Frank Sillin was an outstanding halfback / fullback for the Stivers Tigers football team for 3 years. The Dayton Journal stated that “Frank knew more about hitting the line than a lot more experienced players. When Sillin was called for a buck, Stivers could chalk up 5 to 8 yards.” As good as he was, it wasn’t so good for the team those 3 years. The overall team record was 12 wins, 7 losses, and 1 tie. Against arch rival Steele High, they were 0-2-1 and were outscored 43 to 6.
But Frank was just getting started. He played one season with the Dayton Eagles and then enrolled at Western Maryland College where he was their star halfback for 4 years. During his Sophomore year, Frank was named the best football player in the state of Maryland. He was selected to the All-State team 3 consecutive seasons and elected team captain his Senior year.
After graduating from WMC, Frank returned to Dayton, went to work for Delco Products, and played several years for the Dayton Triangles of the American Professional Football Association (now the NFL). The Triangles were sold after the 1929 season and moved to New York, where they became the Brooklyn Dodgers.
On Oct. 1, 1932, Frank married his college sweetheart Emily Dayne Allnut and they set up residence on Grafton Ave. Unfortunately, tragedy struck less than 3 months later when he came down with influenza and pneumonia and passed away on Dec. 29, 1932, at the young age of 29. He was buried where his parents William and Allia Sillin had moved from in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Frank was the brother of Stivers Athletic Hall of Famer and Dayton Triangle pro, Clete Sillin.
