Frank Palas- Southern Methodist University Faculty

rank Joseph Palas was born in Alexandria, Louisiana to Thomas Palas and Katherine MacHae. His birth date is either October 27, 1918 or October 24, 1918. In the 1930s, Frank and his family relocated to Yukon and Wilson, Oklahoma. On October 16, 1940, Frank registered for the draft at the age of 21 in Wilson, Carter, Oklahoma. At the time, he was employed by the Board of Education and residing in Wilson, Carter, Oklahoma. Frank later enlisted in the military on July 7, 1942, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as a Private in the Selectees (Enlisted Men) component. This meant that he was selected for service but not a volunteer. He was assigned to the Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA. This group was composed of enlisted men awaiting assignment to a specific branch of the military. Frank was not only a high school graduate but also a college graduate with a B.S. in Ed., M.Ed., M.A., and a Ph.D. On November 26, 1948, in Canadian, Oklahoma, USA, he married Emma Allen (1921–2007). The couple eventually relocated to Dallas, Texas, where Frank became an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Southern Methodist University in 1966.