Dorothy Langkop

Langkop, Dorothy Franey Dorothy Franey Langkop, 97 (1913-2011), graduated from Earth peacefully Monday morning, January 10th, 2011. At age 14 in St. Paul, Minnesota, she won the state junior titles for tennis and diving. As a senior in high school in 1932 she held two speed skating world records in the 100 yards and 500 meters. At the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, she won the bronze medal in the 1000 meters. Dorothy won the national speed skating championships 1933, '34, '35, and '36. She held an unprecedented 12 world records out of 14 possible events for women. In 1938 Dorothy did the unthinkable becoming a professional figure skater as no speed skater had ever crossed over to figure skates before her. By 1942 she starred on Broadway at the International Casino. The Adolphus Hotel gave her a six-week contract to bring her Broadway show to Dallas in October 1943. "The Dot Franey Ice Revue" was such a sensation that the Adolphus held her show over for the next 14 years, where she created, produced, directed and starred in a new show every 6 weeks. Shortly after her show opened in Dallas she met the love of her life, Eugene Langkop, an ex-professional Baseball player, dynamic salesman, and a man of great depth and integrity. They were married in 1945 and had two sons, Gene in 1948 and Jimmy in 1951. Her life was now complete. In 1957 Dorothy suffered a dove hunting accident when a friend's shotgun accidentally went off about 3 feet away from her left foot. The doctors insisted on immediate amputation, but Dorothy refused. She went to Chicago for 12 reconstructive operations. In less than a year after the accident, at age 45, Dorothy won the Dallas City Golf Championships. In 1959 she won the Mexican National Championship in Saltillo, Mexico. Dorothy and Mickey Mantle teamed up in 1960, '61 and '62 to win the Dallas City Mixed Foursome Golf Championships. In 1962 she founded the Texas State Junior Golf Championships to showcase the young girl golfing talent in Texas. Today this championship trophy is named "The Dorothy Franey Langkop Trophy." In 1981 Dorothy founded the Texas Senior Games for senior citizen athletes. In 1983 she became the first women president of the U.S. Olympians. Until her death she held the title of "Honorary Executive Director of the United States Olympians/ Paraolympians." The welfare of all U.S Olympians remained Dorothy's passionate cause to the end of her life. Her ever loving husband, Eugene passed away in 1998 leaving a huge hole in the lives of Dorothy, Gene and Jimmy. As the Olympic Torch passed through Dallas on December 12, 2002 Mayor Ron Kirk chose Dorothy as the final torch carrier up the steps of Dallas City Hall. She will always continue to carry the torch and inspire us. Dorothy was born on October 25, 1913 in St. Paul, Minnesota and her life ended within minutes of being admitted to St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas, where she was a past president of the St. Paul Auxiliary and volunteered countless hours. She went to one of her homes to go home. -- Donations in her memory can be made to: Olympians for Olympians Relief Fund (OORF), 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. Donations are tax deductible. -- A Celebration of Dorothy Franey Langkop's Life will be held 12:00pm, Friday, January 21, 2011 at the Unity Church of Dallas, 6525 Forest Lane (Between Preston & Hillcrest), Dallas 75230.