Frank Marx

Frank Marx was born Frank Leopold Marx on August 8, 1890, in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Leopold Marx and Eda Goodman. A 5-foot-8 forward from Louisville Male High School, he enrolled in the university’s College of Arts and became deeply involved in campus life as well as athletics.

Marx earned varsity letters in 1910 and 1911 and became Kentucky’s starting left forward during his second season. One of the few returning veterans on a young team, he was described in the 1911 Kentuckian as quick, hard-working, an excellent shooter and an all-around athlete who played until the final minute. He helped Kentucky recover from a difficult start by winning five of its final six games.

His finest documented performance came in Kentucky’s 30–24 victory over Transylvania on March 3, 1911. Marx led the Wildcats with four field goals as Kentucky captured the deciding game of the three-game season series before a large and enthusiastic crowd. Away from varsity basketball, he managed his class team, helped organize university tennis, and served as athletic editor and assistant business manager of the student newspaper, The Idea.

Marx later became a prominent international businessman. He was a part owner of Louisville’s Marx Hide & Tallow Company and president of Compania Marx, an importing firm in Mexico City, where he lived for many years. He also served as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico and as potentate of the Anezeh Temple of the Shrine. Marx died in Mexico City on September 15, 1960, at age 70 and was buried in Adath Israel Cemetery in Louisville.