 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sathletics | ||
Representingthe United States | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 1904 St. Louis | 400 metres |
| 1904 St. Louis | 400 metres hurdles |
Frank Laird Waller (June 24, 1884 – November 29, 1941[1]) was an Americanathlete who specialized in the400 metres. He later became avocal coach.[2]
He competed in the early twentieth century. He won twosilver medals inAthletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics in the men's 400 metres and 400 metre hurdles behind gold medalistHarry Hillman in both events, while a student at the University of Wisconsin. He was U.S. Champion in the men's440 yards in 1905 and 1906, and the 220 yard hurdles while competing for theMilwaukee Athletic Club.
He graduated fromMenomonie, Wisconsin High School, and later theUniversity of Wisconsin[3] in 1907. After his college graduation, Waller moved to Chicago.[3] In Chicago he knew William T. Purdy and Carl Beck, who together wrote the University of Wisconsin fight song "On, Wisconsin!". Waller told Purdy about a contest and $100 prize to write a University of Minnesota fight song. Carl Beck convinced Purdy it should be presented to the University of Wisconsin as their fight song.
He went on tour with the singerLillian Russell as her pianist. He spent several years in Germany conducting at provincial opera houses.[3] From 1924 until 1925 he was pianist, coach, and theater conductor for the opera department at theEastman School of Music in Rochester.[4] He later served as a voice coach and headed the voice department at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music.[5][6] During his career, he served as director of theTri-City Symphony, Milwaukee Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Broadcasting Company in New York, and theWPA Orchestra inRichmond, Virginia. Among the singers he coached were Charles Sears,Edith Mason,Rosa Raisa,Alice Nielsen,Luisa Tetrazzini,Frances Peralta, and Olga Blani.
He died of a heart ailment[6] after six weeks of illness at the hospital. He was unmarried.[3]
Personal bests: 440y – 49.6 (1905); 400H – 53.6 (1904).
