Frank Laird Waller (June 24, 1884 – November 29, 1941) was an American

athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...

who specialized in the

400 metres The 400 metres, or 400-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics (sport), athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoor runn ...

. He later became a vocal coach. He competed in the early twentieth century. He won two

silver medal A silver medal in sports and other similar areas involving competition is a medal made of, or plated with, silver awarded to the second-place finisher, or runner-up, of contests or competitions such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc ...

s in Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics in the men's 400 metres and 400 metre hurdles behind gold medalist Harry Hillman in both events, while a student at the University of Wisconsin. He was U.S. Champion in the men's

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in 1905 and 1906, and the 220 yard hurdles while competing for the Milwaukee Athletic Club. He graduated from Menomonie, Wisconsin High School, and later the University of Wisconsin in 1907. After his college graduation, Waller moved to Chicago."Frank Laird Waller", ''Musical America'' (December 10, 1941), p. 39. In Chicago he knew William T. Purdy and Carl Beck, who together wrote the University of Wisconsin fight song " On, Wisconsin!". Waller told Purdy about a contest and $100 prize to write a University of Minnesota fight song. Carl Beck convinced Purdy it should be presented to the University of Wisconsin as their fight song. He went on tour with the singer Lillian Russell as her pianist. He spent several years in Germany conducting at provincial opera houses. From 1924 until 1925 he was pianist, coach, and theater conductor for the opera department at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester.Lenti, Vincent A. ''For the Enrichment of Community Life: George Eastman and the Founding of the Eastman School of Music''. pp. 129–130. Meliora Press, Rochester, New York (2004). He later served as a voice coach and headed the voice department at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music."Frank Laird Waller", ''Musical Courier'' (December 15, 1941), p. 32."Dr. Frank Laird Waller", ''The New York Times'' (November 30, 1941), p. 69. During his career, he served as director of the Tri-City Symphony, Milwaukee Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Broadcasting Company in New York, and the

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Orchestra in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

. Among the singers he coached were Charles Sears, Edith Mason,

Rosa Raisa Rosa Raisa (30 May 189328 September 1963) was a Polish-born and Italian-trained Russian-Jewish dramatic operatic soprano who became a naturalized American. She possessed a voice of remarkable power and was the creator of the title role of Pucci ...

Alice Nielsen Alice Nielsen (June 7, 1872 – March 8, 1943) was a Broadway performer and operatic soprano who had her own opera company and starred in several Victor Herbert operettas. Background Her father, Rasmus, was a Danish troubadour from Aarhus. Her m ...

, Luisa Tetrazzini,

Frances Peralta Frances Peralta (19 March 1883 – 22 December 1933) was an American opera singer. Biography She was born in Manchester, England, as Phyllis Partington; her father was John Herbert Evelyn Partington, a well-known painter, and her mother was ...

, and Olga Blani. He died of a heart ailment after six weeks of illness at the hospital. He was unmarried. Personal bests: 440y – 49.6 (1905); 400H – 53.6 (1904).

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Waller, Frank 1884 births 1941 deaths American male hurdlers American male sprinters Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field Athletes (track and field) at the 1904 Summer Olympics Place of birth missing American classical pianists Classical accompanists American conductors (music) Vocal coaches Medalists at the 1904 Summer Olympics