Frank Mendl, Class of 1972
Frank Mendl, Class of 1972

LITTLE FALLS TIMES — Exalted Ruler Barb Dyer of the Little Falls Elks Lodge No. 42 announced Class of 1972’s Frank Mendl as the recipient of this year’s Elk of the Year Award.

Since his induction in 1977, Mendl has been an active member of the Little Falls Elks for the past 38 years, always helping out when his service is needed.

Never looking for any notoriety or special thanks for his efforts, Mendl is always the guy behind the scenes that would just show up and work without being asked, according to a news release.  If it was cleaning the cellar from the recent flood, or working on an electrical issue that nobody else would tackle, Mendl would take it upon himself to jump in and just do it, the release stated.  One example is the Canal Days Celebration where his shift would start with the Thursday night set up and continue each night until Sunday cleanup, never taking a shift off to relax with the others.

Although Mendl has never chosen to serve as a lodge officer, he has been an active volunteer with almost every Elk function and is now currently co-chairing the capital campaign to relieve lodge debt.

Mendl currently resides on Fairfield Road in the town of Little Falls with his wife, Cindy, where they raised their two children, Janela and Jeff.  A graduate of Alfred University, Mendl is currently employed at Empire Fibreglass as a plant manager.  He enjoys the game of golf and snowmobiling in his spare time and has been affiliated with youth sports for the past 25 years.  He is a founding father and an active member of the Little Falls Football Parents Booster Club and was instrumental in reestablishing the local Pop Warner Football program in 2005.  Mendl has served on the Little Falls Family YMCA Board of Trustees for more than 15 years and is the current board president.

A dinner and cocktail hour honoring Mendl’s achievement will take place at 6 p.m. on May 2 at the Elks Lodge. Tickets are $20 each or $35 per couple and can be obtained at the Little Falls Elks, by calling the lodge at 315-823-2371 or from any of the committee members.