By James H. Steele
Editor & Publisher

The year was 1971.

Richard Nixon was in the White House, Warren Hearnes was in the Missouri governor’s mansion, and Henry Rethwisch was mayor of Fayette. It also was the year that marked the start of the digital age when the microprocessor was invented, plus more and more use of transistors. The voting age was dropped to 18, Walt Disney World opened in Florida, and war continued to rage in Vietnam. The average cost of a new house was $25,000 (less in Fayette), a $10,000 annual income was fairly good money, gas cost about 40 cents a gallon and a U.S. postage stamp was 8 cents.

One other thing happened that year: George Frink became Howard County’s assessor. Little did anyone imagine that nearly 38 years later he’d still be in the job. Monday was his last day in office.

Frink had not held elective office before, but he had been active in Democratic party politics when the assessor’s office here became open in the early fall of 1971. A.R. “Mun” Markland, who had held the post for about 18 years, died in office. After several votes by the Howard County Democratic Central Committee, the group made a unanimous choice to recommend Frink to fill out the term until the next election cycle came around.

Gov. Warren E. Hearnes approved the recommendation and Frink took office early in October.

But George was no stranger to Howard County. Born April 4, 1939, on a farm near Rocheport, he was active in various organizations (including the Jaycees), in addition to serving as a volunteer fireman since 1958. He is a 1958 Fayette High School graduate and at age 70 still has the bearing and vigor of a much younger man.

At the time of his appointment, Frink was working as manager of the MFA bulk plant here. Earlier he had worked in various jobs while putting himself through what is now the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg with a major in business management and public relations. The degree took 13 years of  weekend work, night classes and summer school.  

Frink was returned to office after being elected by voters in 1972 — with no opposition.

He was not so lucky in 1980, 1992, 1996 and 2000, having an opponent in the Democratic primary in each of those years — but each time he emerged victorious. (At no time did he have a Republican opponent.) His last election was in 2004 and, like the first, he was unopposed.

But back to 1971. As the months turned to years and the years to decades, Frink grew in the job and eventually served terms as president of the Missouri Assessors Association, the Missouri Association of Counties, and the Missouri Auctioneers Association. (Frink plans to continue active service as an auctioneer.)

Frink also has been active in a number of local organizations and recently served a term as president of the Fayette Optimist Club.

In those early years of learning on the job, Frink recalls he had generous assistance from lots of folks whose names are familiar to old-timers — collector Jimmy Agnew, public administrator Pete Smith, abstractor company owner G.G. Smith, and Chariton County Sheriff Clive Iman (who also taught him the auction trade).

Challenges have been many over the years, but without a doubt Frink believes the most significant one was the major statewide re-assessment mandated by the state legislature and the Missouri Supreme Court.

The process here, Frink said, took from 1980 to 1985 and involved measuring every building and parcel of land in Howard County.

Previously, property was assessed at about a third of its value, Frink explained, but in reality was closer to 10 percent. The new formula, still in effect today, dictates that farm land be taxed at 9 percent of its value, with residential property at 19 percent and commercial property at 32 percent of market or replacement cost.

“In some ways, the old arrangement was really more fair,” he notes.

Computers came along in 1980 and then were enhanced to be compatible with a statewide system in 1984, with additional upgrades over the years.

Undoubtedly the most exciting time in the courthouse was the dramatic fire of Dec. 31, 1975, which gutted the building. Only the clerk’s office and the circuit clerk’s office were saved. Frink’s office then was where the public administrator and elevator currently are located. After the fire (which he helped to fight), the assessor’s office moved to the basement where it is today.

Another memorable fire was about the same time of year in 2000 when Fayette High School burned. Frink later showed up in the courthouse wearing his fireman’s gear to be sworn into his eighth term.

Computers have not been the only technological challenge. A more recent development has been adoption of a Global Information System for more accurate mapping. Frink notes that Howard County uses the rectangular survey system which is more accurate than GPS positioning.

Another major development was adoption of a systematic numbering system for identifying all county roads, an undertaking spearheaded by Frink and others. For him, it was important both as the assessor and as an emergency responder.

Like most jobs, Frink’s position increased both in size and complexity. During his nearly 38 years in office, the county’s assessed valuation increased from $27 million to $105 million.

Frink says that his retirement from office will not mean he’s going to be rockin’ on the front porch; he only cuts back from three jobs to two. Farming and auctioneering will continue, although there will be more time for family, especially grandchildren. And he will be on hand from time to time to provide advice as needed for new assessor Woody McCutcheon.

Awards and accolades were plentiful Monday during a reception that afternoon, his last day in office. Presented were a framed resolution from the Missouri General Assembly and other gifts.

“The people of Howard County have been wonderful, and I especially want to thank my family and staff for their support over the years,” Frink said. “It has been an honor to serve.”