Frank Ireland Moore Ii, Ph.D

Frank Ireland Moore II, Ph.D., passed away surrounded by the love of family on Thursday, February 15, 2024. In his 85 years, Dr. Moore transformed the lives of hundreds of people through his teaching, leadership, counsel, listening, and love.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1938 to Hazel Robinson and Voris Moore, Frank's family was in the publishing business. His grandfather, Frank I. Moore I, was the President of the United Publishing Company, which issued the leading agricultural bulletin in the area.  Following his parents' divorce, Frank, age 7, and his mother moved to a wheat farm owned by his stepfather, Gordon Ahsmuhs, in Helena, Oklahoma.

Life on the farm suited young Frank. He actively participated in the care and feeding of the livestock and learned to drive a tractor at an early age. After Gordon's passing, Frank continued to manage the farm, which stayed in the family until 2010.

After graduating from Helena High School in 1956, Frank attended Oklahoma State University (OSU) attaining a Bachelor's Degree in chemistry in 1960, and a Masters' of Science Degree in psychology in 1962. His earliest career work was as a clinical psychologist at the Payne County Guidance Center, and a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in Lawton. He developed an interest in functional job analysis early in his career as he re-engineered jobs so they could be performed by workers with different physical or mental abilities. At OSU, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, as well as the Oklahoma Young Democratic Club, where he was awarded the honor of Outstanding Local President in 1961.

Frank began studying for his doctoral degree in psychology at OSU, but later transferred to the University of Oklahoma.  He was selected to be a Congressional Fellow in the office of Senator Fred R. Harris, 1965 to 1966. While in Washington DC, Frank's background in vocational rehabilitation caught the attention of Massachusetts Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Senator Kennedy invited Frank to join him in drafting legislation to expand employment opportunities for developmentally-disabled Americans.  When Senator Kennedy declared his candidacy for President of the United States, he asked Frank to lead his campaign in Oklahoma.  Robert F. Kennedy's tragic assassination in June 1968 ended this opportunity, but not Frank's lifelong commitment to public service and expanding opportunities for marginalized communities.

Frank completed his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma, in June 1968.  He began a decades-long career as an assistant  professor of family health and population dynamics at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where he lectured and supervised graduate students on topics that included organizational development, health manpower planning, and community participation.   He directed the Tulane Center for Health Manpower Research at Tulane's Health Services Research Institute, and he was named the Acting Dean of the Tulane School of Public Health, serving until 1977.

Dr. Moore joined the faculty at the University of Texas School of Public Health as Associate Dean for Administration in 1977. There he founded the Center for Health Manpower Policy Studies.  Dr. Moore's research took him across the state, including South Texas, where he worked to improve the public health workforce, and increase access to preventive and primary care services, especially for underserved populations.

In 1989, Dr. Moore moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he continued his public health leadership at the San Antonio campus of the UT School of Public Health. There he served as the regional dean.  In 2001, he was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Award.

Also, that year, the World Bank engaged Dr. Moore on a team developing loan programs in the People's Republic of China, with the goal of redesigning medical education for primary care providers in six rural provinces. Later, Dr. Moore worked with consultants funded by the World Health Organization to conduct research and health system redesign in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Colombia.  Multiculturalism was one of Dr. Moore's highest values.  He was a global citizen: sponsoring international students, collaborating with in-country colleagues, and creating and nurturing diverse and inclusive communities everywhere he traveled.

During his 43-year career, Dr. Moore also was devoted to the advancement of public health education in this country. For many years he served on the Board of Counselors for the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) including serving as its President.

Dr. Moore retired in 2011, and moved to Windsor, California, closer to family and friends. In 2020, he returned to his beloved Oklahoma, spending the last few years with a Pistol Pete lawn ornament proudly displayed on the front yard. There he enjoyed watching football games, playing chess, and entertaining family and friends old and new, younger and older, sharing his adventures of a life well-lived.

Above all else, Frank Moore was a gifted educator.  He will be remembered for his gift of first listening to understand a student's interests, abilities, and developmental stage, and then generously connecting them to information, resources, and opportunities that would advance their learning journey.

Surviving him is his wife Jean Setzer, as well as his son Jon Moore, daughter Melanie Moore, daughter-in-law Robin Moore, cousin Ron Ahsmuhs and his wife, Nancy; plus five grandchildren - Marlena, Gordon and his wife, Alexis, Caitlyn, Eva, Theresa; and five great-grandchildren - Kollin, Layla, Grayson, Tristan, and Max. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Melinda Moore.

The family extends our deep appreciation to the doctors, nurses, and staff on the 8th Floor of the OU Medical Center Hospital who cared for Dr. Moore in his last days.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Church in Yukon, OK, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. Services can be live streamed at: www.youtube.com/gracechurchyukon