Richard “Dick” Henry Frie, 1933-2026

Frie, of Monticello, was a member of the MGA’s Board of Directors from 1975-1990

Dick Frie, 92, an exceptional educator and the original athletic director at Monticello High School passed away January 17 in Monticello, Minn. A teacher, coach and AD for 35 years before retiring in 1990, Frie was instrumental in implementing Title IX programming in the school district as well as the expansion of its athletic offerings from seven to 19 varsity sports during his long tenure. He was named the Minnesota State High School League Class AA AD of the Year (1990) and inducted into the MSHSL Hall of Fame (2003) and the MSHSL AD Hall of Fame (2001). In 2023, he was inducted into the Monticello High School Wall of Fame.

Frie, who played an important role in the founding and development of the Monticello Country Club and served as its first club president in 1969, was appointed to the MGA Board of Directors in the mid-1970s, serving five 3-year terms before retiring as an active alumni director in 1990. Remarkably, he remained an active alumni director for another 32 years until 2022 after countless hours of service to the amateur game through MGA committee assignments and as a tournament rules official. Marilyn, his wife of 71 years, passed away just three days before Frie. They are survived by three children: Daniel (Jean), Mark (Patti) and Mary (Patrick) O’Hara; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Services will be held April 24 at the Church of Saint Henry in Monticello. Memorials may be made in their name to Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary, Collegeville, Minn., givesotsem.com.