships.^[5]

He married Eleanor Reynolds Merrick in 1937.^{[6] [2]}

He is the grandfather to indie filmmaker Maria Bissell.

He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012. He died in September 2012, aged 99.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Pennsylvania, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1906–1914
2. News: Frank Bissell to be Pinned by Dan Cupid . 23 November 2023 . . . 7 January 1937 . 18 . subscription.
3. News: The Hill's Wrestling Coach Enters Olympic Tryouts . 23 November 2023 . The Mercury . 8 April 1948 . 23 . subscription.
4. News: 2 Masters to End Hill School Careers . 23 November 2023 . The Mercury . 9 May 1973 . . 11 . subscription.
5. Web site: The Hill School Athletics Hall of Fame Founders Hall . 2017-04-26 . 2017-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170427095818/http://www.thehill.org/FoundersHall . dead .
6. News: Eleanor Reynolds Merrick and Frank Semple Bissell Married in Cavalry . 23 November 2023 . . 12 January 1937 . 10 . subscription.
7. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014