It’s 12:30 p.m., and and Brother Francis “Frank” Carr B’66 balances two full trays of homemade cookies, weaving his way around students as he explains which ones are snickerdoodle, chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, or banana chocolate chip so they can make an informed choice.
He scoff s at the thought of someone serving them store-bought cookies, as the students grab enough cookies for each hand.
Brother Frank — and his homemade cookies — are staples on Saint Mary’s Winona Campus, so much so the admissions office used them in a successful recruiting campaign, one that no other university could boast. Come to Saint Mary’s and Brother Frank will bake you cookies.
He also stops by admissions each day to meet with prospective students. “I ask them where they’re from and where else they are considering going to school. I explain they won’t like any of those other places, so they should just plan on going here,” he says with a smile.
Brother Frank is one of the friendly faces of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, who continue to dedicate themselves to serving Saint Mary’s students.
Saint Mary’s became affiliated with the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1933, and at one time the Brothers taught in most classrooms and were infused throughout the university. As years have gone on, the number of Christian Brothers — a religious order of men in the Church who are not ordained but who devote their lives to education, particularly to the underprivileged — have dwindled.
Those who remain are no less dedicated, and Brother Frank has been a member of the Brothers for 62 years.
Throughout these past six decades, he’s served in a number of roles, going wherever he was most needed — including assistant provincial and provincial/visitor of the Midwest District of the Christian Brothers.
He also worked at Hill Murray High School in Maplewood, Minn., for 19 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and athletic director. And, he’s worked at Saint Mary’s Press in Winona in a variety of roles.
His first association with Saint Mary’s was as a student. In 2011, he returned to campus for good, continuing to serve wherever people need him — whether it’s serving teams or student groups meals at the Brothers’ residence,meeting families with admissions, cheering on teams, or dancing with the Big Red mascot for TikTok.
He has garnered a large and devoted following as the frequent star of some of Saint Mary’s Instagram and Tik Tok accounts. Though he doesn’t quite understand the viral fascination, Brother Frank good naturedly does what’s asked of him for the good of the cause.
Seniors Mason Coyle and Ella Ausman follow and like every posting.
Ausman and Coyle appreciate Brother Frank for this and for so many other reasons.
As a defenseman on the women’s hockey team, Ausman is used to seeing Brother Frank cheering on her team in the bleachers. And first baseman Coyle and the rest of the men’s baseball team even travel with Brother Frank,who also serves as athletic liaison. Brother Frank sums up his role as athletic liaison as “getting to know the student-athletes, going to games, learning their names, sending them birthday notes — encouraging them, andbeing available however I can.” There aren’t many games he misses.
To Cardinal baseball coach Nick Winecke B’07, M’12, Brother Frank’s role is that and so much more.
“He’s a phenomenal role model for our guys to have around,” he said. “He’s a smiley face every day and is someone who wants the best for them. He wants each student to feel important.
“From my perspective, I’m able to tap into all his years of leadership as an athletic director and bounce ideas off of him,” he added. “He travels with us everywhere, even to Florida. He helps with retreats, talking about leadership.” Brother Frank sends out birthday greetings to all the athletes, and both Ausman and Coyle love getting them every year.
“I remember receiving my first one my freshman year and thinking it was the coolest thing ever,” Coyle said. “This year, he actually emailed me happy birthday later in the day, along with an apology that it wasn’t earlier,” Ausman said.
“I really feel that it’s important for me to get to know their names because it’s important for them,” Brother Frank said. “I learned that from my dad. And I enjoy being around the students, I feel their energy. I don’t feel 80. I don’t know what 80 is supposed to feel like, but they keep me young.”
Ausman and Coyle say that Brother Frank personifies the Lasallian spirit.
“He cares about our families, what we’re doing outside of school, outside of sports, he brings the Lasallian spirit everywhere he goes,” Ausman said.
Both of their teams have been invited to the Brothers’ house for dinner or brunch and can recall Brother Frank coming out in an apron.
Cookies aren’t the only thing he can make, but … they’re still their favorite.
Coyle says at the baseball team’s Christmas party, Brother Frank’s donation is two certificates for two dozen free cookies, redeemable whenever. “We fight for those, we trade presents for those. We’ll do just about anything to walk out of there with those free cookies,” he said.
Another place students will find Brother Frank is in the cafeteria on Fridays where he helps with food service. His line is often the longest, and not because what he’s serving is the most desired item on the menu.
“We honestly think he’s the living embodiment of everything good here at Saint Mary’s,” Coyle said. “He represents everything you want to be as a person. He will find a way to make you feel welcome.”
“The three main pillars here at Saint Mary’s are religion, athletics, and academics,” Ausman said. “Those are the three things when you think of the Winona Campus, and he’s part of all three of those. He’s a remarkable Brother who works with the athletic teams but he’s also involved with everything. You run into him all over the place.”
Winecke described Brother Frank as the most popular man on campus. “I can’t imagine this place without him,” he said. “The thing I always loved about the Brothers is they truly are invested in the people they are working with. They always see the good in their students, even the ones who struggle with school the most. That’s Brother Frank, he finds all the good things first. That’s what makes him special. He sees the good.”