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Ken Frank, PrimeTime Grille

Posted on by Pat Melgares
Portrait, man with short, dark hair smiling, Ken Frank
Dr. Ken Frank

What if you combined bowling and burgers? Steaks and strikes? Kansas and cuisine? The perfect entrée with a perfect game?

That remarkable combination was achieved by a group of Kansans who paired a bowling alley with a Kansas-themed restaurant to serve their community.

Dr. Ken Frank is an ophthalmologist in Ottawa. He and his wife Shelly and friends have launched a combination bowling alley and restaurant in their community.

Ken Frank has rural roots. He grew up on a farm near the rural community of Westphalia, population 128 people. Now, that’s rural.

After attending Garnett High School, he went to the University of Kansas where he graduated with highest distinction while earning a degree in cellular biology. He also met and married Shelly.

Frank graduated top in his class at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed an ophthalmology residency-training program in Texas. “We had various opportunities but we knew we wanted to come back to Kansas,” Frank said.

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Story Headline: Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Jason Wright, Nike designer

Posted on by Jason Hackett

By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

 

The Los Angeles Rams are unveiling their new uniforms, as designed and produced by Nike, Inc. There is lots of excitement about seeing the new uniforms. This unveiling is an especially exciting moment for Nike’s lead project designer, who happens to come from rural Kansas.

Jason Wright is a lead product designer with Nike, Inc., in Oregon. That’s halfway across the continent from where Jason grew up near Garnett in Anderson County, Kansas.

Jason Wright
Jason Wright

“My dad was an engineer at Wolf Creek, but he also had a metal and wood shop at home,” Jason said. “Dad (also) restored an old ’72 Chevy pickup.

“I grew up with the expectation that, if you’re not doing something else, you’re out there doing something creative,” Jason said. “I owe a big debt to my dad.”

Jason helped his dad in the shop and worked on designing things of his own. He found he especially enjoyed drawing. “I loved basketball, and Kobe Bryant was my guy,” Jason said. Kobe was the most famous player in the NBA, and kids around the world were admiring Kobe Bryant’s shoes as made by Nike. “I tried drawing what my own ‘Kobes’ would look like,” Jason said. He drew sketches of logos and wheels and shoes. Continue reading “Story Headline: Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Jason Wright, Nike designer” →

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Don White – Can-Coctions

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter
Don White's company Can-Coctions, based in Garnett, Kansas, makes Can-panions.
Don White’s company Can-Coctions, based in Garnett, Kansas, makes Can-panions.

Can rural Kansas survive? Can rural Kansas compete? Can rural Kansas grow? In order to do so, rural Kansas will need entrepreneurs and community leaders to find and implement creative ideas. In fact, it might even require a concoction of things.

Don White is owner of an innovative business in eastern Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area and became a specialist in creating dental devices. He builds dental bridges, crowns and dentures.

Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Don White – Can-Coctions” →