Historical Marker

Frank Neal Drane

(1862-1938) A Navarro County native, Frank Neal Drane married Florence A. Bingham in 1885 and had two children. He ran a hardware store with his father before becoming president of City National Bank. In 1901 Drane formed the Corsicana Power and Light company. A city alderman and a leader in the Third Avenue Presbyterian church, he wished to share his personal prosperity with fellow citizens. In 1938 he organized the Navarro Community Foundation with E. W. Robinson (1891-1967) as the first director. The fund has benefited wide-ranging endeavors, including Navarro College, founded in 1946.