Fred Prescott is a lifelong Frankford resident who grew up on the 2000 block of Margaret Street. He attended Sullivan Elementary, Harding Junior High and Frankford High Schools.
When he graduated from Frankford in 1960, he worked for a time and then decided to enlist in the Air Force. He took the oath in January of 1961 and went to Lackland Air Force Base for Basic Training. He then was shipped off to Fort Leonard Wood for training as a Water Treatment Specialist and finally was assigned to Forbes Air Force Base near Topeka, Kansas.
He spent the rest of his active duty time at Forbes, which was a SAC (Strategic Air Command) base. He was on duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 when our country was on the verge of nuclear war. He was separated from active duty in January of 1965 and after 2 years in the Inactive Reserves, was honorably discharged.
He married Veronica (Ronnie) Binkowski, also a life long resident of Frankford, in 1966 and they have a son, Matthew. He worked at Aero Services making maps for 5 years. That experience lead to his long time career at Ewing Cole Architectural firm as an Electrical Draftsman. He retired from Ewing Cole after 30 years in 2006.
Fred Prescott
Outside of work, he is known by hundreds of Frankford boys as the Scoutmaster of Troop 108 which was based at the Frankford American Legion Post 211 on Leiper Street. It later moved to the Hermon Presbyterian Church on Harrison Street and finally to St. James Lutheran Church on Pratt Street. Eagle Scout Prescott, followed his father into Scouting in 1949 when he became a Cub Scout and continued past the 50 year mark. Son Matthew also became an Eagle Scout.
Fred Prescott (top row second from right) with Troop 108 at Treasure Island in 1966. Front row, L-R Bill DesChamp, Richard Ennis, Richard Franck, Bill Harmon & Gary Rooney. Second row, not sure of the first guy either, myself, Tom Kornsey, Dave Beatrice, Joe Madara, Bob (Beetle) Bailey, & Dave Gibson. Back row, John Young, John Krause, Mr. Michaelizzi, Harvey Michaelizzi, Frank Rooney, Mr. Kornsey, Steve Steily, Fred Prescott, and Hank Thompkins. Missing from pic is Taj Rogalski, my brother Bob, Mike Walls, Dave Moore, Marty Gibson, & Jim Bygott. Picture courtesy of Dave Beatrice. Captions courtesy of Wayne Hunt.
Now that Fred is fully retired, he spends his time tending to their home at the corner of Harrison and Griscom Streets. It is well known for one of the best Christmas light displays in Frankford. When not walking Willow, the pet Rottweiler, Fred volunteers at the Historical Society of Frankford. He recently compiled a history of Troop 108 titled “A Scout in Frankford: The Troop 108 Story”. The book will be on display at the Historical Society.
