Frank N. "Fearless" Carroll

1919-2013

Frank Carroll was born on May 13, 1919 on the Carroll Ranch on the Little Laramie River near Laramie, Wyoming. He was the third of eight children born to Thomas and Gertrude Carroll. He grew up on the Carroll Ranch where he learned to love livestock, especially horses, a love that continued throughout his life.

He once said his dad told him there will always be one horse and one dog you will never forget. His was a mare named Lizard and his Welsh Corgi Fox.

He attended country school on the ranch, then attended Laramie High School, graduating in 1936. He also attended the University of Wyoming where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and a member of the university boxing team. He was a saddle bronc rider in his younger years and that along with other escapades in his youth earned him the nickname of “Fearless”. His friends called him “Fearless” all of his life.

Frank joined the United States Army where he was a member of the 115th cavalry at Fort Lewis, Washington. Following the death of his father, he returned to the family ranch. At the beginning of the United States involvement in World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving in the Pacific on LCIs and LCTs. Christmas Eve was his favorite day of the holiday season. This was the day he walked unannounced into his mother’s house after being discharged from the Navy.

On March 4, 1947 he married his high school sweetheart Jane Davis. They had two daughters Candy and Jan. They lived and ranched on the Little Laramie until they purchased the Cow Creek Ranch near Encampment. Frank was one of the first ranchers to introduce Charolais cattle to the Encampment Valley.

He also raised Quarter Horses throughout his life. He always rode good horses and made sure his daughters had the same. He never bought a saddle horse–he raised them. Winters were spent halter breaking the babies and starting the good colts.

He was a long time member of the Encampment-Riverside Lions Club. He was the first recipient of the Pioneer Cowboy award given by the Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering.

Frank spent his entire life ranching. When he grew older and was unable to ride a horse, or drive a tractor he still supervised from his dented old pickup with his faithful Corgi “Fox” riding shotgun. There was not a day in his life he wasn’t ranching.