Dec. 29, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. - UCF lost one of its greatest builders and life-long supporters yesterday when Frances Millican, wife of UCF founder Dr. Charles Millican, passed away at age 82. UCF Athletics will have a moment of silence in her memory prior to the school's women's basketball game today against No. 3 Notre Dame and its men's basketball game tonight against Liberty.
"The University of Central Florida is at a great loss with the passing of Francis Millican on Monday," said UCF Director of Athletics Keith Tribble. On behalf of UCF Athletics, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to President Millican and the entire Millican family."
The news of her passing, courtesy of UCF News and Information, is below.
When the University of Central Florida's first president, Dr. Charles Millican, and his wife, Frances, arrived on the UCF campus more than 40 years ago, they might have had a hard time finding it.
There weren't many people to ask for directions, just a few cows. But the couple saw beyond the acres of scrubland and dirt roads and envisioned what UCF is today -- a thriving metropolitan research university, which is now the third largest in the nation.
A treasured university supporter known for her passion, dedication and devotion to her husband and UCF, Mrs. Millican died Dec. 28 at age 82.
Dr. and Mrs. Millican were injured recently when they fell together at their home. As of Dec. 28, Dr. Millican was in stable condition.
Frances and Charles met while at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and were married for 64 years. Together, the pair known as UCF's "first couple" devoted themselves to supporting the university for more than 40 years.
"The entire UCF family mourns the loss of our first first lady, Frances Millican. She brought grace, class and style to everything she touched," said UCF President John Hitt. "UCF has lost an icon, and Martha and I have lost a cherished friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and their family."
Mrs. Millican came to Orlando in 1965 when the Florida Legislature chose Dr. Millican to help plan and build what was then called Florida Technological University. He and Mrs. Millican worked magic, turning 1,227 acres of scrub and bushes in East Orlando into a university to train future aerospace engineers and computer programmers.
Mrs. Millican was UCF's first lady until her husband retired as president in 1978. After her time as UCF's first lady ended, Mrs. Millican devoted herself to helping advance the work of philanthropy at UCF and frequently attended university events.
In his memoirs, Dr. Millican described his wife as "a lovely and an elegant lady, hard-working and supportive, patient and a tireless partner, who has never once complained during our 60 plus years of marriage."
"They had a partnership that's hard to find," said Rick Walsh, chair of the UCF Board of Trustees. Walsh has known the couple since the mid-1970s, when he was a student at the university.
"They both viewed establishing this university as their life's work," he said. During Homecoming week in November 2009, a crowd of more than 300 honored the Millicans at the dedication of a statute of Dr. Millican. Named "Reach for the Stars" to commemorate the motto Dr. Millican selected for the university, the statue is located in front of Millican Hall, the university's' main administration building.
Roger Pynn, a UCF alumnus and a former UCF Foundation chairman, first met the couple in the early 1970s. They would become lifelong friends.
"No man has ever had as loving and supportive a partner as Frances," Pynn said. "He would always say there was no way he could have done what he did without her." Mrs. Millican was a member of College Park Baptist Church, and a founding member of the UCF Women's Club and UCF Town and Gown Council, as well as a member of The Country Club of Orlando. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date.