Frantz leaving Enid to work for Pennsylvania fireworks company

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
Steve Frantz has lived in Enid all of his life, which makes it harder for him to leave.Frantz has been named national sales manager for Zambelli Fireworks Co., the largest pyrotechnics business in North America. He and his wife Cathy, an Enid caterer, will move to Pennsylvania.The only other family member in recent years to move away is his cousin Curt, who is head physician at Yellowstone National Park.The Frantz family has been in Enid since the land run, when five sons of Henry Jackson Frantz came to Enid and operated businesses. Frantz was a successful hardware store owner in Wellington, Kan., and had two boys old enough to make the run. “He knew that after the run people would need building materials and lumber and he saw the opportunity,” Steve Frantz said.One son Frank enlisted in the Rough Riders, but two others made the run and claimed town lots to open businesses. Frantz Hardware Store was the first to open, then a harness shop next door was opened by another brother. East of town the family found land with a good clay quality and started a brick business, Enid Vitrified Brick Co. They later opened a lumber yard and Frantz Hotel. Five Frantz boys were in Enid since near 1893 through the end of the century, Steve Frantz said.After the Spanish-American War, Frank moved to Enid and was an Indian agent, then postmaster. As a former Rough Rider, he was a friend of President Theodore Roosevelt. When Roosevelt decided he wanted Oklahoma to enter the state as part of his presidential legacy, he asked Frank Frantz to become territorial governor with the aim of statehood. He accepted, then after statehood ran to be the state’s first governor, but was defeated by Democrat Charles Haskell, Steve Frantz said.During the Dust Bowl era, many of the families moved away from Enid to other parts of the United States and only Harry Frantz Sr., Steve’s grandfather, remained. He formed Harry Frantz Insur-ance and Real Estate Agency and his sons Harry Jr. and Bob soon joined him.In 1986, with the local economy sinking due to the poor times in the oil field, Steve Frantz sold his agency to Messer-Bowers Agency and worked for them for three years until joining Western Enter-prises Fireworks Manufactur-ing Co. in Enid. He eventually became vice president.“I found it interesting and different. It’s entertainment and there’s no insurance company telling you what you can do and what you can’t do,” he said.He also was on the board of American Pyrotechnics Association, serving as its president in 2007.His wife, Cathy, is an Enid caterer and is banquet manager at Oakwood Country Club. As owner of La Cuisine Catering, she is in charge of food for a number of different Enid organizations, churches and associations.As national sales manager for Zambelli Fireworks, Steve Frantz will manage all sales offices, support sales staff and hire additional sales staff. He also will be involved in design and marketing strategies.“I’m really excited to be working for the largest company in North America,” he said.Frantz said he is thankful to Jim Burnett and the staff at Western Enterprises for the experience and the ability to learn the business.“Both Cathy and I will miss our lifelong friends. It will be hard for us, but this is also an exciting adventure.”

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