Oscar Frazier

Oscar H. Frazier was born in Frazierville, Texas, a small community a few miles southeast of Hillsboro on June 6, 1900. He was the son of Samuel H. and Minnie Craig Frazier, and the younger brother of the legendary Earl “Mule” Frazier. Frazier is a 1918 graduate of Hillsboro High School. While attending Hillsboro High School, Frazier participated in multiple sports. He was a three-year letterman in football, and a four-year letterman in both basketball and track and field. In 1918 Oscar and his brother Earl scored enough points by themselves to win the 1918 State Championship in track. Individually, Oscar placed third in the 120 yard hurdles at the state track meet in 1918.

Because of his success in track and field, Oscar was recruited to become a part of the athletic program at Texas A&M University. While at A&M, Oscar was a two-year letterman in both football and wrestling and a four-year letterman in track and field. Due to the team’s success, Frazier was fortunate enough to be a part of two Southwest Conference Track Championship teams (1921 & 1922). Oscar earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Texas A&M in 1922.

Frazier returned to Hillsboro to coach his alma mater in 1923. He served as the head football and head track coach while teaching agriculture at HHS. Because of his success at Hillsboro, Dean J. Thomas Davis of Tarleton State recruited him to accept a coaching/teaching position. He left Hillsboro after the 1924-25 school year.

Oscar married Adele Jones in 1924. They were blessed with three children: Marilyn Adele Frazier-Casey, O. Howard “Bud” Frazier, Jr., and one child that passed in early infancy. Grandchildren are Michael Braun, Mary Beth Necessary, Carolyn Braun Parker, Todd Frazier, and Allison Frazier Balser.

Frazier began his forty-year coaching career at Tarleton in 1925. He became a full professor in 1935 and head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Animal Husbandry in 1940. Frazier then served his country in the United States Army from 1942-46 during World War II. He won numerous awards for his marksmanship and earned high honors on several occasions as a member of the 36th Division Rifle Team. He continued his duties in the 49th Armored Division of the Texas National Guard and retired a full colonel.

Frazier then returned to Tarleton to continue his coaching and teaching career. He won nineteen state and conference championships during his legendary career at Tarleton State, then a junior college. Many of Coach Frazier’s athletes went on to compete at other colleges. Several won Southwest Conference honors and two of his athletes competed in the Olympic Games.

Frazier was also very successful on the educational and agricultural side of campus. He served in many capacities while at Tarleton; he was a professor of agriculture, a department head, coach of the Livestock Judging Team, and an Associate Professor of Mathematics. His agricultural teams won three championships at the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show. The Grassbur, Tarleton’s yearbook, dedicated the 1937 and 1950 issues to him. He was honored with Tarleton’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 1975.

Oscar Frazier passed away on September 23, 1976. Shortly after his passing, Frazier was honored by Tarleton. In 1977 Tarleton State University dedicated the Oscar Frazier Memorial Track, a permanent monument to the success of Oscar H. Frazier and his many ventures while at TSU.

Johnny Dunn, long-time assistant coach for Frazier at Tarleton had many wonderful comments of his mentor. “Oscar Frazier was the kindest, gentlest man I have even known. I was his assistant track coach 12 years at Tarleton and I have never heard him say an unkind word to or about any person. In a profession noted for its hard-nosed approach, he was unique with his kindness and patience. He made them believe in themselves. This philosophy gained him not only track championships, but the affection and respect of those athletes he coached. Coach Frazier believed in young people - and their love and friendships made him one of the richest men we will ever know.”