author
Frank B. (Frank Bernard) Cross
1925–2001
Best known as a leading American ichthyologist, he spent decades studying the fishes of Kansas and helping build the University of Kansas into an important center for biological research. Colleagues remembered him not just for his scholarship, but for his kindness, modesty, and steady guidance.
2 Audiobooks
Geographic Variation in the North American Cyprinid Fish, Hybopsis gracilis
by Leonard J. Olund, Frank B. (Frank Bernard) Cross
Five Natural Hybrid Combinations in Minnows (Cyprinidae)
by Frank B. (Frank Bernard) Cross, W. L. Minckley
About the author
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1925, Frank Bernard Cross grew up near Stillwater, Oklahoma, in a family with strong ties to agriculture and science. He went on to build a long career at the University of Kansas, where he worked for about four decades and remained active even after retirement.
Cross was especially known for his work as an ichthyologist—the study of fishes. His research on the fish life of Kansas became highly influential, and he is closely associated with Handbook of Fishes of Kansas, a landmark reference for the region. He also played an important role in strengthening biological research in Kansas, including work connected with the Kansas Biological Survey.
People who wrote about him after his death in 2001 described him as a gentle, thoughtful teacher and colleague whose influence reached well beyond his publications. That mix of scientific dedication and personal generosity helps explain why he is still remembered with such warmth.