Nimrod "Rod" Frazer Obituary
December 10, 1929 - March 7, 2023
Nimrod Thompson Frazer, born in Montgomery, Alabama on December 10, 1929 and died on March 7, 2023. His parents were Margaret Thompson Frazer Winkler and William Johnson Frazer. His grandparents were Nimrod Washington Long Thompson and Lula Slaton Thompson.
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Rod received his B.A. from Huntingdon College; attended Columbia University in 1953-1954 and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1956.
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Rod was married to the former Patricia Lee Martin. Their five children are Thomas Martin Frazer (Virginia), Nimrod Thompson Frazer, Jr. (Judy), Margaret Frazer Proctor (Robert), Sarah Hunter Frazer and John Riley Frazer (Connie). Their nine grandchildren are John Riley Frazer, Jr, Jean Riley Frazer, Lee Martin Frazer, Thomas Martin Frazer, Jr. (Melanie), Lila Martin Frazer, Mary Blan Frazer Moore (Ty), Nimrod Thompson Frazer, III (Katy), Travis Helms (Jessica), Chapman Frazer McCurdy (Jordan). They also have three great-grandchildren, Sarah Chapman McCurdy, William Thompson Frazer, and Mary Carlisle Moore.
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Self-supporting at 14, Rod went to work for the Lambert family at Darlington in Wilcox County. He graduated high school at Wilcox County High School in Camden. While still in high school he enlisted in the National Guard. He served in the U. S. Army from 1950-1953 and was a Tank Platoon Leader in the Korean Campaign. Rod was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action; US Presidential Unit Citation; ROK Presidential Unit Citation; a U.S. Parachute Badge; and a Letter of Appreciation, 37th Infantry Regiment, 12th Republic of Korea Infantry Division Korean Campaign Ribbon with three Battle Stars.
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His creed was family, state and country. Through his work with the Croix Rouge Farm Memorial Foundation, he commissioned four bronze sculptures from sculptor James Butler of the British Royal Academy. Two of them called The Rainbow Soldier honor his father and his fellow soldiers in the 42nd (Rainbow) Division. One stands in France and the other in Montgomery. He also commissioned a second casting of Daedalus for Maxwell Air Force Base, dedicated to the American Fliers in WWI and to his mother, who had worked at Maxwell. His final commission was Return from the Argonne in honor of all soldiers who fought in the Meuse Argonne campaign. The Rainbow Soldier and Return from the Argonne were given to The City of Montgomery and are located in front of Union Station in Montgomery.
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Rod began his investment banking career as a Registered Representative for Sterne, Agee and Leach. In 1961 he joined Thornton, Farish and Gauntt where he became Executive Vice President and Principal and participated in underwriting the first industrial development bonds in several states. In 1976, he and Clifford Lanier started the Frazer Lanier Company. They did business throughout the southeastern United States.
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In 1974, Rod, along with other partners at Thornton Farish and Gauntt joined H. G. Pattillo of Atlanta, Georgia to form Industrial Properties, Inc. (which became Industrial Partners, LLC). Industrial Partners became very successful at developing, building, and leasing industrial buildings throughout Alabama. After several corporate structure changes, Rod gifted his ownership in the company to his five children who continue to successfully operate Industrial Partners, LLC.
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Rod left the Frazer Lanier Company to become the Crisis Chairman and CEO of Enstar in 1990. The company had 120 million in negative net worth. After he put it in bankruptcy, he got it in 23 million in the black. After the addition of Chris Flowers, Dominic Silvester and others the company continues its growth. In 2007 Rod passed control on to Dominic Silvester and became Chairman Emeritus.
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A published author, he focused on military matters and his book Send the Alabamians: WWI Fighters in the Rainbow Division that was written to honor the service of Alabamians in France in 1918 became a classic and best seller of The University of Alabama Press. He later wrote The Best World War I Story I Know, on the Point of the Argonne. His book describes the battle during September 26 and October 16, 1918.
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Rod served on many civic boards to support causes in his city and state including State of Alabama Commission on Alcoholism; Chairman of the Montgomery Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board of Montgomery; Chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce; Trustee of State of Alabama Department of Archives and History; Trustee of Huntingdon College; Founding Director of Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery; and Director of Alabama Mental Health Association.
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Rod was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2008 and named as a Knight in the French Order of the Legion of Honor in 2017. He was awarded the highest award of the Daughters of the American Revolution, its Medal of Honor, and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Huntingdon College. He was also inducted into the Alabama Military Hall of Honor in 2020.
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A memorial service was held on Saturday, March 11, 2023. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either St. John’s Episcopal Church, 113 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, Al 36104, Medical Outreach Ministries, 5741 Carmichael Parkway, Montgomery, Al 36117, or Hospice of Montgomery, 1111 Holloway Park, Montgomery, Alabama 36111.
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The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Willie Smith and Dr. Paul Moore for all their years of care and to all of his caregivers who have provided such support over the past few months.
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Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WhiteChapel-GreenwoodFH.com for the Frazer family.