Frank Edward Marcum

Frank Marcum, a former Tulsa high school teacher who was a semifinalist for the ill-fated Challenger space shuttle flight, and who continued afterward to advocate for space education and exploration, died Saturday, Jan. 19.

He was 76.

A history teacher at Booker T. Washington High School, Marcum in 1985 joined educators from around the country in vying to become the first to go into space through NASA's new Teacher in Space program. He was one of 114 semifinalists — two from Oklahoma — selected from 11,000 applicants, and spent the summer of '85 training in Florida.

Ultimately, Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, was selected for the honor of becoming the first teacher in space.

Months later, Marcum was at school, watching the Challenger launch on television, when just seconds after takeoff the unthinkable happened: the shuttle exploded, killing McAuliffe and everyone on board.

Marcum was shaken. However, the disaster only reinforced his commitment to space exploration and his mission to inspire students and others on the subject.

He went on to serve as a regional director for the Challenger Center, established in memory of the astronauts who died.

He enjoyed speaking to students about his space training experience, and joined in efforts to raise money for the space program. In 1998, he attended the launch of the space shuttle Discovery as a correspondent for the Tulsa World.

"We've just scratched the surface in the things the space program has done for us. We can't quit now," he told the World once.

A native of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Marcum was a 1961 graduate of Tulsa's Rogers High School. He was a record-setting track star at Rogers and also at the University of Tulsa, where he went on to earn a bachelor's degree. He got his master's from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

He spent 27 years with Tulsa Public Schools, 19 of that at BTW, before retiring in 2000. He touched the lives of many students, and one in particular wrote an article about him, which may be read here, https://lifesucksifyouletit.wordpress.com/2019/01/17/traits-of-a-good-teacher-in-honor-of-frank-marcum/

Among his community interests, he had a long involvement with Camp Fire Boys and Girls and helped put on its annual aerial-themed "Just Plane Fun" fundraiser. He was also a longtime board member with the Rogers Community Foundation.

Marcum was an Army veteran and longtime reservist. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was also a pilot and maintained a lifelong love of flying.

Marcum never forgot McAuliffe or the other six Challenger crew members, whom he'd gotten to know.

Of McAuliffe he said: "Everyone listened to her ideas and enjoyed being around her. She pushed the view of women getting ahead and needing to be involved."

Marcum stayed in touch with other teachers from the Teacher in Space program.

"Once in a while we look at each other, and know it could've been you, or you, or me," he said of remembering the Challenger disaster. "But we'd do it again. I would go again this minute if I could."

"Just being in the program, and being one person who gave it a shot is enough for me."

Marcum's survivors include his wife of 53 years, Sheryl Marcum; two daughters, Wendy Marcum-Noftsger and Angie Marcum-Brown; and five grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to Clarehouse.

A celebration of his life will be held from 2-4 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Rogers High School auditorium.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Funeral Service of Tulsa.