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One of the leading softball figures in Tennessee, Jim Frost, passed away on Thursday after a long and successful life in developing fastpitch around the state–from youth and club up through the collegiate ranks.
Here are some of the tributes…
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Chattanooga Softball Community Mourns the Loss of Jim Frost
Originally published Thursday, Jan. 10, 2021 on GoMocs.com
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball program and the local community mourn the loss of Jim Frost, who passed away due to complications from COVID-19 Thursday morning. He was 79.
The Chattanooga, Tennessee native and owner of Frost Cutlery in Ooltewah, Tennessee, became heavily involved in the sport of softball and youth sports at the local and national levels in the 1980’s due to his daughter, Stephanie Frost.
“It’s unmatched what he’s done,” said Chattanooga softball head coach Frank Reed. “His legacy is unparalleled to a lot of things people have done here for Chattanooga softball.”
Jim Frost established one of the nation’s top softball facilities right here in the Scenic City, achieving his dream of helping the youth in Chattanooga. The stadium started construction in 1997 and has been the forever-home for Chattanooga Mocs softball since its opening, with Jim Frost’s name proudly attached.
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Frost, a monumental softball figure in our community.
"His legacy is unparalleled to a lot of things people have done here for Chattanooga softball."
🔗 https://t.co/82HiMX7oec pic.twitter.com/I3Q1ViwpBY
— Chattanooga Softball (@GoMocsSB) January 9, 2021
For many years, Chattanooga has been recognized as the “capital” of girls’ fast-pitch softball in the Eastern United States. Originally named the “Field of 1,000 Dreams”, Jim Frost Stadium was created as a place to showcase talents of thousands of young women who dream of softball glory.
“Jim will never be forgotten for all he has done for this community through the game of softball. I can’t imagine the game without him being involved,” added Reed.
Jim Frost is also widely known as a leader in the cutlery industry, turning a hobby of collecting knives into Frost Cutlery, a multi-million dollar business which employs over 100 people on location of a 150,000 square foot warehouse.
The family will receive friends Thursday, January 14, from 4-8 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.
About Jim Frost Stadium
UTC opened its two million-plus dollar home on April 20, 1998, against Tennessee, drawing a standing-room-only crowd of 3,521. The stadium’s capacity (3,500) ranks among the top five largest in all of NCAA Division I softball.
Frost Stadium has hosted the Southern Conference Softball Championship 11 times including 1998, 2001-2004, 2006, 2009-2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019. UTC captured the title in its home stadium eight times. It also was in the spotlight for the 2001 and 2002 SEC Softball Championship.
The United States national team played an exhibition game at Frost Stadium in June 2000 and were slated to return in 2020 before the pandemic forced a cancellation. In addition, the NCAA recently announced Jim Frost Stadium as the host site for the 2023, 2025 and 2026 NCAA Division II Softball National Championships.
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Jim Frost, softball pioneer, dies after battling COVID-19
Originally published Jan. 8, 2021 on WRCBTV.com.
A local knife craftsman and pioneer in the softball community died Thursday after battling COVID-19. Jim Frost is affectionately known as ‘The Godfather of Fastpitch Softball in Tennessee.’
Frost Stadium in Warner Park is named in Frost’s honor. It represents his dedication, the time and resources he poured into the sport of softball, and everything he was passionate about.
WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports
“Coined it the stadium of a thousand dreams and because that’s what it was about for him, making the dreams of young girls become a reality,” University of Tennessee Co-Head Softball Coach Karen Weekly said.
In the ’90s, Jim Frost coached his daughter, Stephanie, in a sport that was up and coming.
Ralph Weekly, the co-head coach for the Tennessee Softball Team, said Frost wanted to be part of the growth. He became a pioneer.
“Softball had just exploded because it was the first time it had ever been in the Olympics and he saw the opportunity for the colleges, specifically the SEC which has been a leader in that regard, the colleges to form women’s fastpitch teams and give women the opportunity to earn scholarships and play at the highest level,” Ralph Weekly said.
1/6 Ralph’s thoughts on the passing today of our dear friend Jim Frost due to COVid-19:
“Karen and I are deeply saddened by the loss of our very close friend and a man universally recognized as “The Godfather of Fastpitch Softball in Tennessee.”— Karen Weekly (@KarenWeekly) January 7, 2021
Frost started the premier softball organization, The Frost Falcons, to help develop players to advance to the next level.
“Jim as far as I know funded most of those teams or made it possible for all those young players to play,” Ralph Weekly said.
Karen Weekly said he taught everyone the spirit of generosity.
“Everyone who he touched, coaches and players and families, I think they will continue to pay forward the legacy of Jim Frost,” Karen Weekly said.
His other passion was knives.
“And he was selling them, and it grew so much he went to the trunk of his car, after that his garage, after that a 10,000 square foot building, now a 150,000 square feet and a national television show,” Frost Cutlery Corner Network Show Host Todd Boone said.
Frost Cutlery Company is a multimillion-dollar business located in Ooltewah.
“Selling, buying, putting ideas together with multiple knives, building sets, he had that knack, it was a gift,” Boone said.
Boone said they will continue to live out his legacy.
“It gives us a lot of motivation,” Boone said.
In a statement, Frost’s wife, Beverly, said she wanted to thank the doctors and nurses in the ICU Unit at Erlanger for staying after their shifts to help her husband and she thanked everyone for their prayers. Funeral arrangements are still in the works.
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Chattanooga Softball Icon Jim Frost Dies
Originally published on WDEF.com on Jan. 7, 2021; written by Rick Nyman
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Chattanooga softball icon Jim Frost died Thursday morning after battling COVID-19.
Frost is most known for building the Chattanooga Mocs home softball stadium, which is named in his honor. Frost also spearheaded team sponsorships and created one of Chattanooga’s great club softball teams — the Frost Falcons. Mocs softball coach Frank Reed says it’s a tremendous loss for the softball community.
Said Reed: ”It’s unmatched what he’s done. I can remember back in the day when I just had a little team with my daughter playing and his daughters playing and we became friends. Even taking it to another level with sponsoring teams, so anybody and everybody knows about Jim Frost and what he’s done. His legacy is you know unparalleled to a lot of things that people have done here at Chattanooga softball.”
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Jim Frost leaves a long, rich softball legacy
Originally published Jan. 9 on Chattanooga Times Free Press, written by Lindsey Young
For many people, Jim Frost’s legacy in the fastpitch softball universe is obvious: the stadium that bears his name at Warner Park in downtown Chattanooga.
However, those inside the sport say Frost, who died Thursday at the age of 79 due to complications from COVID-19, will be remembered for so much more.
“It’s unmatched what he’s done,” coach Frank Reed, whose University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team has called Jim Frost Stadium home since the venue opened more than 20 years ago, said in a school release Saturday.
“His legacy is unparalleled to a lot of things people have done here for Chattanooga softball. Jim will never be forgotten for all he has done for this community through the game of softball. I can’t imagine the game without him being involved.”
Frost Stadium, originally called “The Field of 1,000 Dreams,” has hosted the Southern Conference softball tournament 11 times, with UTC winning eight of those championships. It was also the site of the 2001 and 2002 SEC softball tournament. UTC’s release noted that the stadium’s first game, when the Mocs hosted Tennessee on April 20, 1998, drew a crowd of 3,521 with standing room factored into the number; its capacity of 3,500 is in the top five of NCAA Division I softball venues.
Frost’s success as a businessman — Ooltewah-based Frost Cutlery is a multimillion dollar endeavor that employs more than 100 people — allowed him the opportunity to promote softball in the Chattanooga area and help the youth who played it through the legendary Frost Cutlery Falcons programs.
“Jim was a force and a personality bigger than the game but he was humble about his place in the game,” veteran softball coach Steve Chattin said in a social media tribute to Frost.
“One could write about his place in the game. One could write of the teams he coached that finished multiple times in the top five in ASA or multiple times as NSA champs, or how he helped build the Tyner Recreation Complex and how he spearheaded Jim Frost Stadium at UTC.
“But, most importantly is the legacy he had on hundreds of thousands of players, parents and coaches that at one time competed under or against the Frost Cutlery Falcons banner. He could have taken the softball world by storm in 1989 just like the people who are making all the money today, but he told me, ‘Steve, I just want to help kids. Softball is for fun and for the kids.'”
Gordon Lee High School softball coach Dana Mull, Reed’s daughter and a former UTC player, said Frost’s love of the game and kids was still strong in his final years.
“I’ve been able to coach a young Frost Falcons team over the past few years, and Jim was able to come out and watch several games,” said Mull, whose Gordon Lee team this past fall added the 11th Georgia High School Association state title in program history. “He would take pictures with the kids and bought them uniforms. He was just so giving in the softball world and elsewhere.
“Playing at UTC, you always feel and see that connection. I’m thinking about the very first game that was played in it and how many people were there. It’s really sad he’s gone. He was such a great guy and had obviously such a big heart. I know Chattanooga is a hotbed for softball, and one major reason is Jim Frost.”