Frank Lanning (1986)

It has been said that you weren’t famous in Rhode Island unless Frank Lanning drew a picture of you. Lanning was one of the most acclaimed and renowned sports cartoonists in the nation.  His most famous cartoon would be the drawing of President John F. Kennedy that was released in the Journal after Kennedy’s assassination and it sold quickly with 65,000 copies being sold.  Lanning was the first contributor to be inducted into CCRI’s Athletic Hall of Fame.  His illustrations were a daily feature on the Providence Journal-Bulletin for 47 years.  He was the designer of the Knight, CCRI’s mascot and he designed the cover of the very first athletic program for CCRI.  He has been honored by many groups, organizations and was active in many civic organizations.  He served as the first President of the Word Unlimited organization, a statewide organization made up of sports writers and broadcasters.  The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame was founded in 1965, Lanning was one of the founders and served as President from 1965-1976.  He has received honorary degrees from the University of Rhode Island and Providence College; on top of that he was inducted into Bryant’s Athletics Hall of Fame and was selected for the Humanitarian Award by the Big Brothers Association of Rhode Island.